GA Authorities Say Murder Suspect In UGA Killing Didn’t Know Female Victim, Took The Opportunity To Kill

Police say the suspect accused of murdering an Augusta University College of nursing student on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia was not a student there and did not know the victim.

University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark said during a Friday news conference that authorities believe the killing of Laken Hope Riley, 22, a junior on the dean’s list at Augusta University, was a “crime of opportunity” by “an individual who woke up with bad intentions.”

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, of Athens, is facing multiple charges, including felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and concealing the death of another in Riley’s killing, CNN reported.

The victim was found dead near a lake at the University of Georgia’s campus Thursday after jogging in the area. An examination on Friday revealed she died from blunt force trauma, Clark said at Friday’s news conference.

The suspect was arrested Friday. The evidence suggests the crime was “a solo act,” Clark said, adding authorities did take several people into custody but are only arresting Ibarra.

“This was a very isolated incident,” Clark said at the Friday news conference. “We haven’t had a homicide at the University of Georgia in almost 30 years.”

Police have executed a search warrant at Ibarra’s apartment as they continue to collect evidence. They also used video footage from campus security cameras key input from the community and physical evidence to tie the suspect to Riley’s killing, Clark said.

“Our work, however, is not done,” Clark added, saying police are still collecting evidence and urging residents to call the department with pertinent information.