Killing of Laken Riley
2024 homicide in Athens, Georgia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old American nursing student at Augusta University, was killed while she was jogging at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia. Her body was found in Oconee Forest Park near Lake Herrick;[1] her death was caused by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.[2][3][4]
Killing of Laken Riley | |
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Location | Disappearance: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S. Body found: Oconee Forest Park, Athens, Georgia, U.S. |
Coordinates | 33.9279°N 83.3728°W / 33.9279; -83.3728 |
Date | February 22, 2024 |
Attack type | Homicide by blunt trauma |
Victim | Laken Hope Riley |
Motive | Unknown |
Accused | 1 |
Charges |
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The suspect, José Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old Venezuelan who had entered the United States illegally.[5] He was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with 10 charges, including felony murder, malice murder, false imprisonment aggravated assault with intent to rape and kidnapping.[6][7][4] He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.[8] A trial is to be held in the fall, but a date has not been set.
Riley's death made international news, generating extensive media attention.[9] It sparked a debate over immigration in the United States after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and was caught crossing the border but was released into the United States.[3] On March 7, 2024, the House of Representatives passed an immigration bill named the Laken Riley Act, requiring federal detention of migrants who commit burglary or theft.[10]