Suspect Arrested for UGA Nursing Student’s Murder – WSB-TV

TL/DR –

A 22-year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia, Laken Riley, was found dead after going missing during a jog. Riley’s death was ruled a homicide, caused by blunt-force trauma. Police arrested 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, who is expected to be charged with several crimes including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and kidnapping; Ibarra is not a US citizen nor a student at the university.

University of Georgia nursing student murder suspect arrested

University of Georgia officials have apprehended a suspect connected to the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student on the UGA campus.

Riley was reported missing after going for a jog near the university’s intermural fields and failing to return. Her body was found unconscious and injured in a wooded area behind the fields around noon. The death has been ruled a homicide, with police concluding Riley died of blunt-force trauma.

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Police arrested 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra at an apartment complex off S. Milledge Avenue. Ibarra, who is not a U.S. citizen nor a UGA student, faces multiple charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.

Police believe Ibarra acted alone in what they are calling a “crime of opportunity”. “This is an individual with bad intentions,” stated UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark. Ibarra was booked into the Clarke County jail late Friday night.

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Victim in UGA homicide identified as 22-year-old Laken Riley, photo released

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