Killing of Laken Riley
On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old American nursing student at Augusta University, was abducted and killed - allegedly by José Antonio Ibarra - while she was jogging at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia. Her body was found in Oconee Forest Park near Lake Herrick; her death was caused by blunt force trauma.
| Killing of Laken Riley | |
|---|---|
Undated photo of Laken Riley | |
Oconee Forest Park Oconee Forest Park (Georgia) | |
| 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 |
| Date | February 22, 2024 |
Attack type | Murder by blunt trauma, kidnapping |
| 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. He was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping. There is no date set for the trial.
The murder made international news, generating extensive media attention. It sparked a debate over immigration in the United States after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that the suspect is not a U.S. citizen and was caught crossing the border but was released into the United States. 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.