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]
Victim
Laken Hope Riley was a nursing student at Augusta University in Athens, Georgia,[3][7] who had previously attended the University of Georgia as an undergraduate. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.[11] She graduated in 2020 from River Ridge High SchoolinWoodstock, Georgia, where she was a member of the cross-country team.[12] She had three siblings.[13]
Killing
On the morning of February 22, 2024, Riley went for a morning run at UGA. Around 12:07 pm, a friend of Riley's reported her missing after she did not return.[14] Shortly before 1 p.m., her body was discovered by UGA police in Oconee Forest Park behind Lake Herrick.[15] Her death was caused by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation, according to Athens-Clarke County Coroner.[2][3][16]
Police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity" and reported that the killer appeared to have acted alone.[3][17]
Suspect
The suspect is 26-year-old Venezuelan, José Antonio Ibarra, who had entered the United States illegally in September 2022, crossing the US’s southern border with Mexico near El Paso, Texas.[3][17][5] According to Jeffrey Clark, the chief of UGA police, he lived in an apartment complex about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the wooded area where Riley's body was found.[7] He had been previously arrested by both federal and state officials in multiple jurisdictions. He had a bench warrant issued for his arrest in December 2023 after failing to appear in court in a shoplifting case in Georgia.[18]
In October 2023, the suspect and his brother, who was reported by authorities to be a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua who temporarily worked at UGA,[19][20][21][22] were arrested by Athens police on theft charges; both were released after reportedly possessing stolen merchandise from a local Walmart.[23][24]
Authorities detained several people, but only the suspect was arrested. He was charged with 10 charges, including felony murder, malice murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping, aggravated assault with intent to rape, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.[25][4]
Aftermath
Riley's killing became a "national political case" during what Forbes' Sara Dorn called a "historic surge in border crossings during Biden's tenure".[3][26] It was highly publicized by the national media and the press.[9]
Her family says they plan to establish a foundation in her honor. Her stepfather said: "She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way".[13]
Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: "Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens! The horrible murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley at the University of Georgia should have NEVER happened!"[27] He later met with Riley's mother and stepfather before his campaign rallyinRome, Georgia on March 9, 2024.[28]
President Joe Biden mentioned the killing of Riley during the 2024 State of the Union address,[29] mistakenly calling her "Lincoln Riley".[30][31] The unprepared remarks came after Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene shouted Riley's name at the president.[31] Biden was criticized by Democratic members of Congress for referring to Riley's suspected killer as "an illegal" instead of "undocumented",[32][33] for which he later expressed regret.[34] Riley's parents, Jason Riley and Allyson Phillips, were invited to the State of the Union by Georgia Congressman Mike Collins, but they turned down his invitation.[35]
Laken Riley Act
On March 7, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act in a 251–170 vote, with 37 Democratic members joining all Republican members in voting for the bill. If enacted, the Laken Riley Act would mandate federal detention of migrants who commit burglary or theft and would allow states to file suit against the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws.[36][10]
