Jose Ibarra, who is accused of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley near the University of Georgia (UGA) campus in Athens, "disfiguring her skull," according to a freshly filed arrest affidavit.
The Context
Riley's body was discovered on Thursday after a concerned friend called police when she failed to return from a run. Police have charged Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who is believed to have entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another in regard to her death.
What We Know
According to arrest affidavits acquired on Tuesday by the Associated Press, Ibarra is alleged to have carried out his crimes between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on February 22. They claim Ibarra dragged Riley's body to a secluded area, though it is unclear if this happened before or after her death. The claim was made to support the allegation that he concealed a body.
Riley was killed by "blunt force trauma," according to police, though details about any alleged murder weapon haven't been made public.
According to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Ibarra was detained on September 8, 2022, after illegally crossing the U.S. from Mexico near El Paso, Texas, before being released. ICE also said Ibarra was arrested on August 31, 2023, in New York and charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 though on Sunday authorities in the city said they had no record of this incident.
At a press conference on Friday, UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark described the attack on Riley as a "random solo act."
Referring to Ibarra, he added: "He did not know her at all. I think this is a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual and bad things happened."
Riley was enrolled in the nursing program at Augusta University, which has a campus in Athens.
Views
Donald Trump, the clear favorite for the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nomination, blamed the Biden administration for Riley's death.
In a post on his Truth Social website on Monday Trump said: "Crooked Joe Biden's 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! The monster who took her life illegally entered our Country in 2022...and then was released AGAIN by Radical Democrats in New York after injuring a CHILD!!"
In a statement sent to reporters, a White House spokesperson said: "We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley.
"People should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty. Given this is an active case, we would have to refer you to state law enforcement and ICE."
Georgia House Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins have called for Ibarra to receive the death penalty.
More than $133,000 has been raised via online fundraiser GoFundMe for Riley's funeral and the establishment of an educational foundation in her name.
On the page, John Phillips, Riley's stepfather, wrote: "Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general. Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life.
"She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way. Every single dollar donated will go towards starting the Laken Hope Riley Foundation and will be used to drive homicide awareness and safety for women."
Update 2/27/24, 9:27 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
