Alleged killer of nursing student Laken Riley indicted by grand jury in Georgia on 10 counts

A grand jury indicted the alleged killer of 22-year-old Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student whose body was found in February near running trails in a wooded area on the University of Georgia's main campus in Athens, according to court records.

The indictment filed in Clarke County Superior Court charges Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, with malice murder and accuses him of killing Riley "by inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and by asphyxiation her in a manner unknown to the Grand Jurors." The indictment also says Ibarra "disfigured (Riley's) head by striking her multiple times with a rock."

Ibarra was charged with 10 counts total, including malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing or hindering a person making an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence and peeping tom, according to the indictment.

The peeping tom charge stems from Ibarra allegedly spying through the window of a different person who lived in an apartment on the campus of the University of Georgia (UGA), the indictment says.

USA TODAY contacted Ibarra's attorneys with the Athens Public Defender's office but did not receive a response.

How did authorities arrest Jose Antonio Ibarra?

The University of Georgia Police investigators said they identified Ibarra, an Athens resident, by looking at video footage from campus security. During a news conference in February, Chief Jeff Clark said Ibarra lived in one of the apartments near campus.

Authorities also believe Ibarra's actions were a "solo act," and that he and Riley had no relationship, according to Clark.

“This was a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual and bad things happened,” the chief said.

Ibarra was arrested on Feb. 23 and taken to Clarke County Jail to be held without bond.

Who is Laken Hope Riley?

Riley, a former UGA student, was enrolled as a junior at the Augusta University College of Nursing before she went missing on Feb. 22. Riley's roommate reported her missing when she didn't return around noon.

When school police officers found Riley, she was unconscious, not breathing and had "visible injuries." Her body was found behind Lake Herrick, near numerous playing fields, tennis courts and miles of walking and biking trails.

Paramedics pronounced her dead on the scene, Clark said.

Riley "showed incredible wisdom throughout her friendships ... she was the best listener," Chloe Mullis, the chapter president of the sorority Riley belonged to, said at a vigil on UGA's campus in February.

Kelly Girtz, the mayor of the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, said Feb. 22 in a statement on Instagram that he and his colleagues were "in deep sadness over today's murder in our city."

"We promise to do everything possible to collaborate with UGA PD to bring this investigation to a rapid conclusion, and will continue to work overtime to prevent future tragedies," Girtz said in the Instagram post.

Who is Jose Antonio Ibarra?

Ibarra, a Venezuelan citizen, came to the U.S. in 2022. He was detained by authorities who released him pending immigration proceedings.

New York police charged Ibarra in August 2023 with a vehicle license violation and child endangerment, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Ibarraw was driving a scooter without a license and had a child with him who didn't have a helmet on, The New York Times reported, citing a law enforcement official.

New York police released Ibarra before ICE could file a detainer, federal officials said.

What is the Laken Riley Act?

Rep. Mike Collins, who serves Georgia's 10th congressional district, sponsored and introduced the Laken Riley Act on March 1. The bill would "require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting," according to the bill summary.

The Laken Riley Act would also authorize states to "sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement."

"The bill authorizes state governments to sue for injunctive relief over certain immigration-related decisions or alleged failures by the federal government if the decision or failure caused the state or its residents harm, including financial harm of more than $100," the bill summary says.

The most recent action regarding the bill occurred on March 11 when it was read for the second time and placed on the Senate legislative calendar.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci/ USA TODAY, Wayne Ford/ USA TODAY, Christopher Cann/ USA TODAY