Laken Riley Athens - More Details About Woman Found Dead at UGA

Laken Riley of Athens, Ga has been confirmed as the woman found dead on the campus of the University of Georgia Thursday.

Laken Riley Athens was a student of the Augusta University College of Nursing and a former student of the University of Georgia (henceforth UGA).

She was found dead behind Lake Herrick, which is a short distance away from the intramural fields where she had gone for a run.

Police held a press conference late Thursday to give more details on the case but did not release the victim’s identity.

However, easy clues lead her to be identified as Laken Riley of Athens, Georgia, a former UGA and current Augusta College of Nursing student.

On Friday, another press conference confirmed the identity of Laken Hope Riley.

Also on Friday, an illegal immigrant identified as Jose Antonio Ibarra was arrested for Riley’s murder.

In this article, we learn all we can about Laken Riley Athens Ga.

Let’s dive in!

Who was Laken Riley Athens?

Laken Hope Riley was a 22-year-old Athens, Ga resident who was found dead on the campus of UGA with visible injuries on her body.

Riley was found in a wooded area near an on-campus lake on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

UGA police received a call from an individual concerned about a friend who went for a run at the campus’ intramural fields and hadn’t returned. The police found the woman unconscious and with visible injuries.

The deceased individual was not a UGA student but was a student at another college.

Whilst authorities did not identify her, we were able through our search to discover the identity of the student – Laken Riley of Athens, Ga.

The Athens-Clarke County coroner confirmed the identity of the deceased as Laken Hope Riley to CNN on Friday.

Coroner Sonny Wilson said Riley’s cause and manner of death are pending an examination of the body set to take place Friday.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old resident of Athens, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another in connection with the murder of Laken Riley.

Ibarra is reportedly an immigrant, in the country illegally from Venezuela.

Laken Riley is a former student of the University of Georgia and left last year to pursue a nursing course at the Augusta University nursing program.

Her mother, Allyson Phillips wrote on Facebook about the moment they received confirmation from Augusta University about her admission to study nursing.

“To say I’m proud of Laken is an understatement! The Dean of Augusta University called her (while she was checking out at Starbucks 😂) to tell her she had been accepted into the nursing program. Laken was so excited!!!” Allyson Phillips wrote on Facebook.

“So glad she was with friends when she got the call so they could celebrate together 🎉🎉🎉. Her acceptance email came shortly after the phone call. This girl works harder than anyone I know. All her hard work has paid off!!!

“I can’t wait to see God’s plans for her bright future ❤️. I love you beyond measure Laken!!!!” she continued.

Laken Riley had spent three years at the University of Georgia after joining in August 2020.

Per her LinkedIn account, she also worked as a Tour Guide at Revolution Rail Co. alongside her studies.

Revolution Rail Co. offers railbiking tours, which is a fun excursion activity that allows riders to ride the railroad tracks under their own power and explore the outdoors in a truly unique way, according to its LinkedIn page.

It appears Laken Riley had been doing it all – working and schooling.

When she joined Augusta University in August 2023 a white coat ceremony was held for her.

Once again, proud mama Allyson Philips shared photos, writing: “Today was a proud mamma moment! We celebrated Laken starting nursing school at her white coat ceremony. This girl works harder than anyone I have ever met! We got to meet a couple of her friends from school that we loved!!! I am just so beyond proud and I can’t wait to see what God has planned her,”

Unfortunately, Laken Riley of Athens would be found dead Thursday, February 22nd.

Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and “foul play” is suspected.

UGA has canceled classes for the remainder of the week and will resume on Monday.

Police are monitoring vehicles leaving the parking lot near where the woman’s body was found.

While no suspect has been identified yet, there is “no immediate danger” according to UGA police chief Jeff Clark.

In an unrelated case, a student died by suicide on UGA’s campus the night before, identified as Wyatt Banks.

Laken Riley Athens Ga

UGA police have launched an investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found on the University of Georgia’s campus, Laken Riley of Athens, Ga.

According to a statement from the college, UGA police received a call from an individual who was concerned about a friend that went for a run at the campus’ intramural fields and hadn’t returned.

After searching the area, the police found the woman unconscious and with visible injuries in a wooded area near an on-campus lake.

Paramedics determined the woman was dead upon their arrival.

During a press conference, university police chief Jeff Clark confirmed that the deceased individual was not a UGA student but was a student at another college.

The incident is actively being investigated by UGA and county police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Police are monitoring and taking note of license plates of the vehicles leaving the parking lot near where the woman’s body was found.

The college has canceled its classes for the remainder of the week and will resume on Monday.

The UGA police are urging people to avoid the area as the ongoing investigation proceeds.

At a press conference late Thursday, authorities did not identify the victim, but revealed she was an Augusta University nursing student.

The Athens-Clarke County coroner officially identified Laken Riley Athens Ga on Friday.

In a statement, UGA said that “foul play” is suspected in the incident, adding that “safety and welfare of our campus community is our top concern.”

“Earlier this afternoon, you received a timely warning from the University of Georgia Police Department regarding an individual whose body was found in a wooded area at the UGA Intramural Fields.

“The woman had been reported missing after failing to return home from a run at the Intramural Fields this morning,” the UGA statement read.

“We have been fully briefed on this terrible situation. Foul play is suspected, and we are already receiving support from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke County Police Department to investigate this crime.

“If you think you have any information related to this incident, we urge you to contact the UGA Police Department immediately at 706-542-2200,”

UGA announced the cancellation of classes until Monday.

“We are announcing that classes on the Athens campus are cancelled after 5:30 p.m. this evening, February 22. They will remain cancelled tomorrow. We will resume classes on Monday, February 26,”

As of now, there is no identified suspect in the case of the woman found dead on the University of Georgia’s campus.

Wyatt Banks

A day before Laken Riley Athens was found dead, a University student, Wyatt Banks, had taken his life, marking a tumultuous 24 hours for the University.

The University of Georgia is grappling with a profound loss following the news that one of its students, Wyatt Banks, has died.

The young man, a member of The Kappa Sigma Beta Lambda Chapter, was a beloved part of the university body and is remembered for his bright personality and academic achievements.

Wyatt was a student from Athens, Georgia who was studying at the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia, UGA.

Banks, a high-functioning, multi-tasking student, was studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government at UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Simultaneously, he also appeared to have been studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration at the Terry College of Business of UGA!

Wyatt Banks pledged the Kappa Sigma fraternity during his brief time at UGA, which began in August 2023.

Previously, he graduated the Marist School where he was a National Merit Scholar finalist, a National Honor society and varsity football captain.

A Gofundme was set up upon his death.

The Gofundme described him as “During his time here, Wyatt spread nothing but positivity and laughter, with an infectious smile and a laugh that anyone in the room could recognize.

“If you were seeking someone to talk to, he was always there with open arms no matter what. If you were looking to go out and have a good time, you knew who to ask,”

The Gofundme is aiming for $50,000 and has reached its goal.

Augusta University

Augusta University (AU) is a public research university and academic medical center in Augusta, Georgia.

It is a part of the University System of Georgia and has satellite medical campuses in Savannah, Albany, Rome, and Athens.

It employs over 15,000 people, has more than 56,000 alumni, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Augusta University Health System includes the 478-bed Augusta University Medical Center, the 154-bed Children’s Hospital of Georgia, and more than 80 outpatient clinics.

The medical college of the university, its oldest and founding college, began as the Medical Academy of Georgia in 1828, moving into the now historic Old Medical College Building in 1835.

The present Health Sciences campus was formed in 1913 as the college moved to the Newton building and expanded from there, with the Dugas Building in 1937 marking the earliest building currently on the campus.

The College of Nursing has a satellite campus in Athens. AU’s Medical College of Georgia (MCG) operates a partnership with the University of Georgia on the University of Georgia’s new Health Sciences Campus, also in Athens.

In 2010, MCG partnered with the University of Georgia (UGA) to create the UGA-MCG Medical Partnership.

The result is an education that allows medical students to reach their full potential in a unique and stimulatin learning environment.

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