Athens, Georgia – New court documents have unveiled chilling revelations surrounding the tragic murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. The documents accuse Jose Antonio Ibarra, the suspected killer, of severely injuring Riley’s skull during a violent attack while she was out jogging. Ibarra, 26, faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and kidnapping in connection with Riley’s death.
The affidavit alleges that Ibarra used an object to strike Riley, resulting in significant damage to her skull. It further states that Ibarra committed aggravated assault by causing severe harm with said object. While the affidavit did not specify the exact object used in the attack, a preliminary autopsy report indicated that Riley died from blunt force head trauma.
In an attempt to conceal Riley’s death, Ibarra allegedly dragged her to a secluded area. During the attack, Riley tried to call 911 but was prevented from doing so by her assailant. The incident occurred on the morning of February 22 while Riley was out for a run at the University of Georgia Intramural Fields.
Ibarra, who is not a U.S. citizen, was apprehended on Friday for Riley’s murder, with ICE placing a detainer on him. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding Ibarra’s background, as customs and Border Patrol previously detained him in September 2022 after entering the U.S. near El Paso, Texas. He was later released for further processing.
Riley did not know her alleged attacker, and the police believe that the crime was purely opportunistic. The Greek organizations on campus paid tribute to Riley, remembering her as a bright light devoted to making the world a better place. The investigation into Riley’s murder involves the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and the university police department.