(Athens, GA) — Officials say the suspect in the death of a University of Georgia student is an illegal immigrant.
Jose Ibarra was arrested for the murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley, whose body was found last week in a wooded area near the school. Ibarra is from Venezuela and reportedly came to the U.S. in 2022. He’s charged with felony murder, false imprisonment and kidnapping, and concealing the death of another.
There’s no evidence that Ibarra knew Riley and police said her death was a crime of opportunity. Ibarra is being held without bond.