ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers honored the life and memory of Laken Riley on Wednesday with the passing of a resolution at the state Capitol.
After the resolution was read, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones spoke and held a moment of silence for the UGA student killed last month.
Riley's parents were also in attendance, and her father spoke to members of the Senate.
"I am a heartbroken man; part of my purpose has been taken," Jason Riley said before urging lawmakers to pass legislation to crack down on illegal immigration in Georgia.
His daughter's accused killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, entered the United States illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case, according to records.
Riley's father previously spoke to NBC News, where he said he feels his daughter's death has been used politically and that it makes him "angry."
Who is Laken Riley?
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University who was killed Thursday, Feb. 22, while out on a run near the intramural fields on UGA's campus.
UGA Police received a call just around noon from a friend who grew concerned when she didn't return. Officers then responded to the area at 12:38 p.m. and immediately began searching for her 20 minutes after they received the call.
UGA Police then found Riley dead with "visible injuries" behind Lake Herrick in a forested area, which is not too far from the intramural fields. Police said she died from blunt force trauma.
Riley, a Woodstock native, attended River Ridge High School in Cherokee County, where she ran on the cross-country team.
According to officials, Riley was a UGA student through the Spring Semester 2023 before she transferred to the Augusta University College of Nursing program at Athens, where she was currently enrolled as a junior and on the Dean's List.
Augusta University said they are in a partnership with UGA, allowing students to participate in UGA campus activities.
Riley joined a sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, in the fall of 2020.
Statements from those who knew Riley described her as a beloved person in the community.
Who is Jose Antonio Ibarra?
Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested in connection with Laken Riley's killing. Ibarra is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, concealing the death of another and hindering a 911 call.
Ibarra was arrested on Feb. 23, a day after Riley's body was found. Records show that Ibarra, a Venezuelan man, entered the United States illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Ibarra was first arrested in Sept. 2022 "after unlawfully entering the United States near El Paso, Texas."
You can read more about Ibarra's immigration background in 11Alive's investigative story here.
Much remains unknown of the specific details about how exactly Ibarra came to allegedly attack Riley and what, if any, motive may have existed.
But the warrants accuse Ibarra of some specific acts. Those include:
- His aggravated assault charge alleges "causing great bodily harm with an object." The object is not specified.
- His aggravated battery charge alleges bodily harm caused to Riley's skull.
- His charge of concealing the death of another alleges he "did conceal the death of another person, and/or hinder discovery by dragging the victim to a secluded area."
Additionally, police have previously said the call from the concerned friend came in around noon on Feb. 22 and that officers were in the area by about 12:38 p.m. The arrest warrants allege the killing happened sometime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Ibarra made his first appearance in front of a judge on Feb. 24 in the first legal step in a Georgia criminal case. He was not eligible for bond at this stage due to the murder charges he faces.