Georgia campus reacts after nursing student Laken Rileyâs murder

Under sunny skies and warm late winter temperatures that often bring joy to University of Georgia students, many were still struggling Sunday to make sense of the Thursday murder of a 22-year-old nursing student on the UGA campus.

“I’ve never heard of anything like that here,” said Angel Anaya, a graduate student from Mableton who calls Athens home now. “It’s very tough. I know people can be crazy, but that’s taking a human being.”

Anaya was leaving the UGA intramural fields, only a short distance from where Laken Riley, a student at Augusta University’s nursing program in Athens, was found dead Thursday. She had gone out for a run in the trails behind Lake Herrick, part of the vast intramural sports complex on the UGA campus.

He and two friends had come to enjoy the warm weather, he said, and to de-stress. Anaya, who is studying to be a mental health counselor, said stress is huge on the campus now Riley’s murder and the death of UGA student Wednesday have darkened the mood, he said.

Over on North campus, Juliana Robbins, a UGA junior who only recently transferred from Kennesaw State University, said she has enjoyed being on campus but that “It’s been a bad time overall, unfortunately.”

As a runner who knew her paths comfortably in Kennesaw, she said she isn’t sure she’ll be jogging alone any time soon in Athens.

“It’s just weird and sad, especially as a woman,” Robbins said. “I feel like I’m walking on glass.”

Meanwhile, plans proceeded for a vigil for Riley on Monday and the student who died Wednesday. His name has not been released.

And funeral plans have been set for Riley.

Her obituary said that a love for nursing and helping others drove Riley to attend UGA and later the Augusta University nursing program in Athens, where she transferred and made the fall 2023 dean’s list. She remained an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

“Laken’s adoration for caring went beyond her goal of becoming a nurse but allowed her to be an extraordinary nanny for two young children,” her obituary stated. “Her smile was extremely infectious and infected others everywhere she went.”

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested Friday and charged with murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another, according to UGA police Chief Jeffrey Clark. The suspect lives in Athens but is not a U.S. citizen. He has no known affiliation with the university and investigators do not believe Ibarra knew Riley, Clark added.

Visitation for Riley will be Friday from noon until 2 p.m. at Woodstock City Church, where she was very involved. Riley went on “countless” mission trips over the years, her obituary stated. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. at the church, located on Ridgewalk Parkway. Poole Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

“Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general,” the obituary added. “Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life. She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way.”

An online GoFundMe page was created to assist Riley’s family, which has requested donations instead of flowers. To honor her, all proceeds will go towards starting the Laken Hope Riley foundation, which will be used to bring homicide awareness and safety for women.

“The family would like to thank everyone for their kind gestures of love during this difficult time,” the obituary added.

The UGA chapters of Alpha Chi Omega and Kappa Sigma will host a vigil at 3 p.m. Monday at Tate Plaza. The vigil is open to the campus community.

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(Staff writers Rodney Ho and Virginia Anderson contributed to this report from Athens.)

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