A Georgia grand jury has indicted Jose Ibarra, the suspect in the tragic murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley, on multiple charges, court records reveal.
Ibarra, a 26-year-old undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, stands accused of the killing that occurred as Riley was out jogging along dirt trails on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus in Athens on February 22.
The grand jury’s indictment includes charges of malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and being a “peeping tom.”
According to the indictment, Ibarra allegedly caused Riley’s death by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and asphyxiating her.
Additionally, the indictment accuses Ibarra of engaging in voyeurism at a UGA staff member’s apartment in the University Village Housing Building ‘S’ on the same day as Riley’s murder.
Ibarra resided in an apartment complex adjacent to the on-campus park where Riley was running. UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark characterized the incident as a “crime of opportunity.”
The jogging route Riley frequented is easily accessible from Ibarra’s residence, located just a brief walk away from where Riley’s body was discovered.
Following Riley’s tragic death, UGA issued a statement outlining ongoing safety initiatives, including investments in police staffing, security cameras, lighting enhancements, rideshare programs, and the development of a safety app. The university also pledged to further evaluate safety measures.
Ibarra, who unlawfully entered the United States through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 and was subsequently paroled, lived with his brothers, Diego Ibarra, 29, and Argenis Ibarra, 24, in the same apartment. Both siblings were taken into custody for questioning after Riley’s murder.
Diego Ibarra faces charges related to green card fraud and is reported to have ties to a known Venezuelan gang in the U.S., as per federal court documents. Additionally, Argenis and Diego were previously deported after illegally entering the U.S. in April 2023 but were later arrested again near El Paso before ultimately making their way to Athens.
