Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia officials have confirmed they have arrested a suspect in the slaying of a 22-year-old nursing student on the UGA campus.
Friends said Laken Riley went missing after she said she went jogging Thursday near the university's intermediate fields and never returned.
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On Friday, Channel 2's Michael Seiden S. It was reported live as police surrounded an apartment complex on Milledge Avenue.
Police found her unconscious and injured in a wooded area behind the fields around 12:30 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene and police have ruled her death a homicide. Police said Riley died of blunt force trauma.
Police confirmed the arrest of 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, who is facing charges of aggravated murder, aggravated murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, interfering with a 911 call and concealing the death of another. .
According to UGA police, Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and is not a student at UGA.
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Police said Iberra and Riley did not know each other and it was a “crime of opportunity.” They said they believe Ibarra acted alone.
“This is a guy who woke up that day with bad intentions,” UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark said.
Syden saw two more men walking behind the police cars. It's unclear whether the men are suspects or persons of interest.
Seiden also saw inspectors bring floodlights into the apartment complex.
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