.png "Timeline of Laken Riley’s Death")
Laken Riley, was an ambitious 22-year-old nursing student from Augusta University, Georgia.
She was loved by everyone because of her commitment to her studies.
She lived in Georgia and had a passion for outdoor activities, including running.
But in February 2024, Laken Riley's life was brutally cut short during a routine morning jog.
Who Was Laken Riley?
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| Laken Riley |
Timeline of Events: The Final Moments of Laken Riley
On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley tragically lost her life during a morning jog near the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
Here’s a detailed timeline of that fateful day:
Early Morning
- 8:55 AM: Laken Riley starts her day by texting her mother, Allyson Phillips. "Good morning, about to go for a run if you're free to talk," her message read.
- 9:03 AM: Riley makes a call to her mother. They spoke briefly before she headed out for her run on the University of Georgia campus.
- 9:05 AM - 9:06 AM: Surveillance footage shows Laken Riley jogging on a trail near the intramural fields. She holds her iPhone in her left hand as she runs, eventually disappearing from the camera’s view.
- 9:11 AM: At 9:11 AM, Laken Riley called 911. However, when the dispatcher answered, Riley was unable to speak before the call abruptly ended. This distressing moment suggested that something had gone wrong during Riley’s run. This call was followed by two attempts to reach her, but both calls went unanswered.
- 9:24 AM: Allyson Phillips tries to reach her daughter by phone, but her call goes unanswered.
- 9:38 AM: Concerned, Riley’s mother sends a text message, “Call me when you can,” as she continues trying to contact her daughter without success.
- 9:58 AM: At this point, Allyson Phillips became increasingly worried. She sent a final message saying: “You’re making me nervous, not answering when you’re out running. Are you OK?”
- 12:05 PM: Riley’s roommates, Lilly Steiner and Sofia Magana, start searching for her on the trail after realizing she has not returned.
- 12:38 PM: A University of Georgia police officer finds Riley’s body approximately 65 feet off the trail, near a wooded area. The officer confirms her death on the scene
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| Laken Riley’s final moments |
The Investigation: Unveiling the Killer
The discovery of Laken Riley’s body triggered an immediate response from law enforcement and campus security.
Investigators found DNA under Riley’s fingernails, which matched that of a man named Jose Ibarra.
This finding suggested that there had been a violent struggle before her death.
Jose Ibarra was quickly tracked down and brought in for an interview with police.
He had visible scratches on his arms which was very suspicious.
Additionally, he lived in an apartment complex located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from the wooded area where Riley's body was discovered.
That morning, a trail camera recorded a man resembling Ibarra lurking around the fields just before Riley's death.
Jose Ibarra’s Snapchat selfie, which he posted earlier that morning, showed him wearing similar clothing to the man seen on camera.
At 9:44 AM, Ibarra was seen discarding a bloodied jacket and disposable gloves near his apartment.
Forensic tests were done on the jacket and gloves and Riley’s DNA was found on the gloves.
Hairs found on the jacket were determined to have come from either Riley or someone with similar hair characteristics.
These key pieces of evidence ultimately led to Ibarra’s arrest.
On February 23, 2024, Jose Ibarra was arrested and charged with malice murder and felony murder.
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| Laken Riley |
Who is Jose Ibara?
The perpetrator, José Antonio Ibarra, was a Venezuelan man who illegally entered the United States in September 2022.
He entered by crossing the southern border with Mexico near El Paso, Texas.
After crossing, he was apprehended by federal authorities but was later released into the United States.
Ibarra initially stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter in New York before taking a government-funded flight to Georgia.
Ibarra had been arrested multiple times by both federal and state authorities across different jurisdictions.
Additionally, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2023 after he failed to appear in court for a shoplifting case in Georgia.
Also, authorities later identified José and his brother, as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
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| Antonio Jose Ibarra |
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