Newly-filed arrest affidavits in the case of the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley state that the suspect, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, used an object in the crime, is accused of “disfiguring her skull,” and is also accused of dragging her body to a secluded area to hide the fact that he killed her.
The allegation against Jose Ibarra of dragging Riley’s body was “was filed to support the charge of concealing the death of another person,” ABC News reported. The affidavits estimate that Riley was killed between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on February 22.
Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University’s Athens campus who was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, was memorialized at a vigil on Monday. “Laken showed devotion with every aspect of her life,” said Chloe Mullis, president of the University of Georgia chapter of Alpha Chi Omega. “Doing things halfway just wasn’t an option. We lost one of the brightest lights that has ever been.”
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Ibarra was held by Border Patrol on September 8, 2022, after illegally entering the United States near El Paso, Texas, but was released for further processing, according to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE added that at the end of August 2023, New York police arrested him and and charged him with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation. ICE also claimed Ibarra was released before ICE had a chance to request he be held until immigration authorities could put him in custody.
Riley’s family released a statement after her death saying in part, “Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general. 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. During this most difficult time, we ask that you respect our privacy, and provide us the time and space necessary to grieve our daughter’s life that was tragically cut short.”