Athens, Georgia – A Venezuelan migrant accused of the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has been indicted on charges of allegedly peeping at a University of Georgia staff member on the same day as the tragic incident. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old who was residing in the US illegally, faced 10 new charges including malice murder and kidnapping with bodily injury in connection to Riley’s death. The young student was attacked while out on a run at the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News, Ibarra is accused of inflicting blunt-force trauma to Riley’s head and “asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors.” The indictment also includes charges of aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and being a “peeping tom.” It was alleged that Ibarra was seen peeping through a window at an on-campus apartment and spying on a university staff member on the same day he murdered Riley.
UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark described Riley’s murder as a “crime of opportunity” as she was found dead just five minutes away from Ibarra’s apartment on the edge of campus. Ibarra, who entered the US illegally in El Paso, Texas, in 2022, was later released for further processing. He was spotted in New York City by law enforcement, riding a scooter with his 5-year-old stepson onboard without proper safety precautions.
After leaving New York City, Ibarra joined his brother in Athens, Georgia, not far from where Riley was tragically killed. The case has sparked discussions on immigration policies and enforcement as authorities continue to investigate the incident. Despite the shocking nature of the crime, the legal process will unfold to bring justice for Laken Riley and her loved ones.