By Joe Johnson
A grand jury has indicted Jose Antonio Ibarra for the murder of Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus three months ago.
The 10-count indictment that was filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court provides previously undisclosed details of the deadly attack, including how the 22-year-old victim had been asphyxiated and beaten in the head with a rock.
The indictment also accuses Ibarra of attempting to rape the nursing student who had only been out for her daily run on the morning of Feb. 22.
The indictment charges Ibarra with malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault with intent to commit rape, aggravated battery, interference with a 911 emergency call, tampering with evidence, and peeping Tom.
The peeping charge stemmed from Ibarra allegedly peering through the window of an apartment at University Village, a student housing complex next door to where Ibarra lived at Argo Apartments on South Milledge Avenue. That incident happened earlier in the morning of Riley’s murder.
Authorities say that Ibarra attacked Riley on UGA property, a running trail near Lake Herrick and the school’s intramural fields.
Police identified Ibarra as the killer when they obtained video footage of him disposing of a bloody jacket at his apartment complex, which was located close by to the crime scene. He reportedly had scratches on his arm, as though he had been in a fight.
Ibarra is a Venezuelan national who is in this country illegally, and the murder made international news, generating extensive media attention and sparking debate over U.S. immigration policies.
An arraignment date for Ibarra has not been scheduled.
Three counts of felony murder? I don't understand that. Explain please.