Athens, Georgia – A chilling revelation has emerged following the tragic death of 22-year-old Laken Riley on the University of Georgia’s campus. According to an open records request, Riley’s phone dialed 911 during the incident, shedding light on the harrowing circumstances of her demise. However, access to the 911 call has been denied under legal provisions that allow investigators to withhold recordings of deaths.
The request for the 911 call was made in an effort to gain insights into the events leading up to Riley’s death and the subsequent response by law enforcement. Complicating matters further, Riley’s death occurred amidst a widespread AT&T outage, prompting questions about whether this outage impacted her ability to seek help. Despite the public’s interest in understanding the details surrounding the tragedy, officials have cited ongoing investigations as the reason for withholding the 911 call.
Confusion shrouds the identity of the caller and the timing of the distress call, with one of the charges against 26-year-old Jose Ibarra, the accused perpetrator, involving the obstruction of an emergency telephone call. Ibarra faces a slew of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated battery, in connection to Riley’s death.
The discovery of Riley’s body behind Lake Herrick with visible injuries has sent shockwaves through the community. The coroner’s office has attributed her death to blunt force trauma, with arrest warrants alleging that Ibarra caused severe head injuries with an unknown object. Alongside the charge of obstructing an emergency call, Ibarra is faced with a litany of other serious accusations, including kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery.
In a press briefing following Ibarra’s arrest, UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark revealed that the suspect had no prior connection to Riley, characterizing the incident as an alleged “crime of opportunity.” Ibarra currently remains incarcerated in Clarke County Jail without the possibility of bond. As the investigation unfolds, the community grapples with the tragic loss of a young life and seeks justice for Laken Riley.