Twenty-two year old Laken Hope Riley was found dead yesterday on the campus of the University of Georgia (UGA). According to a friend, Riley went out for a morning jog at the Oconee Forest Park area of the Intramural Fields. When Riley never returned, the friend called the police around 12 p.m., and her body was found in a forest area behind Lake Herrick at 12:38 p.m.
Riley had been a student of UGA until spring 2023 before she transferred to the Augusta University’s College of Nursing program in Athens, which has a medical partnership with UGA.
Riley had visible injuries and authorities are ruling this as foul play and are investigating this as a homicide.
Jeffrey Clark, UGA’s Police Chief is working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Clark said, “We’re not going to leave any rock unturned on this investigation.”
The medical examiner is investigating and doing an autopsy, hoping to have a cause of death by sometime on Monday.
All classes have been cancelled until Monday. Clark is asking all students to travel in pairs or groups and be aware of their surroundings.
Authorities are investigating a near by apartment complex and holding a person of interest.
Students or anyone with any information should call local authorities or campus police at (706) 542-2200.
By - FZ
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