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Students, parents rattled after nursing student found dead on UGA campus; classes canceled

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Students, parents rattled after nursing student found dead on UGA campus; classes canceled


ATHENS, Ga. — UPDATE 2/23/2024: A woman found dead on the University of Georgia campus after she went for a jog has been identified as 22-year-old Laken Hope Riley, according to the Athens-Clarke County coroner.

Police announced Friday night they had issued arrest warrants for 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, who is expected to be charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another. Here’s the latest on the investigation.

Police suspect foul play after a woman was found dead on the campus of the University of Georgia Thursday.

Just after noon on Thursday, UGA police received a call from someone asking officers to perform a welfare check on a friend who went for a run at the intramural fields in the morning and had not returned.

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Officers began searching the area and eventually found the woman dead behind Lake Herrick, which is a short distance away from the fields.

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke County Police are investigating this death in addition to university police.

UGA confirmed to ABC News that the victim was an undergraduate student until the spring of 2023. Augusta University confirmed the victim is a student at their College of Nursing campus in Athens. Her name has not been released.

Classes at UGA and the Augusta University College of Nursing have been canceled for tomorrow.

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“We have been fully briefed on this terrible situation. Foul play is suspected, and we are already receiving support from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Athens-Clarke County Police Department to investigate this crime,” UGA officials said.

Officials said in a news conference Thursday night that they are considering the woman’s death a crime and that they are still searching for a suspect.

“This is a tragic day and I want to offer my most sincerest condolences to the grieving family, friends, and campus partners,” UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark said. “We are going to leave no rock unturned during this investigation.”

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Channel 2′s Michael Doudna was live in Athens on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. UGA police said the investigation is still ongoing as police are still trying to identify who murdered this young woman —in broad daylight — in a popular spot.

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“There has not been a homicide in the last 20 years here on campus,” said Clark.

According to police, the nursing student went for a run in the morning. When she didn’t come home, a friend called police.

“The individual was unconscious and not breathing and had visible injuries,” said Clark.

The death rattled both students and parents.

“That hits a little too close to home,” said Veronica Bennett.

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Bennett’s daughter is a UGA junior. She’s part of a group of mothers pushing for security improvements she says the university has rejected, such as blue safety lights, that go beyond the UGA safety app.

“As a parent, I get tired of that being UGA’s go-to. Oh, we have the safety app. Well, the safety app is not much of a deterrent,” said Bennett.

As for the case, police combed the scene into the night—looking for clues to try and find the person responsible.

“My investigators will be working on this case day and night. They will be looking at every security camera we have,”

NewsChopper 2 was over the scene Thursday afternoon, where crime scene tape was strung up in the woods and officers were roaming the woods.

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This is the second on-campus death at UGA in the past 24 hours. A student was found dead at Brumby Hall on Wednesday night.

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The student’s identity and cause of death have not been released.

Anyone with information potentially related to this death is asked to contact the UGA Police Department immediately at 706-542-2200.

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Augusta, GA

Lane Bryant to close Augusta Mall store this weekend

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Lane Bryant to close Augusta Mall store this weekend


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.

Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.

After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

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Augusta, GA

Willie James Tanksley Obituary April 16, 2026 – G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary

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Willie James Tanksley Obituary April 16, 2026 – G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary


With deepest and heartfelt sympathy, G. L. Brightharp & Sons announces the transition of Mr. Willie J. Tanksley who entered into rest April 18, 2026.

Mr. Tanksley, a native of Richmond County, was a 1985 graduate of the Academy of Richmond County. He was a member of Greater Young Zion Baptist Church where he served in the Brotherhood Ministry.

Survivors include his wife, Sabrina Tanksley; two daughters, Ashley Tanksley and Taylor Tanksley; siblings, Elise Tanksley of Augusta, GA, Wilhelmina Roland of Atlanta, GA, Terry Tanksley, Tommy Tanksley, Watler Tanksley and Elder Claude (Kimberly) Tanksley all of Augusta, GA; an aunt, Frances Tate; an uncle, James Tanksley; mother-in-law, Sandra Harrison of Beech Island, SC; father-in-law, Jimmy (Elnora) Bing; three sisters-in-law, Fonda Rainey, Nicole Harrison and Nina Bing; a brother-in-law, Eric Bing; a host of nieces , nephews, along with other loving relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Greater Young Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. William A. Blount officiating. Interment will follow at Walker Memorial Park. Viewing will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM Monday at the funeral home.

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The family will not be receiving visitors at the home. We ask that you continue to pray for them during this time.

Professional Services are under the compassionate care of G. L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary-North Augusta.



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Augusta, GA

Funeral held for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree

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Funeral held for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree’s funeral was held on Friday morning.

The funeral began at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, the Rev. Karlton Howard officiating.

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Interment will follow at Noah’s Ark Baptist Church Cemetery in Waynesboro.

A viewing was held on Thursday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church from 2-6 p.m.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

  • Classmate remembers former Sheriff Richard Roundtree ahead of funeral
  • Funeral announced for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree

News 12 first learned of Roundtree’s passing on April 11. He’d been in a metro Atlanta hospital with serious medical issues.

Several people spoke during the funeral service, but one deputy in particular spoke of Roundtree’s leadership.

“He was more than a sheriff. He was an innovator. He looked for better ways to serve. He led with integrity, courage and genuine commitment,” said the deputy.

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Roundtree, 57, was the head law enforcement officer in Augusta for more than a decade − and when he took office in 2012, notably no sheriff had been like him.

He was the first African American elected to the title, something he spent a career working toward.

He was highly visible in the community, where he could frequently be seen in a vest, working a crime scene along with his deputies.

Former classmate Clarence Brown said he was proud of Roundtree for his work.

“I was proud of him for, for actually, you know, getting to that level. But at the same time I realized that that’s a heavy weight, especially being from the community, um, and, and to draw in the community,” Brown said. “And so I wanted him to know that there was somebody in his corner that didn’t need anything.”

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Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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