Augusta, GA
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. Hereâs 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.
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.
âWe 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,â UGA officials said.
Officials said in a news conference Thursday night that they are considering the womanâs death a crime and that they are still searching for a suspect.
âThis is a tragic day and I want to offer my most sincerest condolences to the grieving family, friends, and campus partners,â UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark said. âWe are going to leave no rock unturned during this investigation.â
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Channel 2â²s 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 âin broad daylight â in a popular spot.
âThere has not been a homicide in the last 20 years here on campus,â said Clark.
According to police, the nursing student went for a run in the morning. When she didnât come home, a friend called police.
âThe individual was unconscious and not breathing and had visible injuries,â said Clark.
The death rattled both students and parents.
âThat hits a little too close to home,â said Veronica Bennett.
Bennettâs daughter is a UGA junior. Sheâs 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.
âAs a parent, I get tired of that being UGAâs go-to. Oh, we have the safety app. Well, the safety app is not much of a deterrent,â said Bennett.
As for the case, police combed the scene into the night—looking for clues to try and find the person responsible.
âMy investigators will be working on this case day and night. They will be looking at every security camera we have,â
NewsChopper 2 was over the scene Thursday afternoon, where crime scene tape was strung up in the woods and officers were roaming the woods.
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 studentâs 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
Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.
Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.
50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.
Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.
One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.
“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.
The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.
In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”
People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.
Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.
There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Lock and Dam Park closing to public for a month in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The city of Augusta announced a temporary closure of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park.
Closure of the park at 2105 Lock and Dam Road will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the lock and dam structure.
The park will be closed from March 4 to April 7.
All areas of the park will be closed.
However, the Baurle Boat Ramp will remain open and accessible to the public for fishing and boating activities.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta 911 call center earns statewide honor
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta 911 center has been named 2025 Communications Center of the Year at the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens.
The award recognizes excellence in public safety communications, innovation, leadership and service.
The award recognizes a center that demonstrates strong performance in emergency response coordination, training, technology and community engagement.
The Augusta center was selected among agencies statewide for its consistent service, professional standards and coordination with public safety partners.
“This recognition reflects the work our team does every single day,” said Daniel R. Dunlap, 911 director. “Our communications officers are the first point of contact during some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life. They provide reassurance, direction and critical coordination until help arrives. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and strength they show.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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