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Brother of UGA murder suspect charged with green card fraud

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Brother of UGA murder suspect charged with green card fraud

An undocumented Venezuelan man living in Athens, Georgia — who is the brother of a suspect accused of killing on the University of Georgia campus —— was charged Friday night with possessing a fraudulent green card, according to officials.

Diego Ibarra, 29, was charged by a federal criminal complaint and is being held in state custody, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia said in a press release. Ibarra could face as many as ten years in prison if convicted.

The federal arrest affidavit for Diego Ibarra shows after he made an asylum claim in El Paso, he was allowed to travel to New York. But in September 2023, Athens-Clarke County Police charged him with drunken driving and driving without a license. A month later, police arrested him again, this time for shoplifting. And in December, he allegedly skipped court and racked up another charge.

Ibarra is the brother of Jose Ibarra, 26, of Venezuela, who is facing state charges for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another in connection with the death of Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who police found dead Thursday on the University of Georgia campus.

LAKEN RILEY CASE: GEORGIA AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY MURDER SUSPECT IN CUSTODY IN NURSING STUDENT’S SLAYING

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Diego Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly handed over a fake green card to police on the hunt for his brother Jose, who they accuse of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. (Clarke County Sheriffs Office)

Homeland Security Investigations learned of Diego Ibarra’s undocumented presence in the U.S. on Friday when an Athens-Clarke County Police Department officer approached him earlier in the day because he matched the description of his brother as authorities were investigating the UGA murder, according to the criminal complaint and sworn affidavit.

Read the federal arrest affidavit

Laken Riley smiles for a photo while running

Laken Hope Riley was found dead on UGA’s campus on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Laken Riley/Instagram)

Diego Ibarra showed the officer a U.S. permanent resident card, otherwise known as a green card, as identification. The card was determined to be fraudulent, and Diego Ibarra was processed for expedited removal, but he claimed a credible fear of returning to his home country of Venezuela. So border authorities let him into the country.

Since entering the country, Diego Ibarra has been arrested three times by Athens law enforcement. In late September, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license. About a month later, he was arrested for shoplifting, and in December he was arrested for failure to appear for a fingerprintable offense.

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Jose Antonio Ibarra Mugshot

Jose Ibarra, who was originally taken into custody on Friday by the UGA Police Department in connection with Riley’s death, is now not believed to have had a connection to the victim. (Clarke County Sheriff’s Office)

Melissa Hodges, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia, said she can confirm Diego Ibarra is undocumented but cannot say the same for his brother.

“I can confirm Jose Ibarra is from Venezuela only. Diego is undocumented from Venezuela,” Hodges told Fox News Digital. “I do not have the details on Jose Ibarra.”

Jose Ibarra, who was originally taken into custody on Friday by the UGA Police Department in connection with Riley’s death, is now not believed to have had a connection to the victim.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA POLICE QUESTIONING ‘PERSON OF INTEREST’ IN LAKEN RILEY HOMICIDE

Laken Riley smiles wearing a brown top

Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who police found dead Thursday on the University of Georgia campus. (Laken Riley/Facebook)

UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said during a news briefing Friday evening that the attack was a “crime of opportunity,” adding that Riley was not a student at UGA. Riley had previously attended UGA before entering a nursing program at Augusta’s Athens campus.

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Classes and events at both universities were canceled on Friday.

Clark said Jose Ibarra’s immigration status was not immediately known to investigators.

“Right now I don’t know his full status,” he said. “He is not a citizen of the United States.”

Police found Riley near UGA’s Intramural Fields and Lake Herrick with “visible injuries” at around 12:38 p.m. Thursday after they received a call from a concerned friend who said she had gone for a run and did not return.

GEORGIA NURSING STUDENT FOUND DEAD ON UGA CAMPUS IDENTIFIED AS LAKEN RILEY

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Laken Riley in a medical coat in a grassy field

Laken Riley poses for a photo posted to Facebook. Riley was found dead near a lake on UGA’s campus on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Allyson Phillips/Facebook)

Riley had visible injuries and police could not locate a pulse, but they began CPR anyway. A sergeant arrived with a defibrillator minutes later and unsuccessfully attempted to revive the victim.

“Based on the injuries and Riley’s physical condition, I suspected that foul play was involved,” the police report reads.

Clark said it appeared as though she had been killed by blunt-force trauma.

Autopsy results remained pending Friday, but authorities said they were investigating her death as a homicide. Clark said it appeared as though she had been killed by blunt-force trauma.

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Fox News’ Audrey Conklin and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

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Tennessee girl charged with suffocating cousin, 8, in her sleep after fight over iPhone

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Tennessee girl charged with suffocating cousin, 8, in her sleep after fight over iPhone

A 12-year-old Tennessee girl is charged with suffocating her 8-year-old cousin as she slept while they were visiting family, prosecutors said last week. 

Home security video shows the girl, who will turn 13 this week, allegedly used bedding to suffocate her cousin on July 15 at a home in Humboldt, 98 miles northeast of Memphis, and then cleaned up the victim and re-positioned her body, authorities said.

The younger girl was sleeping in ther top bunk of the bunk beds they shared. The older girl is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER MISSING GEORGIA WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN TENNESSEE

Demeria Hollingsworth, 8, was suffocated to death in her sleep by her cousin, authorities said. (GoFundMe)

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The victim’s mother, Rayana Smith, identified her as Demeria Hollingsworth, Fox 59 reported. 

“She liked to read books, go swimming, play outside, ride her bike every day, play with the kids in the neighborhood, play with my friends’ kids. My baby was sweet,” Smith told the news outlet. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Smith, who said the girls were staying with their grandmother for the summer. 

Before the killing, they had both argued over an iPhone, she said. 

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“When they told me about that, I should have just gone to get my kid,” she said. “But they were having fun for the summer and I didn’t think she would kill my baby.” 

Frederick Agee, the district attorney general for the 28th District in West Tennessee, said his office is petitioning Juvenile Judge Mark Johnson to transfer the child to Circuit Court to be tried as an adult, which would allow for a weightier sentence.

A Humboldt police vehicle

A Humboldt police vehicle (Humboldt Police Department)

“I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted,” he said in a statement.

A service for Hollingsworth will be held on July 26, according to a GoFundMe page created by her mother. 

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Metro Nashville Public Schools confirmed to Fox News Digital that Hollingsworth attended Cockrill Elementary School. 

“The Cockrill community is mourning the unexpected loss of Demeria Hollingsworth, a beloved student who had been part of Cockrill since Pre-K. Demeria was known for her hard work, intelligence, and sweet demeanor,” school Principal Casey Campbell said in a statement provided by the school district. “She was cherished by everyone who knew her. Her passing has left all of us at Cockrill devastated. She will be greatly missed.”

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Trump early strategy targets state that hasn't gone red since Nixon

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Trump early strategy targets state that hasn't gone red since Nixon

Former President Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance are planning a stop in Minnesota, a surprisingly close state that hasn’t gone to a Republican presidential candidate in 52 years.

Trump and Vance plan to make the trip to St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Saturday, the campaign announced Tuesday, with a Real Clear Politics report noting that Trump pollster John McLaughlin believes the state is in play.

McLaughlin believes Vance, who Trump announced as his running mate on the first day of the Republican National Convention last week, could help put Trump over the top in the state, with the Ohio native expected to have appeal to voters throughout the Midwest.

Trump narrowly lost the state to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, coming up about 1.5% short. The former president’s 2020 performance against President Biden wasn’t as encouraging, with Trump losing Minnesota by about 7% that year.

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Former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance greet supporters during a rally at the Dayton International Airport on Nov. 7, 2022, in Vandalia, Ohio. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

But polling shows signs that Minnesota, which hasn’t gone to a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972, could be competitive once again in 2024. A June poll of likely voters in Minnesota conducted by the Star Tribune, MPR News and KARE 11, showed Trump trailing Biden by just 4% in the state, 45-41.

The Real Clear Politics polling average in the state is even slightly closer, with Trump coming in only 3 points behind Biden. One poll cited in the average, a Hill/Emerson poll, shows Trump and Biden tied in the typically dependably blue state.

The Trump campaign has become increasingly bullish that it can put more states in play in 2024, attempting to expand the map from the most heavily contested swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Minnesota and Virginia have been of particular interest to the campaign, which has insisted the two states could be winnable for the former president.

Like Minnesota, Trump has trended favorably in Virginia in recent weeks. The former president now holds a narrow lead in the state, the Real Clear Politics polling average shows, with the two most recently cited polls showing Trump up two and three points, respectively.

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Trump at Michigan rally

Former President Trump holds his first public campaign rally with his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, at the Van Andel Arena on July 20, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

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Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a Trump campaign spokesperson pointed to recent Emerson polling that shows Trump with a one-point lead in Minnesota. The spokesperson also noted that the campaign has opened eight new field offices in the state.

Trump has also mentioned Minnesota as a potential state he could grab, touting Vance’s Midwestern roots as a reason the state could be in play in November.

“J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond,” Trump said in a Truth Social post that announced Vance as his running mate.

But Trump and Vance’s trip to Minnesota comes amid a rapidly shifting race, with Biden announcing Sunday that he was dropping out. Biden immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place at the top of the ticket, spurring Democrats to rally around her.

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Kamala Harris closeup shot speaking

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an NCAA championship teams celebration on the South Lawn of the White House on July 22, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Less polling has been done on how Trump would fare against Harris in battleground states, though the former president will hope to get a head start on taking the state with his trip on Saturday.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

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Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

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Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

If you are traveling to Mississippi, there is no shortage of activities to take part in during your travels. 

Mississippi is filled with ravishing natural beauty and museums where you can take a deeper dive into history. 

In Mississippi, there is something for everyone, from scenic hikes to testing your luck at the blackjack table at one of the state’s numerous casinos. 

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Use this guide as inspiration for stops to make during your trip to Mississippi. 

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  1. Visit one of the state’s many museums
  2. Head to the casino
  3. Relax on Biloxi Beach
  4. Visit Vicksburg National Military Park
  5. See Windsor Ruins
  6. Go to Longwood
  7. Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
  8. Take kids to Mississippi Aquarium
  9. Go to the birthplace of Elvis Presley

Mississippi is home to many different attractions tourists enjoy, like a large aquarium and the house where Elvis Presley was born. (Getty Images)

1. Visit one of the state’s many museums

Mississippi is home to many different museums throughout the state. 

One popular one to visit is the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. 

The Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum, according to its website. The museum is filled with exhibits that explore the history of blues music. Check the museum’s website to see the exhibits that will be running during your visit. 

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Another museum located in Mississippi is the GRAMMY Museum. This museum can be found in Cleveland. The 28,000-square-foot museum has more than 24 exhibits that cover different music genres, from rock to hip-hop to country, according to its website. 

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2. Head to the casino

Mississippi has many different luxurious casinos throughout the state where you can play slot machines and table games. 

One of the most popular to visit is Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi. In addition to the games you can play, there are also many dining opportunities and a hotel on-site if you want to stay at the casino. 

There is live entertainment at the casino, too, so be sure to check in and see who will be playing prior to your visit.

3. Relax on Biloxi Beach

Biloxi Beach is a popular tourist attraction in Mississippi. 

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You can take a walk in the sand along the beach after visiting Beau Rivage Casino. 

While at the beach, you can also enjoy many of the main fishing spots and grab a bite at one of the delicious seafood restaurants by the beach.

For great views of the beach 24 hours a day, stay at one of the many beachside hotels with quick access to the sandy shore. 

Biloxi Beach in Mississippi

Biloxi Beach is a great fishing spot in Mississippi. (Barry Lewis/InPictures via Getty Images)

4. Visit Vicksburg National Military Park

Vicksburg National Military Park is full of Civil War history. The Vicksburg campaign was a success for the Union Army, according to History.com, and one of the longest campaigns of the Civil War.

The Vicksburg Campaign began in 1862 and continued until July 4, 1863, with the Confederate surrender, according to the National Parks Service. 

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Today, you can visit Vicksburg National Military Park and see the 1,325 historic monuments and markers that fill the location, according to NationalParks.org.

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You can also find a restored Union gunboat, the USS Cairo, here and the Vicksburg National Cemetery. 

5. See Windsor Ruins

Not far from Port Gibson is Windsor Ruins. 

This location is where the Windsor plantation once stood but was destroyed by a fire in 1890, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 

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Today, there are 23 columns left standing.

Windsor Ruins in Mississippi

The Windsor Ruins is a free destination you can visit on your vacation. (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

You may recognize the ruins from the movies they have been featured in: “Raintree County” and “Ghost of Mississippi.” 

Guests can visit the ruins during operating hours at no cost.

6. Go to Longwood

Longwood is a mansion in Natchez.

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The mansion is unique in its octagonal shape and an attraction that many tourists make time to see while they are visiting the state.

Guests can take a tour of Longwood seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the Visit Natchez website.

7. Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic road that runs through three different U.S. states: Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. 

Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi

Take a scenic drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway during your trip to Mississippi. (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

There are many places to hike or bike along the trail. 

If you enjoy camping, there are numerous places to pitch a tent on the trail after a long day of hiking or driving. 

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8. Take kids to Mississippi Aquarium

The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport is a great destination for kids and adults alike. 

This aquarium provides hours of family fun with so much to see during your visit. 

 

This aquarium features an alligator habitat, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a freshwater river and a touch pool for guests to get up-close to horseshoe crabs, baby sharks and more. 

For an additional cost, guests can also book special encounters with dolphins, penguins and others. 

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9. Go to the birthplace of Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935. 

If you are a fan of the King of Rock and Roll, stop at the two-room house where Presley was born. 

When the house was originally built by his father, $180 was used to put together the home, according to Visit Mississippi. 

The house is now part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park. 

Here you can also find the “Elvis at 13” statue, a popular photo stop on the property, and Presley’s childhood church. 

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