Laken Hope Riley: College student with 'visible injuries' found dead on the University of Georgia campus
ATHENS, GEORGIA: A 22-year-old college student was found dead on the University of Georgia campus after she went missing while on a jog, officials said. The woman has been identified as Laken Hope Riley, Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson confirmed on Friday morning, February 23.
The coroner said a cause and manner of death is still pending and refused to make any comment regarding the ongoing investigation.
Laken Hope Riley was a student at Augusta University
Riley was a nursing student at Augusta University, also located in the city of Athens, Augusta University President Brooks A Keel confirmed in a statement obtained by NBC News. In a statement shared on Thursday, February 22, by the University of Georgia, officials said the woman was reported missing by a friend after failing to return home from a jog at the UGA Intramural Fields that morning.
When was Laken Hope Riley's body discovered?
At Thursday, February 22, press conference streamed by Fox 5 Atlanta, UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark said that officers responded to the area and began a search. At around 12.38 pm, a body was discovered in a wooded area behind a lake. “The individual was unconscious, not breathing and had visible injuries,” Clark said, adding that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene by medical workers.
The authorities suspect foul play in Laken Hope Riley's death
“We have been fully briefed on this terrible situation,” UGA said in the statement, adding “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. We want to assure you that the safety and welfare of our campus community is our top concern.”
Riley's death also comes one day after a student died by suicide on the UGA campus. Clark confirmed at the press conference that the two deaths are not related.
"The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our University," UGA said, adding "Our student body is grieving the sudden death of one our students in Brumby Hall last night. And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, today’s devastating news will uniquely test the resolve of our campus community, particularly our students."
The university said all classes were canceled on Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23, and will resume on Monday, February 26. Similarly, classes at Augusta University's College of Nursing campus in Athens were canceled on Friday, CNN reported.
Clark told reporters that police have not identified a suspect but are “actively investigating the case.” A possible motive has not been shared.
