One year gone: Changes since Laken Riley's death one year ago at UGA
Year after Laken Riley Murder: What's changed?
It's been exactly one year since 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley was killed on UGA's campus. The sentencing of convicted killer Jose Ibarra, who entered the country illegally, made national headlines. It led to new legislation at the state and federal level. Here's what's changed since.
ATHENS, Ga. - One year after the murder of nursing student Laken Riley, her family continues to grapple with the pain of her tragic death, which sent shockwaves across Georgia and the nation.
What we know:
Riley, 22, was found dead on Feb. 22 of last year after going for a run on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens and never returning.
Authorities say she was attacked and killed before being discovered later that day. Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant, was arrested and later convicted of her murder. He is currently serving a life sentence but has since requested a new trial.
Laken Riley murder: UGA changes
It is the heartbreaking anniversary of the death of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed on University of Georgia's campus a year ago on Saturday. Her killer Jose Ibarra is now serving a life sentence. Since her death, UGA has made several changes to ensure students feel safe on campus and more are on the way.
What they're saying:
Riley’s sister, Lauren Phillips, spoke about the emotional toll her family has endured.
Her grief remains overwhelming as she recalls the horror of her sister’s final moments.
Laken’s Legacy: A New Federal Law in Her Name
Big picture view:
Laken Riley's family urged state lawmakers to strengthen Georgia immigration laws in the weeks following her death.
Remembering Laken Riley
Laken Riley was killed almost one year ago on Feb. 22 by an undocumented immigrant while she was jogging on the UGA campus in Athens.
The Georgia General Assembly was in the midst of the 2024 legislative session when the 22-year-old nursing student was killed by an illegal immigrant in Athens last February. Laken's murder sparked renewed calls for tougher immigration laws at the state and federal level.
Earlier this year, a federal law named in Riley’s honor was signed, aimed at addressing immigration-related crimes. The law has already been used for the first time—a prosecutor in Indiana cited it to deport an undocumented immigrant involved in a fatal car crash.
Laken Riley murder: Immigration law changes
Laken Riley's death sparked calls for immigration reform here in Georgia and nationwide. Georgia lawmakers have been on the front lines in the fight to pass tougher immigration laws.
The Georgia General Assembly and HB 1105
What they're saying:
FOX 5's Deidra Dukes spoke one-on-one with Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Laken Riley's murder. They discussed how Laken Riley's death has sparked calls for Immigration Reform in Georgia and nationwide. "A beautiful young lady with such a promising life in front of her, who was taken way too soon," Burns said.
"President Trump's done just what he said he would do. He's addressed the issue and signed the bill," Burns said. "We're very proud of Mike Collins, who was the author of the bill that ensures that tragedies like this won't happen again."
The state legislature passed controversial House Bill 1105 which requires local jailers to check the immigration status of inmates and cooperate with federal immigration officials. Governor Kemp signed the bill into law in May. "The legislation we passed in Georgia will make a difference," said Burns, "as we protect citizens all across this nation."
MOST RECENT STORIES
- Laken Riley Act used in Indiana to deport man who caused fatal crash
- Trump signs Laken Riley Act into law as first piece of legislation
- Convicted UGA campus murderer Jose Ibarra files motion for new trial
While Riley’s family continues to mourn her loss, they hope that justice in her name will help prevent future tragedies.
Security upgrades at UGA
Security upgrades at UGA
Since Laken Riley's death one year ago, there have been significant upgrades to security on the University of Georgia Athens campus.
Why you should care:
The University of Georgia has made significant campus security upgrades in response to Riley’s murder near Lake Herrick during a morning run. They have installed 23 emergency call boxes in remote areas, with plans to add 50 more in the coming years.
Additionally, the university has introduced 12 campus safety ambassadors who patrol during evening and early morning hours and has expanded surveillance by installing 3,000 feet of additional license plate readers. Officials say all new parking lot construction will include emergency call boxes moving forward.
Students have expressed feeling reassured by these new safety measures as the university continues to emphasize security improvements.
What they're saying:
UGA Associate Vice President for Public Safety Daniel Silk addressed the security changes:
"There's not a perfect end goal there's never going to be a day when we get to the finish line and we can say we're done there's no other efforts. The key is to recognize that tomorrow we always want to be better than we are today.
"Our efforts in the last year were a continuation and magnification of programs that we already had going on."
"We're really committed to the ways we can harness innovation to continue to make a difference. We want to set the pace."