Suspect in death of Augusta University student found on UGA campus taken into custody

CNN
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A suspect has been taken into custody by campus police in connection with the killing of an Augusta University College of Nursing student on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, according to UGA.

“A suspect in the murder of Laken Riley has been taken into custody by the University of Georgia Police Department,” the university said in a social media post. “At this time, there are no indications of a continuing threat to the UGA campus related to this matter.”

The university will hold a news conference at 7 p.m. ET to provide more information on this case.

UGA earlier announced police had identified a person of interest who was being questioned amid an intense search for the student’s killer.

Investigators scoured the wooded area on campus trying to find clues as to who may have killed Riley. She was found dead after jogging in the area.

“We want to stress that this continues to be an active ongoing investigation,” spokesperson Greg Trevor said.

Riley was an Augusta University College of Nursing student at its campus in Athens, which is also home to the University of Georgia. She was a junior on the dean’s list, Augusta University said.

Before her enrollment at Augusta University, Riley was a student at the University of Georgia until 2023, UGA spokesperson Cole Sosebee said.

Her body was found near a lake on UGA’s campus Thursday afternoon. Her remains were publicly identified Friday morning.

Riley’s cause and manner of death had not been determined, pending an examination of her body that’s set to take place later Friday, Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson told CNN.

Classes were cancelled Friday as authorities continued to search for clues and two college communities grieve.

Authorities received a call around noon Thursday from a person who was concerned after their friend went jogging at the university’s intramural fields and never returned, University of Georgia Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said Thursday evening.

Investigators found the jogger’s body around 12:38 p.m. in an area behind a nearby lake, Clark said.

Police said they suspect foul play was involved. But no suspect information or possible motive has been released.

When he was asked whether there was any danger to the public following the death before the suspect was taken into custody, the police chief said: “When you have a suspect that’s on the loose, there’s always a danger. But there’s no immediate danger at this time.”

All classes on the University of Georgia’s Athens campus are canceled Friday and will resume Monday, the school said.

Augusta University has canceled Friday classes at the College of Nursing campus in Athens, which is about 2.5 miles from the University of Georgia’s intramural fields.

Augusta University’s president issued a statement Thursday, mourning the loss of the student.

“It is with deepest sorrow that I share with you the news that one of our students at our College of Nursing campus at Athens has passed away,” Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel said in a letter to his school’s community.

Authorities ask anyone with information about Riley’s death to contact the UGA Police Department at 706-542-2200.

Riley’s body was discovered hours after the “sudden death” of a UGA student the night before, campus officials said.

That student was found dead in Brumby Hall, and police found “no indications of any criminal actions or foul play,” according to UGA police records. The incident was listed as a death investigation/suicide.

“The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our university,” the school said Thursday. “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.”

This is a developing story and will be updated.