LAKEN Riley’s parents have remained busy seeking justice for their 22-year-old daughter while simultaneously grieving their devastating loss.
While they both declined their invitations to attend President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address, they’ve voiced their support for H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act.
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Who was Laken Riley?
Laken Hope Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University’s College of Nursing.
Riley was born on January 10, 2002, in Marietta, Georgia, and raised in Woodstock, along with her three siblings.
She attended River Ridge High School, where she was a member of the cross-country team, and graduated in 2020.
Before transferring into a nursing program, Riley was an undergraduate student at the University of Georgia through the 2023 spring semester.
She was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega, having joined the sorority in the fall of 2020.
Augusta University’s medical campus, located in Athens, Georgia, is about two and a half miles away from the University of Georgia’s campus.
As part of a unique partnership, Augusta University also allows students to participate in UGA campus activities.
Riley often went jogging and running between the two campuses and around the intramural fields on UGA’s campus.
At the time of her death, Riley was a junior at Augusta, set to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 2025.
She was also a member of the university’s Dean’s List.
According to a GoFundMe fundraising page established by Kanaan Rogers and John Phillips, Riley “was a sweet and compassionate soul” with a “kind-hearted spirit.”
She was also “a wonderful friend, sister, daughter, etc. who touched the lives of everyone around her.”
“Her infectious smile and contagious laugh lit up every room she entered.”
Who are Laken Riley’s parents?
Laken Riley’s parents are William Jason Riley and Allyson Phillips.
She also had a stepfather, John Phillips, from her mother’s second marriage.
William Jason lives in Buford, Georgia, while Allyson resides in Woodstock.
“Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general,” her stepfather, John Phillips, wrote on a GoFundMe created in her honor.
“Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life,” he added.
“She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way.”
“Every single dollar donated will go towards starting the Laken Hope Riley Foundation and will be used to drive homicide awareness and safety for women.”
The Laken Hope Riley Foundation has raised more than $240,000, well over its $35,000 goal.
Since her death, Riley’s parents have spoken to several key politicians, including former President and 2024 presidential candidate, Donald Trump.
Trump revealed that he spoke with John and Allyson on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
“They are devastated beyond belief,” he said.
On March 4, 2024, just days after her daughter’s funeral, Allyson Phillips shared a heartbreaking update about Riley’s death.
“As I sat down to write this message, I really just have no words. My family has faced the most devastating, unimaginable loss that anyone could ever be force to endure,” Phillips shared, as tweeted by Colin Rugg.
“It would be really easy to lose our faith in mankind because of this senseless and avoidable tragedy.”
“The amount of love, support and help that we have received during this horrific nightmare is overwhelming,” she added.
Georgia Representative Mike Collins, a Republican, invited Riley’s parents to President Joe Biden’s SOTU address, but they notably declined.
In response, Collins said he would be leaving his guest seats at the SOTU address empty to honor Riley.
“I invited Laken Riley’s parents to the State of the Union address, but understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter,” Collins tweeted.
“Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime,” he added.
During the SOTU address, Marjorie Taylor Greene confronted President Biden, telling him to “say her name” while holding up a button with Riley’s name.
Biden obliged but reportedly fumbled Riley’s name.
“Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal,” he said.
“Biden does not even KNOW my child’s name – it [sic] pathetic!” Allyson Philips commented on a Facebook post celebrating the passage of the Laken Riley Act, as reported by the New York Post.
“‘If you are going to say her name (even when forced to do so) at least say the right name!” she added.
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What happened to Laken Riley?
On Thursday, February 22, 2024, Laken Riley went for a morning run at the University of Georgia’s intramural fields.
When she failed to return home after a few hours, her friend and roommate reported her missing at around noon.
Less than an hour later, Riley’s body was found by UGA police in a wooded area near Lake Herrick.
“Officers located the individual in the forested area behind Lake Herrick at approximately 12:38 p.m.,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement released by the University of Georgia police department.
“The individual was unconscious and not breathing, and had visible injuries. Officers immediately began rendering medical aid.”
“Emergency medical responders determined that the individual was deceased upon their arrival.”
On Friday, February 23, 2024, police arrested their main suspect, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra.
Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark told the press that officers had taken several individuals into custody, but there was a “robust” amount of evidence indicating Ibarra as Riley’s killer.
The evidence included security camera footage obtained by police.
Ibarra, originally from Venezuela, was charged with malice and felony murder, aggravated assault and battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping, concealing the death of another, and physically hindering a 911 call.
Ibarra is reportedly responsible for disfiguring Riley’s skull and dragging her to a secluded area.
He “did commit the offense of aggravated battery when he maliciously causes bodily harm to another by seriously disfiguring her body or a member thereof by disfiguring her skull,” according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News.
On February 26, 2024, Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson confirmed that Riley had died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Fox News Digital that Ibarra:
- Crossed into the US illegally near El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, before being paroled and released for further processing
- Was arrested in New York City on August 31, 2023, and “charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation”
- Was released from his August 2023 arrest before a detainer could be issued
- Was cited for shoplifting in Athens-Clarke County on October 27, 2023
- Had an outstanding bench warrant for failing to appear in court on the shoplifting charges
“He did not know her at all. I think this was a crime of opportunity,” Chief Clark confirmed, as reported by WSB-TV 2 Atlanta News.
Ibarra lived just a few minutes away from the crime scene, in an apartment behind Oconee Forest Park.
“He did not attend school at the University of Georgia,” Clark said.
Ibarra had, however, been fired from a dishwashing job at UGA “after presenting fake green card documents,” the school previously told Fox News Digital.
“This was an individual who woke up with bad intentions that day,” Clark added.
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