Current:Home > StocksA woman was found dead on the University of Georgia campus after she failed to return from a run -Secure Horizon Growth
A woman was found dead on the University of Georgia campus after she failed to return from a run
TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-06 15:55:04
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A woman found dead on the University of Georgia campus was a student at a nearby nursing school, said authorities, who were checking security cameras and advising students to travel in groups and avoid the wooded area where her body was found.
Police do not have a suspect, University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark said at a news conference late Thursday. University spokesperson Cole Sosebee confirmed on Friday that the victim’s name is Laken Hope Riley.
The woman was found Thursday afternoon after a friend told police she had not returned from a morning run, authorities said. She was unconscious and had “visible injuries” when officers found her, Clark 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,” Clark said.
Riley was a student at the Augusta University College of Nursing’s Athens campus, the school said in a statement. Foul play in suspected, school officials said.
Officers searching the area found the woman’s body in a forested area behind Lake Herrick. That area is across a busy road from a large dorm and dining hall complex on what’s commonly called “East Campus.” Most of the students in those dorms are freshmen.
Clark said his department, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, were conducting the investigation. He noted that there has not been a homicide on campus in the last 20 years.
“We’re not going to leave any rock unturned in this investigation,” he said.
The University of Georgia canceled classes Friday. Augusta University canceled classes at its Athens campus but said it will remain open as a gathering place for students, faculty and staff.
The death “hits a little too close to home,” said Veronica Bennett, the mother of a University of Georgia student. She’s part of a group of moms pushing for security improvements on campus that go beyond the school’s safety app, WSB-TV reported.
“As a parent, I get tired of that being UGA’s go-to. Oh, we have the safety app. Well, the safety app is not much of a deterrent,” Bennett told the Atlanta TV station.
veryGood! (7598)
Related
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Taylor Swift Cheers on Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs Game Against Green Bay Packers
- Father of slain 6-year-old Palestinian American boy files wrongful death lawsuit
- Spanish newspaper association files multimillion-euro suit against Meta over advertising practices
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- How much should it cost to sell a house? Your real estate agent may be charging too much.
- New data shows dog respiratory illness up in Canada, Nevada. Experts say treat it like a human cold
- 2024 NFL draft first-round order: Bears fans left to root for Panthers' opponents
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Worried about running out of money in retirement? These tips can help
Ranking
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- In the Amazon, Indigenous women bring a tiny tribe back from the brink of extinction
- Michigan takes over No. 1 spot in US LBM Coaches Poll after Georgia's loss
- Leading candy manufacturer Mars Inc. accused of using child labor in CBS investigation
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Live updates | Israel’s military calls for more evacuations in southern Gaza as it widens offensive
- Magnitude 5.1 earthquake shakes northwest Turkey. No damage or injuries reported
- Smackdown by 49ers should serve as major reality check for Eagles
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Muppets from Sesame Workshop help explain opioid addiction to young children
Atmospheric rivers forecast for Pacific Northwest, with flood watches in place
The death toll from a mining tragedy in South Africa rises to 13 after a worker dies at a hospital
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Israel-Hamas war combat resumes in Gaza as Israelis accuse the Palestinian group of violating cease-fire
'Madman' fatally stabs 4 family members, injures 2 officers in Queens, New York
Deebo Samuel backs up trash talk with dominant outing in 49ers' romp against Eagles