Last night, University of Georgia Police were able to complete notification of the family in the death of the young woman whose body was found in the woods behind Lake Herrick yesterday afternoon. The victim has been identified as Laken Riley. Laken was a student at UGA through Spring Semester 2023, prior to transferring to the Augusta University College of Nursing program at Athens, where she was currently enrolled.
The University of Georgia Police Department is actively investigating this homicide in close cooperation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and federal law enforcement partners. Police personnel are still on the scene at the Oconee Forest Park area of the Intramural Fields, so please continue to avoid the forested area while the investigation is ongoing.
On February 22, 2024 at approximately 12:07 p.m., the UGA Police Department received a call from a friend of Laken’s who was concerned that she had gone to run at the Intramural Fields earlier in the morning and had not returned as expected. Officers responded to the area and immediately began a search at approximately 12:20 p.m. and located her shortly afterward. She was unconscious and not breathing, and had received visible injuries. Officers immediately began rendering medical aid. Emergency medical responders determined that she was deceased upon their arrival.
Anyone with information that could possibly be related to this incident in any way, or who may have witnessed something relevant or suspicious anywhere near the Intramural Fields between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Thursday, is asked to contact the UGA Police Department immediately at 706-542-2200.
