Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan migrant accused in the tragic murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, has been indicted on additional charges for allegedly peeping on a University of Georgia staff member on the same day as the killing.
The 26-year-old, residing in the US illegally, faced 10 new charges on Tuesday, including malice murder and kidnapping with bodily injury in connection with Riley’s death. Riley was assaulted while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on Feb. 22, according to court documents.
Ibarra stands accused of killing the 22-year-old Riley by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and asphyxiating her, as outlined in the indictment.
In addition to the murder and kidnapping charges, the grand jury indicted Ibarra on counts of aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing a 911 call, tampering with evidence, and being a “peeping tom.”
The indictment alleges that Ibarra was observed “peeping through” a window at an on-campus apartment and spying on a university staff member on the same day as Riley’s murder.
Living in an apartment near the campus perimeter, Ibarra allegedly seized the opportunity to commit the crime, according to UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark.
Riley’s lifeless body was discovered approximately five minutes away from Ibarra’s residence.
Ibarra entered the US unlawfully in El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 8, 2022, accompanied by his wife and her son, seeking asylum. He was subsequently released by ICE “for further processing.”