Safety & Security

Woman found dead on University of Georgia campus

Laken Hope Riley, 22, a nursing student at a nearby school, was found Thursday in a forested area of the Athens campus.
Feb. 23, 2024

woman who had gone for a jog was found dead on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.

NBC News reports that the Laken Hope Riley, 22, a student at a nearby nursing school, was found Thursday afternoon on the university campus after a friend told police she had not returned from a morning run. She was unconscious and had “visible injuries” when officers found her.

Police have not identified a suspect, University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark said.

Riley was a student at the Augusta University College of Nursing’s Athens campus, the school said.

Around noon Thursday, someone reported that their friend had gone for a run at the Intramural Fields on campus that morning and had not returned. Riley was found in a forested area behind Lake Herrick at 12:38 p.m.

All classes at the University of Georgia were canceled Thursday evening and Friday, the university said. They are expected to resume Monday.

 

 

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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