ATHENS, Ga. — The undocumented brother of the suspect in a 22-year-old nursing student's killing on UGA's campus now faces charges himself, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Authorities arrested Diego Ibarra, 29, for possessing a fake green card after getting wrapped up in the investigation into his brother, Jose Ibarra, 26.
Jose — whose immigration status is unclear — was arrested on Friday in the death of Laken Hope Riley, an Augusta University nursing student who was found dead Thursday by the UGA intramural fields after going on a run.
During the course of the investigation, Jose's brother Diego was stopped by authorities on Friday for matching the description of Riley's suspected killer who, ultimately, was suspected to be his own brother, according to police.
When stopped by officers with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Diego presented a green card which was later determined to be fraudulent.
While authorities made moves to quicken his removal from the country, Diego made "a credible fear" if he were returned to Venezuela. As a result of that, he was released from immigration custody so his claim of asylum to be processed.
On Friday, UGA Police confirmed that Riley was killed by blunt force trauma in what they describe as a "crime of opportunity." They say Jose and Riley did not know each other prior to her death.
The revelation of Jose's status as a non-U.S. citizen has prompted blowback from Republican lawmakers. During a press conference, the UGA Police Department was unable to confirm whether or not Jose was in the country legally.
Diego had been arrested three times since entering the U.S. They say he had been arrested once for a DUI and driving without a license. They also arrested him on shoplifting charges and then, lastly, failure to appear for a fingerprintable offense.