Nursing student found dead on University of Georgia campus: 'Foul play is suspected'
ATHENS, Georgia (WJW) – A person of interest is being questioned by law enforcement officials following the death of a nursing student whose body was found on the University of Georgia campus Thursday.
The student, identified as 22-year-old Laken Riley, was not a student at UGA but rather Augusta University. A friend of the Riley's had called police shortly after noon on Thursday when Riley failed to return from a run near the University of Georgia Intramural Fields, where her body was ultimately found.
“The individual was unconscious and not breathing and had visible injuries,” University of Georgia Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said Thursday night.
Riley was a junior at Augusta University, where she was also on the dean's list, NewsNation reported. Augusta University has an Athens campus near UGA's.
On Friday, a UGA spokesperson told the media that a person of interest had been identified, and is being questioned.
"We want to stress that this continues to be an active ongoing investigation, and we will provide updates as circumstances warrant," the spokesperson said.
In a letter to students on Thursday, UGA said "foul play" was indeed suspected shortly after the discovery of the victim's body.
“We want to assure you that the safety and welfare of our campus community is our top concern," the letter read.
UGA canceled all classes scheduled for Friday. Augusta University canceled classes at its Athens campus, but will remain open as a gathering place for students, faculty and staff.
Officials had also advised students to avoid the wooded area where the body was found, and to travel in groups. Clark said Thursday, however, that students and faculty were not in any "immediate" danger.
“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.
Police at UGA, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, were conducting the investigation, Clark said. He noted that there has not been a homicide on campus in the last 20 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.