Neighbor: Laken Riley murder suspect threw bloody clothes in dumpster

(NewsNation) — A neighbor of the man accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus said he threw bloody clothing and evidence in dumpsters around the apartment complex.

One neighbor told NewsNation Jose Ibarra was captured on security and doorbell cameras with evidence that he disposed of in several locations.

“He took all of the evidence,” she said. “He’s on camera with his bloody clothes in a bag.”

She said police took the footage as evidence, so NewsNation was not able to view it and verify the details.

Ibarra was arrested on Feb. 23, 2024, after Riley’s body was found on the UGA campus where she had gone for a run. Ibarra is charged with multiple counts of murder and assault and court documents claim he used a blunt object to kill Riley and dragged her body to a secluded location.

The neighbor also told NewsNation that Riley frequently ran through the complex to access the trail which ran directly behind it and said Ibarra would sit outside all day long and likely saw Riley run by in the past.

“He was out here all hours of the night and day,” she said.

The apartment complex is a former hotel converted into studio apartments and next door neighbor said Ibarra lived in the unit with four or five others who were all undocumented.

Ibarra’s immigration status has become a an issue in the case, with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp blaming the Biden administration’s immigration policies for Liken’s death. Republicans in Congress have demanded the Department of Homeland Security turn over Ibarra’s case history.

Ibarra was previously arrested in New York and charged with acting in a manor to injure a child under 17, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE said New York authorities released Ibarra before they could ask for him to be detained until he could be transferred to their custody.