Illegal Immigrant Diego Ibarra Arrested in Connection with Laken Riley Murder

ATHENS, England — Diego Ibarra, the brother of Jose Ibarra, who is suspected in the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley, has been dismissed from his position at the University of Georgia after it was discovered that he had presented a forged green card in order to secure a job at the school’s dining hall.

University of Georgia spokesperson Greg Trevor informed Fox News Digital that Diego Ibarra had presented a counterfeit green card to the hiring department to commence a temporary job as a dishwasher at Bolton Dining Hall on Feb. 6, 2024.

However, Diego Ibarra failed to provide the necessary documentation to retain the job and was subsequently terminated without receiving any payment from the University, Trevor added.

A neighbour revealed to Fox News Digital that Diego Ibarra had mentioned working at the UGA dining hall. The neighbour stated that Diego and his brother had been residing in their apartment in Athens for approximately six months.

GEORGIA MURDER SUSPECT CONFIRMED TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Diego Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly handed over a fake green card to police on the hunt for his brother Jose, who they accuse of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. (Clarke County Sheriff’s Office)

Diego Ibarra has been arrested and charged with green card fraud. His younger brother, Jose, is facing charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another in connection with the tragic death of 22-year-old Riley, a nursing student.

UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA POLICE QUESTIONING ‘PERSON OF INTEREST’ IN LAKEN RILEY HOMICIDE

Jose Ibarra, who was originally taken into custody on Friday by the UGA Police Department in connection with Riley’s death, is now not believed to have had a connection to the victim. (Clarke County Sheriff’s Office)

Jose Ibarra is accused of killing Riley while she was jogging along a popular pedestrian loop around Lake Herrick on UGA’s campus in Athens on Thursday morning. 

identified-laken-riley” target=”_blank”>GEORGIA NURSING STUDENT FOUND DEAD ON UGA CAMPUS IDENTIFIED AS LAKEN RILEY

Laken Riley poses for a photo posted to Facebook. Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was found dead near a lake on campus on Thursday. (Allyson Phillips/Facebook)

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The two brothers from Venezuela were residing in the United States unlawfully. They entered the United States via El Paso, Texas, in September 2022.

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.