Laken Riley was a 22-year-old woman who was murdered while she was on her daily run. She was enrolled in Augusta University, where she studied nursing. Riley was running on a trail near Lake Herrick, which is near UGA’s intramural fields in Athens, Ga. when José Ibarra attacked and killed her.
Ibarra was subsequently arrested and tried for Riley’s murder, and on Nov. 20, was found guilty on nine counts that make up his attack on Riley. Per his request, Ibarra was not tried by a jury, but his attorneys are already requesting a new trial, calling unspecified evidence into question.
Students from GCSU’s run club, GC Prowlers, shared their safety measures when they went on runs. Many runners, particularly females, feel impacted by Riley’s murder, and are now amplifying the safety measures that they now take.
“I always run with an alarm that will call 911 or emergency contacts and stuff like that, and I’m never in sketchy areas when it’s dark,” said Audrey Stipple, a junior exercise science major. “I would say mentally, it has made me a lot more aware that things can happen to you even when you are doing all the right things. It doesn’t mean you should stop running, but you just have to be a lot more alert.”
“Honestly, I feel like it’s a little different being a guy than a girl when it comes to taking precautions while running,” said Tate Hunter, a junior business management major. “I just choose to run in more populated areas, but besides that, it hasn’t really changed much for me. I could definitely do better at taking more precautions. Laken Riley did everything right and still was killed which is scary and so sad. I think her death has taught a lot of people in general to take extra safety precautions.”
Riley made sure to notify her friends and family before she went on her run and when they could not get in touch with her, they were able to track where she had been and knew what time she had left. Her roommates went out to search for her and then decided to call the police from there. Many women runners felt defeated, noting that Riley took measures to ensure her safety – running in a public place in broad daylight with her location shared and friends aware of her run – and still found herself subject to attack.
“I have always made sure when I run that I run with at least one other person, but after Laken Riley’s case, I prefer running with a small group and in daylight,” said Laura Fudger, a sophomore elementary education major. “I keep pepper spray on me, too.”
Video footage captured Ibarra throwing away clothes and Riley passing by his residence before she started her run that day. Riley reportedly fought her attacker for 17 minutes. Data on her apple watch provide this information, as the heart rate started to struggle, according to CNN. The police are stating Ibarra suffered minor injuries from her efforts.
“As someone who is a consistent runner, there are many precautions I have to take, especially because I am a young female,” said Rebecca Dunn, a sophomore mass communication major. “Running has always been a part of my daily routine, and after the murder of Laken Riley that took place last February, there were many things I had to change.”
This case did not just affect Riley’s community of female runners. Many runners were shaken up by the attack.
“I do a few things to be safe when I go on runs and think everybody should as well if they go on runs,” said Cab Cabiness, a sophomore finance major. “I do not run at night and only use one AirPod, so I can hear what is going on around me. I also tell people when I go on runs so they know what I am doing if I do not come back.”
It is important for not only runners but everyone to always remain alert and take safety precautions. GCSU is equipt with blue emergency call posts across all campuses, and students looking to run in groups can look into the GCSU Run Club for a community to work out with.
