(NewsNation) — University of Georgia murder suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra’s brother Diego Ibarra used a fake green card to get a job at the university.
Diego Ibarra, 29, presented the fake green card to work in a temporary position in Bolton Dining Hall as a dishwasher on Feb. 6, 2024, according to the university.
The university says he failed to submit further documentation later and was fired.
The university says he was never paid.
Diego Ibarra was arrested the same day as his brother. Law enforcement say they approached the accused killer’s brother because he also matched the description of the homicide suspect.
Police say Diego Ibarra presented them with a fake green card and he was taken into custody.
Since entering the United States, investigators say Diego Ibarra has been arrested three times by Athens, Georgia law enforcement. His charges included driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, and for “failure to appear for a fingerprintable offense.”
Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, is charged with murdering nursing student Laken Riley. NewsNation confirmed Jose Ibarra entered the United States illegally in September of 2022 in El Paso, Texas. He came from Venezuela and lived in New York before moving to Georgia.
Local police had approached Diego Ibarra, who lives in Athens, while he walked down the street because he matched the suspect’s description.
Diego Ibarra had encountered U.S. border agents in April of last year near El Paso, Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He was processed for expedited removal but claimed a “credible fear of return to Venezuela.” He was released with a pending claim for asylum.
At least 7.3 million people have fled Venezuela in the past decade during political, economic and humanitarian crises. Most settled in neighboring countries in Latin America, but many came to the United States in the past three years.
Diego Ibarra is in state custody, federal officials said. It’s unclear if he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
Melissa Hodges, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said in an email Saturday that she did not have any additional information on the immigration status of Jose Ibarra, who now faces charges that include murder and kidnapping.
Local police said Friday that Jose Ibarra, who lived in Athens, apparently did not know Riley and acted alone. Riley’s body was found near running trails Thursday, launching a highly visible police investigation that centered on an apartment complex just south of there.
Video from campus security and other technology led police to Jose Ibarra, who lived in one of the apartments, police said.
It wasn’t known if Ibarra had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Riley’s body was discovered Thursday afternoon after a friend told police she had not returned from a morning run, authorities said. Officers immediately began a search and found her body in a forested area near Lake Herrick that includes trails popular with runners and walkers.
Emergency medical responders determined she died before officers found her. Clark, the university police chief, said Friday that the cause of death was blunt force trauma, but he did not elaborate.
Riley studied at the University of Georgia through the spring of 2023 before transferring to Augusta University’s College of Nursing, according to a statement from the University of Georgia, which does not have a nursing program itself. She remained active in the sorority she joined at the University of Georgia.
Riley’s sister, Lauren Phillips, paid tribute to her Friday in an Instagram post, calling her “the best sister and my built in best friend from the very first second.”
“This isn’t fair and I will never understand it but I know you are in heaven with the man you loved most right now,” Phillips wrote. “I’m not sure how I’m going to do this but it’s all going to be for you from now on. I cannot wait to give you the biggest hug someday. I will miss and love you forever Laken.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
