Below is a detailed timeline graphic outlining the events of the morning of Laken Riley’s brutal murder on the Intramural running trails. Additionally, we’ve overlaid insightful commentary on the Court TV video to provide a clearer understanding of where and how the crime occurred. Together, these elements offer a comprehensive look at this tragic case.
How do we close security gaps given this information? Laken was murdered in the general area highlighted with question marks. Her last phone call was a 911 call to ACCPD dispatch occurring at 9:10am. Prior to this time, at 7:59am, a female resident of Building S, University Village UGA dormitory, called 911 (automated dispatch CAD UGA) to report a Peeping Tom attempting to enter her apartment. UGA police arrived at 8:06am to investigate. It was reported that suspect “disappeared into the wooded area near the dormitory”. At 9:05am, just 5 minutes before Laken’s 911 call, UGA police officers patrolled the railroad tracks on foot behind Building S reporting negative contact with a suspect (UGA police report). After not hearing from her daughter, Laken’s mother requested her friends check her location (Laken’s friends went to the trails to look for Laken but did not see her). Finally, at 12:07pm her friends called 911 (automated dispatch CAD UGA) to report Laken missing. She was found murdered by UGA police shortly thereafter. Laken’s 911 call to ACCPD dispatch is not mentioned within the UGA incident report of Laken’s murder. The report starts with the 12:07pm 911 call by her friends and subsequent search for Laken. Why?
If UGA cameras covered the area and were integrated into the ACCPD Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), real-time surveillance video would have identified the suspect and Laken (starting her run toward the trails), both in the same general area during the same general timeframe. What a game changer this would have offered since officers were on site and walking the railroad tracks at 9:05, a mere 5 minutes before Laken’s 911 call and murder. As described by the prosecution in court docs, the two incidents occurred 73 minutes apart and within 1,000 feet of each other. Increased camera use and integration into ACCPD RTCC is crucial for real-time investigation possibly saving lives.
If Crime Through Environmental Design (CPTED) best practices were employed for these more rural campus areas (read here), underlying brush along trail routes would have been cleared opening up sight paths of visibility; this alone creates deterrence.
If UGA had thought to deploy ‘security ambassadors’ along trails and install frequent call boxes, perhaps Laken could have received helped.
Each and every one of these points have been addressed by SafeDAthens and UGA Parents for Safety and Security with specific initiatives (Sign Petition to have implemented). To date, we have identified 7 emergency call boxes located at the Intramural fields and the Veterinary College. We have yet to have one identified on the UGA main campus although we understand there should be some more. How many? A dozen or so? SafeD Athens student interns recently reviewed the lighting and walkability along roads inside the Intramural Fields identifying deficiencies. There is so much more to be done! Where is the will to make positive change?
We hope you seriously read this timeline, think about the consequences of inaction and act to help our working groups create needed safety/security proposals.
This video from CourtTV shows the possible path Laken took prior to her murder. She left her house at 9:03am (court testimony - her house camera). At 9:11am Laken called 911. Note: UGA police officers were looking for a Peeping Tom suspect on the railroad tracks at 9:05am, as they were told suspect fled to woods (via UGA police report). Note, student housing with identified Peeping Tom is less than 400 yards from where Laken’s body was found. Note in our captions attached to this video, the location of electrical where call boxes with cameras could be located and could have captured the majority of the crime scene.