22-Year-Old College Student Vanishes in the Woods — Her Final Message and Chilling Surveillance Footage Uncovered

The heartbreaking case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student who went missing in Georgia, has taken a somber turn as her final text message to her mother and surveillance footage from her last moments have been made public.

On the morning of February 22, Riley, a nursing student, sent her mother a message at 8:55 a.m. before heading out for a jog on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus. It was the last time her mother would hear from her. Hours later, filled with worry, Riley’s mother sent a follow-up message: “Please give me a call. I’m so worried about you.”

When Riley failed to return from her run at the IM Fields, a concerned friend contacted UGA Police at 12:07 p.m. Officers immediately began their search and found Riley in the woods near Lake Herrick around 12:20 p.m. She was discovered with visible injuries and was unresponsive. Despite emergency medical efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The tragic loss of Riley sent shockwaves through her community. She had previously attended UGA and had recently transferred to the Augusta University College of Nursing in Athens. Her sister, Lauren Phillips, shared a heart-wrenching tribute on Instagram, describing Riley as her “built-in best friend” and vowing to honor her memory.

Riley’s story serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and has left many mourning the loss of a vibrant young woman with a bright future ahead.