Relatives of a Utah college student who was found strangled and burned last year described her killer as a 'monster' on Friday, in a hearing beforehe was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She was a member of the water polo team in high school. A surpr 'She was a kindhearted person that cared about others. Chief Brown has personally talked with the family and offered our commitment to finding MacKenzie. I just dont see any other reason as to why she would be there at that time.. Vurbl People: Interviews, Commentary, News . A blond bubble of happiness, said Galison told KSL. I was drawn to her outgoing and positive personality and knew I wanted her in my life as my little or as a close friend, if the former did not work out, Reilly told KSL. Mackenzie Michael Gallagher was born on June 8th, 1997 to parents Pat and Monica Gallagher in New Orleans, Louisiana. Then he called police. My grandmother, papa Gerry, was a hero to many. Her funeral was held June 15 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in El Segundo. I provided daily house cleaning, plan and prepare daily dinners and lunches, laundry as needed, and weekly grocery shopping. To schedule an appointment, call 801-581-6826 or visit the offices temporary reception area in Room 330 in the Student Services Building. The murder of Mackenzie Lueck occurred on June 17, 2019. Police said Luecke landed at the airport at 1:35 a.m. and texted her parents at 2:01 a.m. to say she had arrived there. I never imagined this day coming, but heaven couldnt wait for her. I will never forgive the monster who took her life. [17], After being arrested, Ajayi told his attorneys where Lueck was buried. A significant portion of our department has been assigned to work the case, weve been in contact with our federal, state and local partners. MacKenzie Lueck is a 23-year-old University of Utah student who has been missing since June 17 after she disappeared following a Lyft ride from Salt Lake City International Airport. [15] These charges came about in August 2019[30] after police also say that they found "numerous pornographic photos of children on his computer as they investigated Luecks death"[15] on July 2. Mackenzie Lueck's mother, Diana Lueck, remembered her daughter as a kind, loving and caring young woman who was a real 'spitfire.'. Keep reading to know more about him and sudden death. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of Mackenzie`s family at this time, he said. Lueck was reported missing June 20 after she disappeared following a Lyft ride from Salt Lake City International Airport. The Lyft driver is the one who described the interaction between Mackenzie and the unidentified individual as pleasant & happy to see each other. pic.twitter.com/3BHNdBh3vn, Michael Locklear (@MichaelLocklear) June 24, 2019. There, they found a red gas can, similar to the one he purchased at 9:00 am June 17. I love her. 'I replay those final moments together in my head over and over, stricken with grief that I cannot somehow keep her with us just a little bit longer,' she said. The pieces just didnt add up in my head. Then, she enrolled at the University of Utah to study nursing and kinesiology. She knew Ajayi for a long time. After all, in July, Ayoola Ajayi was charged with aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and desecration of a body in connection to MacKenzies killing. Fine told KSTU-TV, We hope youre okay, we want you home. She then took a Lyft to Hatch Park in North Salt Lake, where she was last seen in the early . We (were) both going into the medical profession, so we were kind of study buddies, Roeda told KSL Thursday. [17] She was picked up by a Lyft driver and taken to Hatch Park,[18] where she had agreed to meet Ajayi. People ask me to build all kind of stuff all the time but nothing like this. Ajayi claimed that he wanted to hide alcohol from his Mormon girlfriend. The American bison (Bison bison) is the largest terrestrial mammal in North America and is represented by two subspecies. But I hope it will keep this defendant out of the public eye and unable to commit these heinous crimes again. Gregory, though, said he looked forward to the day Ayoola died. Meanwhile, MacKenzie Lueck did not discuss Ajayi on her social media accounts. Gill said the woman's charred body was found dumped in Utah's Logan Canyon her arms behind her, bound by a zip tie and rope. Ajayi is facing charges of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and desecration of a body. Im not sure you even have anything to look forward to in the afterlife, if you believe in that, Gregory Lueck said. Delta Airlines Offers to Fly Singing California Kid and His Entire Family to New York She would never miss her midterms or anything like that. 2. He was wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, glasses and blue surgical mask. The University of Utah issued a statement about Lueck on June 24: The University of Utah is deeply concerned about the well-being of Mackenzie Kenzie Lueck and her family. Another classmate, Alexa Peterson, told the station that Lueck would reach out after class to see if she wanted to study with her. A Salt Lake City man was arrested Friday on suspicion of killing Mackenzie Lueck, a 23-year-old University of Utah student from El Segundo, and burning her body in his backyard. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Ajayi then burned her body and buried it in his backyard, Hamilton said. Once he and Lueck were at his residence in the Fairpark neighborhood, he tied her hands behind her back with zip ties and rope and tried to choke her with his hands, continuing after Lueck told him to stop. A native of Nigeria, Ajayi held a green card that allowed him to legally work and live in the U.S., prosecutors have said. She was really nice, always said Hi, wanted to know my first name, wanted to get my number to see if she could study (with me), Peterson told KSL. Lets make our votes count., In another recent post she said, I dont wear makeup for others the same way I dont decorate my house for others. Police said they have not set up a search in a specific area because they do not have enough information to do so. Ayoola A. Ajayi acknowledged he planned the death of 23-year-old Mackenzie Lueck, whom he met on a dating app and arranged to meet in a park. Neighbors reported that Ajayi had bonfires behind his garage on June 17 and 18 that resulted in a horrible smell. Additionally, charred fabric and other items were found in a nearby alleyway. Stoner, who is Luecks little sister in the sorority, has been sharing information on social media and handing ut flyers to help in the search since early on. [15] A trial for this case was set for December 2-3, 2020. Three neighbors tell me police came by late this morning and asked if they saw anything. When given a chance to speak, he apologized to Lueck's parents in a short statement. [31] The pornography charges were later dismissed. Detectives have spoken with the Lyft driver and learned that MacKenzie was met at Hatch Park by an individual in a vehicle. [7][13][14] A cleaner separately said that she noticed a lot of cameras in Ajayi's home, especially in the master bedroom. Police said at a June 24 press conference that interviews with the Lyft driver revealed Lueck met someone in another vehicle at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake when the rideshare driver dropped her off at 2:59 a.m. Police declined to release details about the make and model of the car or a description of the driver that Lueck met because they have not confirmed those details and do not want to put out possible misinformation. He pleaded guilty to forcible sexual abuse in that case. He was an information technology worker who had stints with high-profile companies and was briefly in the Army National Guard. But even though he pleaded guilty and is now behind bars for his offenses, the effect his actions had on MacKenzies family, especially her parents, hangs like a dark cloud over their heads. Lueck, a 23-year-old student at the University of Utah, was reported missing and her bound, burned, and buried remains were later discovered. and
Lueck's tearful family members recalled her Friday as a born nurturer, a spitfire and an . Mackenzie Lueck was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a part-time senior at the University of Utah studying kinesiology and pre-nursing. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor related to child pornography allegedly discovered on his devices during the investigation into Lueck's death. Wolf declined the job. She hasnt been home. Because of privacy laws that protect Mackenzies personal information, the university cannot provide further details. A beloved figure among friends and family, Mack was a kind and compassionate soul who always put others before himself. According to CBS News David Begnaud, Lueck was dropped off at the park at 2:50 a.m. Police returned to the park on June 24 to ask those in the area if they had seen anything. According to her family says, "Mackenzie is 5'6" tall, 120 pounds with a slim/athletic build, medium length blonde hair and brown eyes." A suspect is in custody in the disappearance and death of 23-year-old MacKenzie Lueck, who was last seen on June 17. PLEASE SHARE! However, Ayoola charged on her murder case by the Mike Brown (Police Chief, Salt Lake City). For the next few years, the Lueck family lived a seemingly ordinary life, but that all changed on June 17, 2019, when MacKenzie flew back to Salt Lake City, Utah, after attending her grandmothers funeral. I will never be able to forgive what happened to her. [7][14][16], On June 17, 2019, in the early morning hours, Lueck arrived at the Salt Lake City International Airport from California. I dont know why she would be going (to North Salt Lake) around 2 a.m. Its just very, very suspicious and dangerous, Fine told KSL-TV. On June 8, she posted on Facebook about the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment being passed, giving women the right to vote. He said they are also not aware of any issues with drugs or alcohol or mental health issues. MacKenzie Lueck's family and friends have set up social media accounts to help in the search for her. Those details remain unclear. [6][7][17][21], On June 20, Lueck's father called the Salt Lake City Police Department to inform them that no one had heard from her since she arrived back in Utah. MacKenzie Lueck was a 23-year-old University of Utah whose body was found July 5, weeks after shed been reported missing. Kennedy Chloe is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Gregory Lueck. 'Now, I will not have the opportunity to see her blossom in life.'. They went to his house for dinner, and the abuse happened while they were watching television, he acknowledged. Then she got into a Lyft car at the airport and that was the last she has been seen., Whether shes endangered or not thats a tough thing to say right now. On Facebook, the group " Find MacKenzie Lueck ," has more than 2,000 members. Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com
His attorneys then worked with prosecutors to find Lueck's body. Lueck has not been seen since June 17 when she returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, on a flight from California and took a Lyft to a park in the early morning hours. While they watched TV on his couch he began intensely kissing the victim and trying to inappropriately and forcefully touch her. Earlier reports said that she was flying home on July 23, but her family has corrected that to say she was due home again on June 23. The Lyft driver left MacKenzie at the park with that person and stated that MacKenzie did not appear to be in any type of distress. On behalf of the university, I express our heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and classmates of Mackenzie during this very difficult time.. Lueck and Ajayi agreed to meet up once she returned from California to Utah. Friends and family said they are going through her social media accounts and trying to find out if there is anything they are missing. Alpha Chi Omegas University of Utah chapter posted about Luecks death Friday after news of an arrest in the case broke, saying We hope that our Alpha Chi Omega sisters who knew Mackenzie best can find peace and comfort as they reflect on the lasting impact she made on the lives of her family members, friends, and sisters., The governor of Utah also posted his condolences to Luecks family Friday in a Twitter post saying in part, Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mackenzie Lueck at this very difficult time. Salt Lake Police Sergeant Brandon Shearer told KSTU-TVs Erin Cox, Our concern is extremely high right now. Friends say they do not know why Lueck would have been going to the park or who she could have been meeting. We have to do everything to look for her, because Id want her to do that for me.. They also set up a Twitter account, @FindMacLueck, and have been using the hashtags #FindMacKenzie and #MacLueck. IE 11 is not supported. IP, Activitatea de rsfoire i cutare cnd folosii site-urile web i aplicaiile Yahoo. MacKenzie Lueck, a 23-year-old University of Utah student, has been missing since June 17 after she returned to Salt Lake City from her grandmother's funeral in Los Angeles. Mackenzie Lueck went missing in June 2019, after returning from a trip home to El Segundo, California, for her grandmother's funeral. Police initially did not give an address or details about the location where Lueck had been dropped off. Ayoola Ajayi was taken into custody on June 28. Brian Wolf told CNN by phone Friday night that he went to Ajayis house for a consult on drywall work, but was asked instead to build a room with a secret door, protected by a thumb print scanner lock. The . Shes making those plans with friends and family to have plans for the future. CLIP 08/09/22. [30] The photos allegedly depicted children between the ages of four and eight. Mourners plan a vigil Monday at 6 p.m. Utah time at the university. Furthermore, she died on June 27, 2019. After they returned to his home, he bound and . Furthermore, after Gregory tried to call MacKenzie, only to be redirected to her voicemail, the Lueck family became genuinely worried about her well-being. He said detectives have interviewed her friends and acquaintances from school and checked locations she was known to frequent. Her phone has been turned off and the last place she was seen was the airport, she landed at 1 AM. [6][12][17][21] Additionally, Lueck suffered blunt force trauma on the left side of her head. Ayoola Ajayi was arrested June 28, 2019, in the murder of 23-year-old Mackenzie Lueck in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her car is still home and hasnt been touched, she wrote on June 21. Detectives are concerned for Mackenzies welfare. Many are asking for privacy, but sharing their heartbreak on social media, as they come to grips with the . [24], A search of and around Ajayi's property yielded Luecks belongings and some of her remains. 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