Utah cops recover remains of missing student Mackenzie Lueck, 23, in a canyon near Salt Lake City – a week after an IT worker was arrested on suspicion of her murder
The body of University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck has been found in a canyon almost three weeks after she disappeared.
Police revealed they recovered the 23-year-old’s remains from Logan Canyon, 85 miles north of Salt Lake City, on Wednesday.
It comes after authorities arrested 31-year-old Ayoola A. Ajayi last week over Lueck’s disappearance.
Investigators had earlier found ‘female human tissue’ that matched Lueck’s DNA in the backyard of Ajayi’s Salt Lake City home.
They also found charred items that are believed to have been Lueck’s personal belongings.
Police have revealed they recovered the 23-year-old’s body from Logan Canyon, 85 miles north of Salt Lake City, on Wednesday
Lueck disappeared on June 17 after she returned from a trip to her hometown of El Segundo, California for her grandmother’s funeral.
Police said she took a Lyft from the airport to a park north of Salt Lake City, where she met someone in the early hours of the morning.
She was reported missing three days later.
A widespread search for her resulted in police arresting the man they say was the last person to communicate with her: Ajayi.
They say his phone location data put him in the same park at the same time Lueck was last seen.
He is being held on suspicion of aggravated murder, kidnapping and other crimes.
Authorities arrested 31-year-old Ayoola A. Ajayi last week over Lueck’s disappearance. He is being held on suspicion of aggravated murder, kidnapping and other crimes
Authorities previously said some of charred remains, including ‘human tissue’ that matched Lueck’s DNA, were found in the backyard of Ajayi’s Salt Lake City home
Lueck disappeared on June 17 after she returned from a trip to California. She took a Lyft from the airport to a park where she met someone. Police say the last person she communicated with was Ajayi who was also in the park at the time