A desperate search has been launched for a missing University of Utah student who disappeared after taking a Lyft ride from the airport a week ago.
Mackenzie Lueck, 23, disappeared on June 17 after she landed in Salt Lake City, returning from a trip to Los Angeles where she attended her grandmother’s funeral last weekend.
She arrived to the airport and ordered a Lyft ride-share to an address in North Salt Lake but went missing after the ride.
She was last seen ‘in the early morning hours of Monday’.
University of Utah nursing student Mackenzie Lueck, 23, disappeared on June 17 after she landed in Salt Lake City, Utah around 1am and ordered a Lyft ride-share. She was returning from LA where she attended her grandmother’s funeral the weekend prior
Her family said they last heard from her around 1am on June 17 after she texted her parents saying her flight had landed. They reported her missing on Thursday June 20
Her family said they last heard from her around 1am on June 17 after she texted her parents saying her flight had landed. They didn’t hear from her again after that text.
On Thursday her concerned family based in El Segundo, California reported her missing.
‘Since Monday, she has missed her midterms at the University of Utah and has not been in communication with family or friends,’ the family said in a statement.
Lueck is studying nursing and health education and is scheduled to graduate in 2019. She started at the University of Utah in 2014, according to her LinkedIn.
‘Our primary goal is to find Mackenzie and bring her home. Her family is grateful for the concern, prayers and the tireless efforts of the Salt Lake City Police and members of the community,’ the statement added.
Lyft says she arrived at a North Salt Lake address without ‘irregularities’ and the driver continued to pick up other riders that evening. Her roommates say she never came home which is irregular behavior for her as she has pets in the home
Her last Instagram post: This was the last Instagram post Lueck posted on June 13 in memory of her grandmother
Lueck’s family said she had planned to fly from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles on July 23.
Police are investigating her disappearance and say they’ve been in contact with Lyft and Lueck’s driver.
Lyft said in a statement that they ‘recognize how scary this must be for those who know and love Ms. Lueck.’
‘The safety of our community is fundamental to Lyft and we are actively assisting law enforcement with their investigations,’ Lyft said to Fox, adding Lueck’s route from the airport didn’t contain any ‘irregularities and ended at the destination as originally entered by the rider.’
Lyft said that Lueck’s driver dropped her off at her desired address then continued to drive for the company.
Salt Lake City Police Sargeant Brandon Shearer says they haven’t discovered anything that indicates Lueck was in danger so far.
Lyft says Lueck was picked up at the airport and arrived at a North Salt Lake address without ‘irregularities’ and the driver continued to pick up other riders that evening. But her roommates say she never returned home. The ride-share stop at the Salt Lake City International Airport pictured above
‘The safety of our community is fundamental to Lyft and we are actively assisting law enforcement with their investigations,’ Lyft said, adding Lueck’s route from the airport didn’t contain any ‘irregularities and ended at the destination as originally entered by the rider’
‘Whether she’s endangered or not that’s a tough thing to say right now. We are just treating it as we’d like to find her and we are just trying to track down any leads right now,’ Salt Lake City Police Department Detective Michael Ruff
‘We want to try and contact her one way or the other if she’s missing or she isn’t we need to make sure she’s OK,’ he added.
Authorities say she does not have a known boyfriend or significant other and they’re not aware if anyone ever threatened her prior other disappearance.
Friends and family began to post missing posters in the area on Friday.
‘My concern is over the roof,’ said Kennedy Stoner, one of Lueck’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters said to Fox13. ‘She’s my best friend. I usually hear from her all the time.’
‘We want to do as much as we can. She’s just the sweetest, most genuine girl. I love her. I miss her. I’m extremely concerned for her and her well being,’ Stoner added.
‘Not going home to your pets or your roommates, or just dropping your luggage off, that’s very abnormal,’ her friend Ashley Fine said told KSTU-TV. ‘Not going to work. Having your phone off for five days now, very very bizarre and alarming.’
‘She’s extremely dedicated. She would never miss her midterms or anything like that. She hasn’t been home. She didn’t show up to work, or anything,’ Fine added.
Cops are now pleading for any information on her whereabouts.
Lueck is described as 5 feet 6 inches and weighs around 120 pounds. She has blonde hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information that may be helpful to the investigation can contact Salt Lake City Police at (801) 799-3000.