Mackenzie Lueck: A timeline of what we know about the Utah student's disappearance

Published: June 28, 2019, 3:04 p.m. MDT

A flyer informing people of Mackenzie Lueck disappearance is pictured in Hatch Park in North Salt Lake on Monday, June 24, 2019. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

After an exhaustive weeklong investigation, Salt Lake police somberly announced Friday that they believe University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck, who has been missing since June 17, was murdered.

Here is a look back at the events leading up to this announcement, starting with Lueck's arrival at the Salt Lake City International Airport last week.

Monday, June 17, 1:35 a.m. — After attending a family funeral in California, Lueck’s flight arrives at Salt Lake City International Airport.

Photos provided by Salt Lake City police show Mackenzie Lueck at the Salt Lake City International Airport on June 17, 2019. | Salt Lake City Police Department

Monday, June 17, 2:09 a.m. — Lueck departs flight from California. It takes about a half-hour for her to get off the plane and arrive at baggage claim.

Monday, June 17, 2:40 a.m. — Lueck gets into a Lyft.

Monday, June 17, about 3 a.m. — Lueck seen for the last time when the Lyft driver drops her off at Hatch Park, 50 Center St., North Salt Lake.

Thursday, June 20, 4 p.m. — Family notifies police that Lueck had not been heard from since Sunday night.

Friday, Saturday, June 21-22 — Friends and family of Lueck spread word of her disappearance by handing out flyers around Salt Lake City.

Family friends of Mackenzie Lueck and Sandy resident Heather Okiishi and her niece, Nicole Brown, post and handout fliers pleading that people keep an eye out for her at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 22, 2019. | Silas Walker, Deseret News

Posters for Mackenzie Lueck placed at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 22, 2019. | Silas Walker, Deseret News

Mackenzie Lueck, 23, center, is reported as a missing person. | Kennedy Stoner

Mackenzie Lueck, 23, at left, is reported as a missing person. | Kennedy Stoner

Mackenzie Lueck, 23, at right, is reported as a missing person. | Kennedy Stoner

Mackenzie Lueck, 23, second from right, is reported as a missing person. | Kennedy Stoner

Salt Lake City Police Assistant Chief Tim Doubt speaks during a press conference about missing 23-year-old Mackenzie Lueck at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 24, 2019. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Sunday, June 23 — Lueck misses a flight back to California to attend a friend’s wedding.

Monday, June 24 — Police make plea for anyone who last saw Lueck to contact them. Investigators don’t yet know if Lueck was in trouble or trying not to be found.

Posters for Mackenzie Lueck placed at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City are pictured on Saturday, June 22, 2019. — Posters for Mackenzie Lueck placed at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 22, 2019. | Silas Walker, Deseret News

View Comments

Tuesday, June 25 — Police release the last-known footage of Lueck rolling a suitcase from baggage claim.

Wednesday, June 26 — Police begin search of a home on Salt Lake City’s northwest side. The house in the Fairpark neighborhood and its occupants had “a nexus to the case,” said Salt Lake Assistant Police Chief Tim Doubt. Police leave scene with bags and boxes of evidence, including human tissue.

Salt Lake City Police serve a search warrant at 547 North 1000 West in connection to the disappearance of University of Utah Student MacKenzie Lueck on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Technicians process the driveway of a home as Salt Lake City Police serve a search warrant at 547 North 1000 West in connection to the disappearance of University of Utah Student MacKenzie Lueck on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Assistant police chief Tim Doubt briefs the media as Salt Lake City Police serve a search warrant at 547 North 1000 West in connection to the disappearance of University of Utah Student MacKenzie Lueck on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Assistant police chief Tim Doubt walks to a media briefing as Salt Lake City Police serve a search warrant at 547 North 1000 West in connection to the disappearance of University of Utah Student MacKenzie Lueck on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Media members wait outside as Salt Lake City Police serve a search warrant at 547 North 1000 West in connection to the disappearance of University of Utah Student MacKenzie Lueck on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Crime Scene technicians bring bags of evidence out of a home at at 547 North 1000 West in Salt Lake City as Police serve a search warrant in connection to the disappearance of University of Utah Student MacKenzie Lueck on Thursday, June 27, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Thursday, June 27 — Police declare owner of the home at the Fairpark neighborhood a person of interest in Lueck’s disappearance.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown pauses while speaking to reporters about the investigation into missing University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck at the Salt Lake Public Safety Complex in Salt Lake City on Thursday, June 27, 2019. Brown told Lueck's father that he is committed to do everything in his power to bring Mackenzie home. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Friday, June 28, 9:20 a.m. — Police arrest Ayoola Adisa Ajayi, 31, at an apartment complex at 1028 S. West Temple for investigation of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, desecration of a human body and obstruction of justice in connection with Lueck’s disappearance.

Salt Lake City police arrest a man in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Salt Lake City police take arrest two suspects in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Salt Lake City police take a man into custody in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A Salt Lake City police car sits outside of a house in the Rose Park neighborhood that they previously searched while looking for missing MacKenzie Lueck in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown talks about the investigation of missing Mackenzie Lueck during a press conference at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. Police arrested Ayoola Adisa Ajayi, 31, after finding remains of Mackenzie Lueck in Ajayi's backyard. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Utah Attorney Gen. Sim Gill talks about the investigation of missing Mackenzie Lueck during a press conference at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. Police arrested Ayoola Adisa Ajayi, 31, after finding remains of Mackenzie Lueck in Ajayi's backyard. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Mackenzie Lueck's uncle gathers himself before reading a statement from her family after Salt Lake City police announce that remains of Mackenzie Lueck have been found in the backyard of a suspect, during a press conference at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. Police arrested Ayoola Adisa Ajayi, 31, in connection to the case. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Mackenzie Lueck's uncle reads a statement from her family after Salt Lake City police announce that remains of Mackenzie Lueck have been found in the backyard of a suspect, during a press conference at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. Police arrested Ayoola Adisa Ajayi, 31, in connection to the case. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

FBI assistant special agent in charge Bob Meacham talks about the investigation of missing Mackenzie Lueck during a press conference at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2019. Police arrested Ayoola Adisa Ajayi, 31, after finding remains of Mackenzie Lueck in Ajayi's backyard. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Loved ones of missing University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck embrace outside the Public Safety Building, on Friday, June 28, 2019, before attending a press conference where Salt Lake Police Chief Mike Brown said they have arrested a man who they believe murdered Lueck. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Looking for comments?

Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.