Found Deceased UT - MacKenzie "Kenzie" Lueck, 23, Salt Lake City, 17 June 2019 #17 *ARREST*

[ClaireNC]

I can’t figure out if the arrested AA is just plain more evil looking than the SM pictures? Or if I’m seeing him for what he’s done and therefore looks evil rather than attractive ? I too go back and forth - had they met in person or not? I don’t believe anyone has found any pictures of them together have they?
ETA spelling

The pictures he had posted on social media were all pretty old. While going through his various profiles when they were still active, I don’t remember seeing any that were taken in the last two or three years. IMO he was kind of “cute” in his younger years. I think the modeling pics were a bit creepy, but can see that people might find them attractive. He is just ugly in his mugshot, a dramatic decline in his physical appearance reflecting his decent into pure evil. Alcohol and/or drug abuse can cause such a dramatic decline in his health and appearance.

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Yep, that's what I was thinking. Really struggling to figure out what was so urgent that she had to see him at 3am. If it wasn't drugs this scenario fits. I just don't see anyone being in the mood for a late night hookup after the weekend ML had so I don't think it was that either

Plus, she was there at the park at 2:59/3:00 am, by 3:07 am his phone is already pinging at his house. I don't know, just doesn't sound like she arrived furious and there was immediately a giant blow out but they still got to his house that quick. Though I'm not a murderer, so I can't speak to times surrounding such an act, JMO.

 

[stmarysmead]

Let’s face it...it’s the meetup at the park in the middle of the night that has us all mystified. Some see it as a Little Red Riding Hood/Big Bad Wolf situation...where ML is naive, trusting and somehow acquiescent to his murderous demands.

I see ML as more intelligent, self-empowered, and saavy than that. She also comes across as knowing just what she wants in her statement of advice about SD/SB. She’s not afraid to walk away from what does not interest her.

So what “lure” would AA have to get her to agree to have the Lyft drop her at the park rather than his house? Cost and time appears to be about the same. If he wasn't offering something she really, really wanted or needed, the timing after a long flight and after a bereavement are really off too. We are missing something here.

It’s not hard to figure out his murderous or just nefarious intentions. The hard part is, for me, reconciling what was the compelling intention for her.

So easy to say...look, see you tomorrow, I’m tired. Or if I have to get a LYFT, I might as well go home.

To meet him, hauling her luggage with her, agreeing to have the Lyft drop her at the park...she’s still paying for that...says to me that there was a mutually compelling reason that we don’t know yet.

She was texting him.

She texted her parents to satisfy them that she was safe.

She emerged from the Lyft confident...greeted him...and got in the car.

I think she even turned off her phone.

Why so comfortable, confident of her own safety, that she may have HERSELF cut off her two lifelines? (parents and phone) NO BLAME...just overwhelming curiosity because, to me, this is the most puzzling part of this tragedy.

This is the biggest mystery for me.

 

[ClaireNC]

Yep, that's what I was thinking. Really struggling to figure out what was so urgent that she had to see him at 3am. If it wasn't drugs this scenario fits. I just don't see anyone being in the mood for a late night hookup after the weekend ML had so I don't think it was that either

Keep in mind the fact that she had just returned from her grandmother’s funeral and might not have been thinking rationally. There is a correlation between grief and high-risk behaviors. It could be that they had an intense online relationship going on through which he managed to gain her trust. She was feeling lost, broken, needy when she got off that plane and he offered her comfort.

 

[Puzzled25]

Let’s face it...it’s the meetup at the park in the middle of the night that has us all mystified. Some see it as a Little Red Riding Hood/Big Bad Wolf situation...where ML is naive, trusting and somehow acquiescent to his murderous demands.

I see ML as more intelligent, self-empowered, and saavy than that. She also comes across as knowing just what she wants in her statement of advice about SD/SB. She’s not afraid to walk away from what does not interest her.

So what “lure” would AA have to get her to agree to have the Lyft drop her at the park rather than his house? Cost and time appears to be about the same. If he wasn't offering something she really, really wanted or needed, the timing after a long flight and after a bereavement are really off too. We are missing something here.

It’s not hard to figure out his murderous or just nefarious intentions. The hard part is, for me, reconciling what was the compelling intention for her.

So easy to say...look, see you tomorrow, I’m tired. Or if I have to get a LYFT, I might as well go home.

To meet him, hauling her luggage with her, agreeing to have the Lyft drop her at the park...she’s still paying for that...says to me that there was a mutually compelling reason that we don’t know yet.

She was texting him.

She texted her parents to satisfy them that she was safe.

She emerged from the Lyft confident...greeted him...and got in the car.

I think she even turned off her phone.

Why so comfortable, confident of her own safety, that she may have HERSELF cut off her two lifelines? (parents and phone) NO BLAME...just overwhelming curiosity because, to me, this is the most puzzling part of this tragedy.

This is the biggest mystery for me.

That is the mystery.

No 23 year old from LA meets someone in a park at 3 AM she doesn't know. And she seems to have went with him voluntarily.

But if she did know him, why didnt he pick her up or meet at his house?

I'll say they both spent a lot of time in North Salt Lake so maybe they had a plan to go somewhere there after meeting and she said now that I'm here, I'm too tired and let's just go back to your place.

 

[ClaireNC]

Let’s face it...it’s the meetup at the park in the middle of the night that has us all mystified. Some see it as a Little Red Riding Hood/Big Bad Wolf situation...where ML is naive, trusting and somehow acquiescent to his murderous demands.

I see ML as more intelligent, self-empowered, and saavy than that. She also comes across as knowing just what she wants in her statement of advice about SD/SB. She’s not afraid to walk away from what does not interest her.

So what “lure” would AA have to get her to agree to have the Lyft drop her at the park rather than his house? Cost and time appears to be about the same. If he wasn't offering something she really, really wanted or needed, the timing after a long flight and after a bereavement are really off too. We are missing something here.

It’s not hard to figure out his murderous or just nefarious intentions. The hard part is, for me, reconciling what was the compelling intention for her.

So easy to say...look, see you tomorrow, I’m tired. Or if I have to get a LYFT, I might as well go home.

To meet him, hauling her luggage with her, agreeing to have the Lyft drop her at the park...she’s still paying for that...says to me that there was a mutually compelling reason that we don’t know yet.

She was texting him.

She texted her parents to satisfy them that she was safe.

She emerged from the Lyft confident...greeted him...and got in the car.

I think she even turned off her phone.

Why so comfortable, confident of her own safety, that she may have HERSELF cut off her two lifelines? (parents and phone) NO BLAME...just overwhelming curiosity because, to me, this is the most puzzling part of this tragedy.

This is the biggest mystery for me.

Not to shame the victim, she did not deserve this, but I don’t think she was as savvy as she made herself appear on social media. I see immaturity and using the word “empowered” to justify her choices. She was a kind, trusting soul and he took advantage of that. IMO

 

[kikukohime]

Yep, that's what I was thinking. Really struggling to figure out what was so urgent that she had to see him at 3am. If it wasn't drugs this scenario fits. I just don't see anyone being in the mood for a late night hookup after the weekend ML had so I don't think it was that either

Because sex is a good stress reliever. It's a drug within itself.

 

[Inthedetails]

Let’s face it...it’s the meetup at the park in the middle of the night that has us all mystified. Some see it as a Little Red Riding Hood/Big Bad Wolf situation...where ML is naive, trusting and somehow acquiescent to his murderous demands.

I see ML as more intelligent, self-empowered, and saavy than that. She also comes across as knowing just what she wants in her statement of advice about SD/SB. She’s not afraid to walk away from what does not interest her.

So what “lure” would AA have to get her to agree to have the Lyft drop her at the park rather than his house? Cost and time appears to be about the same. If he wasn't offering something she really, really wanted or needed, the timing after a long flight and after a bereavement are really off too. We are missing something here.

It’s not hard to figure out his murderous or just nefarious intentions. The hard part is, for me, reconciling what was the compelling intention for her.

So easy to say...look, see you tomorrow, I’m tired. Or if I have to get a LYFT, I might as well go home.

To meet him, hauling her luggage with her, agreeing to have the Lyft drop her at the park...she’s still paying for that...says to me that there was a mutually compelling reason that we don’t know yet.

She was texting him.

She texted her parents to satisfy them that she was safe.

She emerged from the Lyft confident...greeted him...and got in the car.

I think she even turned off her phone.

Why so comfortable, confident of her own safety, that she may have HERSELF cut off her two lifelines? (parents and phone) NO BLAME...just overwhelming curiosity because, to me, this is the most puzzling part of this tragedy.

This is the biggest mystery for me.

Honestly, I don't see ML as particularly savvy, which is not a criticism, but observation from someone older than her (me) who sees the wider picture, imo.

From my observation, she was lucky in her encounters up until AA. She did know the verbage to use online to weed out (she thought) men who weren't worth her time, so perhaps she encountered some losers. But she hadn't encountered a truly scary situation, is my guess. Even those of us who came age without the internet had scary situations with men...which is why we recognize meeting him at 3am as potentially dangerous. It's not because we're scared of the internet or aren't using as many apps as young people use - it's because we've encountered scary men in our lives.

I doubt she had those types of truly scary (or even just insulting) encounters - and even with her experience, she really wasn't in control as she thought she was.

Again, not a judgement but an observation.

(And we all have lost out on her potential and what she could give to the world - because he took away that potential, not because of what she did.)

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Not to shame the victim, she did not deserve this, but I don’t think she was as savvy as she made herself appear on social media. I see immaturity and using the word “empowered” to justify her choices. She was a kind, trusting soul and he took advantage of that. IMO

Yes. This.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Because sex is a good stress reliever. It's a drug within itself.

Let's qualify that: GOOD sex is a good stress reliever.

I can picture her interested in an encounter for that reason, even if at the same time I see the danger of it. She didn't know that the sex she was agreeing to (and I think she was agreeing to sex when she met him), wasn't going to be good.

jmo

 

[No.Power.Over.Me.Now]

Yeah, you're probably right about that, but one does wonder whether filing official rape charges would have been enough to get him kicked out of the country, regardless of whether or not he was convicted.

Probably depends on what his legal status was at the time.

I think we've now officially exceeded our quota of unanswerable questions and/or moot points for the day.

JMO.

I fully agree with you but something extremely weird is going on here. I noticed people claiming they served with him at the guard armory in Utah (Tooele). Some of them claimed they just saw him but didn't ever talk to him.

I know the military more than pretty much anything and there is just no logical explanation as to how a guy could not go through BMT, not go through tech school and yet still be serving on a guard base. It just makes no sense but the fact that other actual guard members are saying he served makes me seriously have concerns about this issue in regards to how he got in, how he duped the military in some way and what he had access to on the base as an IT guy.

If it makes you feel any better, I believe he highly exaggerated his "IT skillls" like everything else about himself.

 

[SoCalGirl]

Agreed.

Those zip ties were an element of the aggravated kidnapping.

Didn't LE charge him with aggravated kidnapping BEFORE they found her body with the zip ties?

 

[ClaireNC]

Honestly, I don't see ML as particularly savvy, which is not a criticism, but observation from someone older than her (me) who sees the wider picture, imo.

From my observation, she was lucky in her encounters up until AA. She did know the verbage to use online to weed out (she thought) men who weren't worth her time, so perhaps she encountered some losers. But she hadn't encountered a truly scary situation, is my guess. Even those of us who came age without the internet had scary situations with men...which is why we recognize meeting him at 3am as potentially dangerous. It's not because we're scared of the internet or aren't using as many apps as young people use - it's because we've encountered scary men in our lives.

I doubt she had those types of truly scary (or even just insulting) encounters - and even with her experience, she really wasn't in control as she thought she was.

Again, not a judgement but an observation.

(And we all have lost out on her potential and what she could give to the world - because he took away that potential, not because of what she did.)

jmo

I see we agree. BBM - Your last sentence is so true. She would have been an amazing nurse. The kind of compassionate person the medical field needs.

 

[No.Power.Over.Me.Now]

Learn something new everyday then, guess I don't know it as I once did but I have to say it still doesn't really jive with me from a military standard. No BMT or tech school and yet able to wear the uniform, take part in drilling and have access to the armory. Washouts used to get placed on base detail where they would paint, mow lawns, be a gopher, etc, when I was in so this is very odd. I mean let's say that everything in that Thespyma post is right, and I think he is right, it still doesn't make sense to me how a person without those two things was still granted access and still able to work within the service as a servicemember when he was fated to be booted out of it. It feels like a massive security risk.

This is complete speculation, but has anyone considered the fact that he has diplomatic connections?

This could explain how he was able to get his foot in the door on many things and maybe why none reported him.

 

[Inthedetails]

I see we agree. BBM - Your last sentence is so true. She would have been an amazing nurse. The kind of compassionate person the medical field needs.

And fun! I get such a fun vibe from her, light-hearted, easy going, ready to smile and have a good time. That kind of personality can be very healing for people. Laughter is the best medicine. We really did miss out on her being able to serve others.

I also think that personality allowed her to see others through rose-colored glasses. Hard to stomach knowing her best qualities were used against her.

jmo

 

[morty4185]

Let’s face it...it’s the meetup at the park in the middle of the night that has us all mystified. Some see it as a Little Red Riding Hood/Big Bad Wolf situation...where ML is naive, trusting and somehow acquiescent to his murderous demands.

I see ML as more intelligent, self-empowered, and saavy than that. She also comes across as knowing just what she wants in her statement of advice about SD/SB. She’s not afraid to walk away from what does not interest her.

Exactly my thoughts. What was so urgent that the meet up had to occur at 3am.

So what “lure” would AA have to get her to agree to have the Lyft drop her at the park rather than his house? Cost and time appears to be about the same. If he wasn't offering something she really, really wanted or needed, the timing after a long flight and after a bereavement are really off too. We are missing something here.

It’s not hard to figure out his murderous or just nefarious intentions. The hard part is, for me, reconciling what was the compelling intention for her.

So easy to say...look, see you tomorrow, I’m tired. Or if I have to get a LYFT, I might as well go home.

To meet him, hauling her luggage with her, agreeing to have the Lyft drop her at the park...she’s still paying for that...says to me that there was a mutually compelling reason that we don’t know yet.

She was texting him.

She texted her parents to satisfy them that she was safe.

She emerged from the Lyft confident...greeted him...and got in the car.

I think she even turned off her phone.

Why so comfortable, confident of her own safety, that she may have HERSELF cut off her two lifelines? (parents and phone) NO BLAME...just overwhelming curiosity because, to me, this is the most puzzling part of this tragedy.

This is the biggest mystery for me.

Exactly my thoughts, what was so urgent that the meet up had to occur at 3am?
Some say "sex", I'm just having hard time with this as a viable reason. I was a pretty normal red blooded guy at 23 and I think I would pass on it after such a long weekend and late night arrival home. I suppose I could be wrong but I just don't see the desire being more powerful than my desire to sleep a few hours before exams.

I also don't think anything monetary would be so important that it couldn't wait.

All just speculation, I wonder if it will ever come to light. The whole thing is just sad....evil walks amongst us.

 

[?mysterian?]

I'd like to belatedly thank everyone who kept us updated yesterday during and after the press conference, y'all are great!

Mr. AJ deserves to be put into a cell about the size of the secret little room he wanted the contractor to build, locked in, and then the key is thrown away. IMO.

 

[ClaireNC]

Didn't LE charge him with aggravated kidnapping BEFORE they found her body with the zip ties?

Yes. The kidnapping charge is because he took her and exposed her to bodily injury. It’s aggravated kidnapping because he caused hindered/delayed the discovery of a felony and inflicted bodily injury.

76-5-301. Kidnapping.
(1) An actor commits kidnapping if the actor intentionally or knowingly, without authority of law, and against the will of the victim:
(a) detains or restrains the victim for any substantial period of time;
(b) detains or restrains the victim in circumstances exposing the victim to risk of bodily injury;
(c) holds the victim in involuntary servitude;

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter5/76-5-S302.html
76-5-302. Aggravated kidnapping.
(1) An actor commits aggravated kidnapping if the actor, in the course of committing unlawful detention or kidnapping:
(a) uses or threatens to use a dangerous weapon as defined
b) acts with intent:
(iii) to hinder or delay the discovery of or reporting of a felony;
(iv) to inflict bodily injury on or to terrorize the victim or another;

 

[distracted]

Let’s face it...it’s the meetup at the park in the middle of the night that has us all mystified. Some see it as a Little Red Riding Hood/Big Bad Wolf situation...where ML is naive, trusting and somehow acquiescent to his murderous demands.

I see ML as more intelligent, self-empowered, and saavy than that. She also comes across as knowing just what she wants in her statement of advice about SD/SB. She’s not afraid to walk away from what does not interest her.

So what “lure” would AA have to get her to agree to have the Lyft drop her at the park rather than his house? Cost and time appears to be about the same. If he wasn't offering something she really, really wanted or needed, the timing after a long flight and after a bereavement are really off too. We are missing something here.

It’s not hard to figure out his murderous or just nefarious intentions. The hard part is, for me, reconciling what was the compelling intention for her.

So easy to say...look, see you tomorrow, I’m tired. Or if I have to get a LYFT, I might as well go home.

To meet him, hauling her luggage with her, agreeing to have the Lyft drop her at the park...she’s still paying for that...says to me that there was a mutually compelling reason that we don’t know yet.

She was texting him.

She texted her parents to satisfy them that she was safe.

She emerged from the Lyft confident...greeted him...and got in the car.

I think she even turned off her phone.

Why so comfortable, confident of her own safety, that she may have HERSELF cut off her two lifelines? (parents and phone) NO BLAME...just overwhelming curiosity because, to me, this is the most puzzling part of this tragedy.

This is the biggest mystery for me.

As the mother of a child her age and another two years older, I think I can lend some insight. As willing as they are to share on social media, they can be intensely private at the same time. Both of my children have been known to shut the world out for a few hours. It drives me crazy if I text or call one and I don't get a reply within a reasonable period of time but I've learned to cope.

I think it's a shutdown mechanism, especially for children who have grown up with a device in their hands.

The hours of the day are very different for this generation as well. If they want to go out at 2 or 3am, they do. They think nothing of it. Stay up all night and then sleep a couple of hours before work, no problem. This is the way it is for all of their friends as well. Days and nights are interchangeable.

ETA: I should say they are my grown children as they are adults. Old habits die hard. lol

 

[GordianKnot]

Didn't LE charge him with aggravated kidnapping BEFORE they found her body with the zip ties?

Yep. They sure did.

The zip ties now provide even more evidence to support that charge.

The fact that her body was found bound further bolsters the DA's case w/ regard to her being held against her will.

It's obviously not all the DA has in the way of evidence...but the fact that they've located ML's body has just made the prosecution team's job much, much, much easier.

This case is an absolute slam-dunk for them.

The fat lady is warming up her vocal chords even as we speak.

JMO.