Found Deceased UT - MacKenzie "Kenzie" Lueck, 23, Salt Lake City, 17 June 2019 #14 *ARREST*

[ilovechili]

I wish I had the times on the fires handy as well (I had many questions about it when that news broke). I work in forensics (anthropology) and I know that a backyard bonfire isn't hot enough to cremate large bones (like the skull and leg bones, pelvis). So I was wondering where those things were - and so were the police. Even some of the denser small bones won't burn easily.

No, he didn't take her from the park to almost 90 miles away, kill her, then go back to his house, burn her, then go back to Logan Canyon to deposit her remains.

In this case, some of her remains were found charred in the backyard (where he found out that his plan to cremate her in the yard wouldn't work, but made transport easier). Then sometime after that, he loaded the rest of her remains in the car, drove toward USU and up the Canyon (probably the only mountain road in Utah that he knew) and deposited the remains near the road (because he didn't have the wherewithal to figure out a better place).

Great post. ITA.

 

[Snoop Sister]

Did anyone else hear the chief say they received a tip about the location of her body? I swear that’s what he said. That means either someone helped him or he told someone ?

I thought the DA said “a lead”.

 

[Seattle1]

A lot of the initial press photos from his home were investigators gathering evidence in his garage. A concealed area that's easier to clean than a home with finished floors, furniture, rugs, etc. Close to the burn pile. Accessible to a vehicle to load and transport evidence. This may make some more sense now too.

Absolutely agree. Keeping vigil with the reporters on the scene all night during the search, I was surprised at the large number investigators working outside of the home -- both in and outside the garage, and yard. They were crawling over each other.

MOO

 

[MsBetsy]

Hi Margarita.

It is? I've never heard LE refer to blood as tissue. Blood would be the first to burn imo.

It was body tissue I think. Pieces of flesh.

Imo

Yes, since human tissue covers such a broad range, (including blood, which is connective tissue) I think if they had found blood they would have been more specific.
There are four types of human tissue that can be found in cells, organs, muscles and, as someone mentioned, from bone marrow, so I'm guessing the tissue they was found was not blood. Imo

 

[milkshakedonkey]

Could anybody please confirm the model Kia that AA drove?

TiA...

at about 1:18 in this video. I don't know my Kias, but maybe you can tell. SLC Police gathering evidence at crime scene connected to search for MacKenzie Lueck

 

[Destini]

Wow, that was totally unexpected! Just saw on the news!

 

[Jealoushe]

I am seriously wondering now if they have an undercover in his cell with him getting info?

 

[Z88]

at about 1:18 in this video. I don't know my Kias, but maybe you can tell. SLC Police gathering evidence at crime scene connected to search for MacKenzie Lueck

Thanks. For anyone else curious it is a Kia Optima. Is there any reason to think AA owned or had access to other vehicles (like a truck)?

 

[DizzyB]

If what LE referred to as human tissue was found in the house (did they say definitively the house, or was it just the site?), would it be enough to state that he had committed murder? Without a body, how does one come to that conclusion? Does tissue go through changes that indicate death? Would it be the amount of tissue, such as blood, on the scene?
LE went straight to murder, not missing, which I felt to be unusual unless they had more than tissue. It’s harder to prosecute a case without a body. I always thought the burn was her belongings, but I’m unsure what was found at the house and how they went straight to murder. And I believe it was his digital footprint ( or even Kenzie’s) that led them to Logan.

 

[MyBelle]

Hi Margarita.

It is? I've never heard LE refer to blood as tissue. Blood would be the first to burn imo.

It was body tissue I think. Pieces of flesh.

Imo

When they first mentioned female tissue, I immediately thought of menstrual tissue. There was no way AA attempted to incinerate an entire body in his backyard. But he may have attempted to burn clothing.

JMO

 

[Ltiger4]

Yes, I realize he wouldn't make two trips to Logan Canyon.

But, the tissue at the house could be something that was found on a murder weapon (a bat, knife, etc.) or other item that came in contact with her while he was hurting her. Perhaps he drove from their meeting location in Hatch Park directly to Logan Canyon, killed her, dumped her body there, returned to the house to burn evidence.

My hunch is they went to his house first from the park and the body was dumped in Logan Canyon a day (or more) later. But....I'm trying to consider other possibilities before ruling them in/out.

jmo

I, too, have been thinking that the “tissue” might be something on a murder weapon, sheet, tarp, bedding or clothing that was deposited at the time of her murder. Or that the time he transported her body to where they found it.

 

[kaen]

Body of missing University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck is found

The body of slain University of Utah student and Southern California native Mackenzie Lueck has been found, authorities said Friday.

Lueck's remains were discovered Wednesday in Logan Canyon, in Logan, Utah, nearly 90 miles north of Salt Lake City, where the 23-year-old student was last seen on June 17, the Salt Lake City police chief, Mike Brown, told reporters.

Brown said he personally called Lueck's parents on Friday to update them on the discovery.

Amazing that they were able to recover her with no media and no leaks. Either someone is talking or they were able to location data from his phone or car. I am so relieved she is found.

 

[Snoop Sister]

Per the Probable Cause Document it says “charred”. I remember only because we went around a few times with this.

More than a few

 

[SeattleStew]

 

[wary]

I am not sure this idea has been mentioned, but I am thinking this in regards to why prosecutors are delaying the charges for AA:

In light of recovering her body, what if LE has used the delay in charges as a strategy to get AA to talk? Maybe LE told AA they'd give him a 'deal', such as reduced charges, not charging him, or a reduced sentence to get him to talk or lead them to the body? Maybe they felt they were onto something or close to recovering the truth through either confession or forensics, and announcing charges at that time would have compromised the likelihood of finding ML's body and put AA more on the defensive/less likely to talk? If so, the strategy seemed to have worked, because a few days later, it seems they have recovered the entirety of ML's remains.

Welcome, dogmom!

Good points. I’ll confess, I’m hoping that they found her on their own—so that they don’t have any reason to bargain with him for anything! Just my hope, though.

 

[ilovechili]

Just want to say thanks to all who provided links and maps this afternoon (and every day for that matter).

 

[milkshakedonkey]

There are likely traffic cameras in the canyon, but how hard would it be to look for a gray sedan. Seems like that would be a needle in a haystack situation

 

[Jealoushe]

When they first mentioned female tissue, I immediately thought of menstrual tissue. There was no way AA attempted to incinerate an entire body in his backyard. But he may have attempted to burn clothing.

JMO

I can't imagine there would be any of that present after 2 days of burning.

 

[Snoop Sister]

Just caught up. I am happy that family will be able to finally bring Kenzie home! I like many, think possibly a deal was made with AA. The Canyon looks like a huge place to search if one did not know the exact spot. Also, wouldn't LE’s presence be noticed and reported by press if LE‘ were digging all over the Canyon? Jmo

 

[milkshakedonkey]

maybe, but honestly, I don't think anyone was expecting that LE was looking for her body. Maybe Im wrong. *shrug*