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

[ClaireNC]

It would be so much easier to figure out what happened, if we knew her mental state at the time she went missing.
Did she argue with her parents?
Was she deeply effected by her grandmother’s death?
(Snipped for emphasis)
Clarity here, would provide clarity to the entire picture.

I agree. My Mom died in April. My adult children were greatly impacted by her death. We’re all spread around the country and my Mom was the glue that held us all together. The family spent the week of the funeral together at my parents’ house and then went home to our separate states. For the first few weeks, my children and I talked/texted several times a day, just checking in on each other to see how we were holding up as we process the grief. Now, two months later, we still have daily contact, though it might be a text instead of a phone call.

This leads me to the question of why did it take a few days for anyone to notice she was missing? Maybe she was estranged from her parents. Did they have an argument? I do wonder about her mental state.

 

[margarita25]

Perhaps LE is playing it off on purpose so as to not tip their hand.

—-

I hear what you’re saying @GordianKnot and @MassGuy about LE’s language. They certainly indicate they are trying to track her down to make sure she is okay, but they are not saying as we’ve heard in other cases that they suspect she is not missing on her own volition and that could be in danger.

—-

I agree it sounds like she’s had a lot of stress lately with her grandmother’s funeral and upcoming midterms.

As you guys mentioned I wonder if she was keeping up with her grades.

—-

Something still does not seem right and I think perhaps LE is playing it off on purpose as they have their own investigation going.

They know where she went that night.
If they’ve encountered someone with whom she may have been last seen, well it will take time to thoroughly investigate this person(s), and prove a case if there is one.
—-

So say she did take off voluntarily, she had her luggage with her. So it’s not like disappearing without taking anything with her.

—-

If LE is downplaying this and she could in fact be in serious danger, well that’s not a good thing either, which is why I think they might have their own deal going to which we are not privy.

—-

As mentioned, financial transactions and information from her phone will be key and again, it’s a weekend and only a few days since they got the MP report so they may still not have everything yet. We don’t know if the judge has been able to sign off on phone warrants yet, etc.

—-

It seems unusual for a young lady to just completely go off the grid like this, and imo worrisome especially after going to what is described as a somewhat seedy area of town at 1am.

Here’s another thing: It’s not as easy to just go off the grid as people might think.

I think something bad could be up, but that’s JMO.

 

[margarita25]

Does anyone know what project she was working on in the laboratory?

—-

I agree. My Mom died in April. My adult children were greatly impacted by her death. We’re all spread around the country and my Mom was the glue that held us all together. The family spent the week of the funeral together at my parents’ house and then went home to our separate states. For the first few weeks, my children and I talked/texted several times a day, just checking in on each other to see how we were holding up as we process the grief. Now, two months later, we still have daily contact, though it might be a text instead of a phone call.

This leads me to the question of why did it take a few days for anyone to notice she was missing? Maybe she was estranged from her parents. Did they have an argument? I do wonder about her mental state.

My condolences for the loss of your mom, ClaireNC.

I don’t think she was estranged from her parents as she texted them to let them know she landed.

(Source:

The parents of Mackenzie Lueck reported their daughter missing on Thursday afternoon, according to FOX 13. Lueck texted her parents about 1 a.m. Monday morning from the Salt Lake City International Airport to let them know she arrived from California.

Ashley Fine, a friend of Lueck’s, said she missed work at her job at a Millcreek medical lab and missed classes at the U., where she is studying kinesiology.

University of Utah student, 23, reported missing since Monday

)

—-

Yes, I hope LE is on it. Glad to see you here as well!

Adding her Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.it/kenzielueck/

I don’t do SM so I’m not sure how Pinterest works exactly, but does this profile show she has an interest in “weddings”, or is that just something that is coming up? Tia.

 

[wyome]

I agree. My Mom died in April. My adult children were greatly impacted by her death. We’re all spread around the country and my Mom was the glue that held us all together. The family spent the week of the funeral together at my parents’ house and then went home to our separate states. For the first few weeks, my children and I talked/texted several times a day, just checking in on each other to see how we were holding up as we process the grief. Now, two months later, we still have daily contact, though it might be a text instead of a phone call.

This leads me to the question of why did it take a few days for anyone to notice she was missing? Maybe she was estranged from her parents. Did they have an argument? I do wonder about her mental state.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. I dread the day that happens to our family, so my heart goes out to you.

I have a daughter Kenzie's age, also in school, 1200 miles away, and we don't talk every single day. And we're very close. Her first couple of years away from home, yes. At 24, it's more like once every three days and if her week's hectic, sometimes we'll get a weekend call.

I do wonder if any of the roommates noticed or knew her schedule and were expecting her. Sometimes people sublet or room with people they aren't super close to.

 

[mom2four717]

Could she have checked herself into a mental health or substance abuse rehabilitation facility?
I agree the early AM time is odd, but isn't it possible she arranged to come directly from the airport?
Does North SLC have an Amtrak or Greyhound station? Perhaps that was her "destination" so LE feels she is missing voluntarily?

 

[melodyl]

Why wouldn't Lyft have that information? You have to put your destination into their app before a driver will be sent to pick you up. However, if it isn't stored, the driver who picked her up & dropped her off should certainly know where they dropped her. I'm not so sure this isn't a case of kidnapping & worse, by the Lyft driver.

 

[bykerladi]

Why wouldn't Lyft have that information? You have to put your destination into their app before a driver will be sent to pick you up. However, if it isn't stored, the driver who picked her up & dropped her off should certainly know where they dropped her. I'm not so sure this isn't a case of kidnapping & worse, by the Lyft driver.

Except LE has already said they know where her destination was and that she got there (See the post quoting LE above)

 

[RMT953]

Good morning.
I have a question that I would like to ask of locals or anyone with better knowledge on Salt Lake City than me.
Thanking ya'll in advance. And yes, I don't think I ever sleep.
Does anyone know of any locations that would be open in North SLC when ML went missing?
This part of town is said to be very LDS and most businesses close early. The only things I can see that were open during that time were a strip club, gas station, and subway.
Any ideas on why she would go there unless she knew someone in that area? In North SLC I mean.
TIA
And as usual, coffee brewing

Chi I feel the same way. I have had multiple scenarios running through my head all night. At first I strongly thought maybe she just needed a break and is taking a little timeout with everything she has going on in her life. I wish we knew the relationship she had with her grandma. This hit close to home for me as I just lost my sweet Gram 6 weeks ago that I was incredibly close to and I am just now getting to a point that I am ok. It rocked my world and I wasn’t ready for it. So that of course was the first place that I went to.

My gut is telling me something isn’t right though and I typically listen to it most days as it hasn’t steered me wrong yet. Idk enough about her religion to make any comments if it could be that type of situation at this point. I’d have to look further into it. We’ve seen the Lyft/Uber driver situation before. I pray it’s not that. Same with new relationships. Ugh.

Mackenzie - if you’re reading this and just needed a break I get it. More than you probably know. Please just let your loved ones know you’re ok so you can heal on your time and have a little space.

ETA - silly spelling errors. Must. Sleep.

 

[ilovechili]

Good morning.
I have a question that I would like to ask of locals or anyone with better knowledge on Salt Lake City than me.
Thanking ya'll in advance. And yes, I don't think I ever sleep.
Does anyone know of any locations that would be open in North SLC when ML went missing?
This part of town is said to be very LDS and most businesses close early. The only things I can see that were open during that time were a strip club, gas station, and subway.
Any ideas on why she would go there unless she knew someone in that area? In North SLC I mean.
TIA
And as usual, coffee brewing

Pretty much what I found. The strip club is non-alcoholic if it is the same one I found. I thought I had found another last night but never looked further.

I find conflicting info on bars, some say until 2 a.m. and some say until 1 a.m. Either way, leaving the airport at 1 a.m. or arriving at 1 a.m. and then waiting for a Lyft would not pay to head for a bar only to find it possibly closed or perhaps able to have one drink before having to leave and again get a Lyft home.

So one would think it was to a place that was open late or to a home of someone she knows just logically or maybe to see someone who was just finishing up work, say tending bar?

Of course, there could be bars that stay open for some later than they are supposed to, and it is ignored by LE or not known by them they do so, it is not unheard of, at least in my younger years...

I doubt she went that far from home just to go to a Subway.

Jmo.

 

[Laughing]

Could she have checked herself into a mental health or substance abuse rehabilitation facility?
I agree the early AM time is odd, but isn't it possible she arranged to come directly from the airport?
Does North SLC have an Amtrak or Greyhound station? Perhaps that was her "destination" so LE feels she is missing voluntarily?

Retreat center? Study center of any faith tradition? Youth hostel? AirBnB? Don't know anything about that.

Love, love, love your suggestion of Amtrak as a piece of the puzzle! LE would pay attention to train departures & destinations....

MacKenzie, please phone home!

JMHO YMMV

 

[chihuahua]

Thanks for the answers and thoughts.
Sorry for everyone who has lost someone this year.
Yes, it's tough. I have been thru the same.
Just waiting here with all of you as always hoping any moment she lets someone know where she is.
Or she just shows up.
Chi
if i disappear for a bit, i either fell asleep in my chair or i'm busy elsewhere, but this coffee is strong

 

[margarita25]

Why wouldn't Lyft have that information? You have to put your destination into their app before a driver will be sent to pick you up. However, if it isn't stored, the driver who picked her up & dropped her off should certainly know where they dropped her. I'm not so sure this isn't a case of kidnapping & worse, by the Lyft driver.

Lyft easily tracks everything and has been working with authorities since the start. See many quotes re: Lyft. He/she dropped Kenzie off at her requested destination and continued on with other rides.

 

[Kirrie]

Thinking aloud.
Ok so police know exactly where her intended destination was where her driver dropped her off Had it been a house, flat or apartment surely locals would see police and forensics crawling over the whole area. So was either a meeting place rendevous at a designated spot. No mention of train station,bus station so not expecting onward travel at that time.
Has anyone local driven around the area looking for police interested in a specific place, police cars vans, dogs etc.
Could she have had enough and hole up in a church?

 

[SuziQ]

It sounds like, if it is true that she took a lyft to North SLC by choice, it is a low income quadrant of the city and no one would notice a 23 year old who missed exams and work?

What would she being doing there? I read that her apartment was close to the University of Utah.

View attachment 190153

And possibly dragging a suitcase with her. Or at least a carry on. I don't think she was walking far from her drop off point.

 

[Laughing]

Google shows that

Amtrak Station:

340 600 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Greyhound station:

300 S 600 W
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Neither in North Salt Lake City.

JMHO YMMV

 

[MissMalowe]

I was looking up train and bus stations last night, but based on what I found on some cursory Google searches, (I'm not a local) I couldn't see a reason for heading from the airport to North SLC for that.

 

[PommyMommy]

Noting to find text version. If you have that handy please post LE release.

I have been reading back through the thread and don't think I saw the text version posted. I could have missed it... Anyway, it is here: SLCPD seeks to locate missing person Mackenzie Lueck – SLCPD

Excellent post.

There really isn't a lot of information a school will share these days with parents without legal request.

I don't find it at all unusual for a college student to be heading out somewhere at 1:00 a.m.

Is she undergrad or grad school? Anyone know what she's studying and how she's doing in school? Flying home for a funeral and then heading back for finals -- that's a tremendous amount of stress.

She is studying kinesiology.

Does anyone know what project she was working on in the laboratory?
—-
My condolences for the loss of your mom, ClaireNC.

I don’t think she was estranged from her parents as she texted them to let them know she landed.

(Source: )
—-

I don’t do SM so I’m not sure how Pinterest works exactly, but does this profile show she has an interest in “weddings”, or is that just something that is coming up? Tia.

She has a wedding board. Not at all unusual for someone her age. I see a lot of teen girls with wedding boards "Someday..." "When I find my prince..." etc. MOO

 

[PommyMommy]

JUNE 22, 2019
Friends distribute flyers of University of Utah student missing for 5 days
[...]

"We're millennials. (Not answering the phone) is very, very unusual. Even if you're missing, or you want to disappear, you have to turn your phone on to GPS," said AF, noting that Lueck's bank account has also been inactive.

[...]

Fine said Lueck lives with roommates near Trolley Square but noted that she has not been in touch with them. "I don't know why she would be going (to North Salt Lake) around 2 a.m. It's just very, very suspicious and dangerous," Fine said.

[...]

HO said she is a close family friend of Lueck. She noted that Lueck was set to return to California this week for a friend's wedding. "I don't think the family found out she was missing until she didn't show up for her flight to come back."

[...]

 

[osu]

23-year-old University of Utah student missing after Lyft ride

Posted: Jun 23, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4 News) – It’s been nearly a week since the disappearance of 23-year-old University of Utah student Mackenzie Lueck.

“Everyone thinks that there’s danger in this story,” said Ashley Fine, a friend.

On Saturday, friends organized a postering event at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City as a continued effort to try and find her.

Mackenzie hasn’t been seen or heard from since Monday, June 17th.

That’s when she returned from attending her grandmother’s funeral. Friends say it was in Southern California.

That was around one in the morning at Salt Lake City International Airport. Shortly afterward, she took a Lyft ride and reportedly texted her parents she was okay.

Police say she made it to her Lyft destination. That’s where her trail goes cold.


“Things aren’t adding up,” said Fine. “She had another trip planned. She didn’t make that trip so far.”

Ashley says the trip was to go back home this weekend to see family in California.


“She’s making those plans with friends and family to have plans for the future. I don’t think she would hurt herself or anything like that.”

Ashley has this message for Mackenzie.

“If you’re in a bad situation, please reach out. Reach out to police. We’re really concerned for you.”


~snip

More at link:
23-year-old University of Utah student missing after Lyft ride

 

[ClaireNC]

Agreed! For the time that I’ve known Kenzie, she hasn’t been active in the LDS church to my knowledge. There are only a handful of Alpha Chi Omega girls that I can think of that are actually active LDS. So she definitely wouldn’t feel ashamed about not living the LDS lifestyle amongst her sisters.

Thank you! That answers some of my questions.