Missing Utah College Student Last Seen Getting Into Car At Park At 3 A.M.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Police have confirmed 23-year-old Mackenzie Lueck was last seen getting into a vehicle around 3 a.m. on the morning she went missing.

Lueck went missing on Monday, June 17. Police said a Lyft driver took the woman from the Salt Lake International Airport to Hatch Park at 50 West Center Street in North Salt Lake.

Police had originally withheld information about where she was dropped off, saying they wanted to preserve the condition of the area in case this turned into a criminal investigation.

They have since released that information at a press conference held Monday afternoon.

MORE: Police Withhold Info On Missing Utah Student’s Last Known Location

Breaking; press conf now underway for missing UofU student MacKenzie Lueck @KSL5TV watch it live pic.twitter.com/df20sw5tBO

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) June 24, 2019

Two signs posted at the restrooms at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake inform that “This Facility is Monitored by Video Surveillance.”

The restrooms are located next to the parking lot, in clear view of the cameras attached to the roof of the bathroom building. However, North Salt Lake’s police department confirmed to KSL that the cameras at the park are not operational.

Salt Lake City police said they were unable to get any surveillance from the park. Detectives then went door to door asking neighbors if they had seen anything.

“You could totally tell that they were concerned about what was going on and they just wanted to know what happened to the girl,” who works at one of the homes police visited.

Young said that she frequently takes her daughter to Hatch Park and worries about what happened to Lueck in the middle of the night.

“I don’t know if she was harmed or if she might have ran away,” Young said. “It’s kind of all these possibilities that are so scary to think about because i bring my kid here.”

 

This is the park in North Salt Lake where police say a #Lyft driver dropped off missing @UUtah student #MackenzieLueck at 2:59am on June 17 (she had just flown back to #Utah from #California). Police say she met someone at Hatch Park @KSLcom @kslnewsradio @KSL5TV @NBCLA #Missing pic.twitter.com/WpIrmkuud8

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) June 24, 2019

Assistant Chief Tim Doubt with the Salt Lake City Police Department said they were first notified by Lueck’s family that she was missing on Thursday, June 20 around 4 p.m.

Lueck had been in California visiting family. Her flight arrived at 1:35 a.m. Monday, and her family got a text confirming her arrival at 2:01 a.m.

Police said a Lyft driver picked up the University of Utah student from the airport at 2:42 a.m., and dropped her off at the park at 2:59 a.m.

They have spoken with the Lyft driver, who told them a vehicle was waiting at the park for Lueck. She was met by an individual and left with them. The Lyft driver told police Lueck did not show any signs of distress.

According to a statement by Lyft, Lueck’s route from the airport to the park included no irregularities, and it ended at the destination she originally entered.

 

CONFIRMED: Police in North Salt Lake say surveillance cameras at Hatch Park are NOT working. There’s no video of when missing 23-yr-old #MackenzieLueck was dropped off at 2:59 a.m. last Monday by a @lyft driver. Police don’t know who she was meeting at the park @KSLcom @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/w3S3m7F9M5

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) June 24, 2019

Police: Missing woman was dropped off at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake at 2:59 a.m. Met by an individual in a vehicle, Lyft driver says. No info on vehicle or individual.

— KSL 5 TV (@KSL5TV) June 24, 2019

The driver continues making pickups immediately after Lueck’s ride ended.

Investigators said the Lyft driver was not under investigation.

The driver was unable to make out the make or model of the vehicle driven by the person Lueck met at the park.

Police have canvassed the park and surrounding area multiple times, but have not found signs of the missing woman. They’ve also knocked on doors in the area to see if anyone had any information or surveillance video that might be helpful.

MORE: Friends Concerns After Failing To Hear From Mackenzie Lueck

Lueck missed a mid-term early in the week, and a flight to the Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, June 23. Investigators in Salt Lake worked with police in California to confirm that Lueck was not on that flight.

Officials attempted to find Lueck through her mobile device, but said the phone had been turned off. They have interviewed friends, and served search warrants in a search for clues about her location.

Assistant Chief Doubt said there was no evidence that any harm has come to the woman, but they were concerned that she had had no contact with friends or family.

Lueck’s information has been added into the national database of missing persons.

Chief Doubt: Mackenzie we are asking you to please reach out to make sure you are safe and we want to respect your wishes. @KSL5TV

— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) June 24, 2019

Police have activated a tip line for the case for anyone with information about the case. They also asked Mackenzie directly, if she heard the press conference or was able, to reach out and confirm if she’s safe or in need of help.

That number is 801-799-4420.

Assistant Chief Doubt said they were looking for information about whether Lueck had another phone, who she met at the park, if she had any additional social media accounts that weren’t know to other people, or if she had contact with any other people.

Doubt said finding Mackenzie was a high priority for the police department. They have been in contact with federal, state and local partners, in addition to her family, in an effort to find her.