The McCluskey family originally sued the University of Utah, some of its employees and the state of Utah in June 2019 for $56 million in federal court. The complaint also states the university officials dismissed her requests for help. } She was always present and in the moment with her teammates and friends. The state of Utah has agreed to pay more than $10 million to the family of Lauren McCluskey, a University of Utah student whose nude photographs were shared by a campus police officer from whom . ABC News' Catherine Thorbecke, Sabina Ghebremedhin and Candace Smith contributed to this report. Contrary to the prior reporting, Deras did not inappropriately download images to his phone. Death Photos And Case Update. On the first anniversary of her murder, led by a student organization called UnsafeU, 100 students walked out of their classes to protest how the university handled the Lauren McCluskey case, the misconduct of university police and other concerns reported by women. June 27, 2019 - Lauren's parents, Jill and Matt McCluskey filed a $56 million lawsuit against the University of Utah. SALT LAKE CITY A former University of Utah police officer showed explicit photos of Lauren McCluskey to other officers, including in a hallway and at the scene of her murder, according to an independent investigation. He later took his own life. Their daughter had sounded the alarm about being stalked, threatened and blackmailed by Mr. Rowland, whom Ms. McCluskey had broken up with when she learned that he had lied about his name and was a convicted sex offender on parole, the lawsuit said. The FDA Has Officially Approved Pfizers COVID Vaccine. There was a culture of misogyny in the Police Department that the university controls and that caused them to take Laurens complaint less seriously than a mans, Mr. McConkie said. Jones, Deras' attorney, has previously said his client denies any wrongdoing. Portrait of the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark , left to right, Malcolm Holmes, Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, and Martin Cooper at the Park. Lauren McCluskey and Melvin Rowland University of Utah; Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Former University of Utah officer who showed off explicit photos of Lauren McCluskey won't face charges. Lauren McCluskeys parents, Jill and Matt McCluskey, filed a $56 million lawsuit last year alleging the University of Utah had failed to protect their daughter. hitType: 'event', pg.acq.push(function() { McCluskey, a University of Utah student, confided in campus police in October 2018 that she was being extorted by her sex-offender ex-boyfriend, identified as 37-year-old Melvin Rowland. Senator Iwamoto says,Laurens death, her pleas for help, of course, her tragic death does not go away, and nothing is going to work unless we have some real change with the police and policy, and that the students believe in it, because now there isnt trust at all in them. Miguel was dumb for showing his spank bank to other dudes on the force. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Rowland, a convicted sex offender on parole, had been using a fake identity to deceive McCluskey. Anyone can read what you share. Although he did not forward the pictures to anyone else, the report says Deras ended up showing the photographs to at least three officers in the course of conducting his job. Life is not fair, really. He was long gone before we had any inkling that that incident with the photo being shown had occurred, U. police Lt. Jason Hinojosa told the outlet. The allegations also resulted in the McCluskey family filing a second lawsuit against the university. She had broken up with him 2 weeks earlier after she learned he had lied about his name, age, and that he was a sex offender. The officer, after McCluskey was killed, on October 22, again showed the pictures to a sergeant who reportedly said: "I wonder what she looked like.". Her mother Jill McCluskey says, The officers never checked Laurens killers offender status. . After the police took her statement, they could have easily found out that Rowland was on parole and put him in jail right then. On October 22, 2018 at 9:55 p.m., 21-year old Lauren McCluskey was found dead inside the back of a car in the parking lot next to her University of Utah campus dormitory. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' McCluskey ended their brief relationship after learning he was a registered sex offender who lied about his identity and criminal history, including a 2004 conviction of enticing a minor, police said. Apparently, Giving Money To People Reduces Poverty & Hunger. It is inexcusable for any law enforcement officer to discuss photos or information provided by a victim outside of clear and legitimate law enforcement reasons. In 2018, 21-year-old Lauren McCluskey was abducted from campus and shot to death by her ex-boyfriend. An independent review uncovered the alleged incident, but the University of Utah Police reportedly insisted that they had no idea that Deras kept the photos for his personal use. Five former university police officers are claiming $10 million in compensation from the school. . The two began talking in September of 2018, but by October 2018, Lauren found out a bombshell about Melvin. Her friends also warned the force that she was in danger. He did not boast about being able to access the photos whenever he wanted. },false) In an interview with ABC News in January 2019, her parents said the university did not take Lauren's complaints seriously. A Utah officer who responded to a call from Lauren McCluskey in 2018 was given photos taken of her by an ex. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The temperature is finally topping 70 degrees and winter storms are on the outs! He said that the university was negligent in its handling of Ms. McCluskeys repeated requests for help and violated an equal protection provision in the State Constitution. The University of Utah has settled two lawsuits with the parents of Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old student who was killed by an ex-boyfriend she had complained about to police more than 20 times. When Lauren McCluskey decided to attend the University of Utah, she was recruited to become a member of the Women's Track & Field Team. They never investigated to see who he really was, he said. A Utah officer who responded to a call from slain college student Lauren McCluskey in 2018 is accused of keeping and showing off her explicit photos, which were intended only as part of a criminal investigation. "They would've very quickly found his parole status in one call and it would we wouldn't be sitting here today.". Afterwards, "Our society often asks, 'Well, why doesn't she just leave?' McCluskey wired the money to an account after someone sent text messages threatening to post the photos online. In the process, Lauren dropped her cellphone and belongings. Almost two years after her death, McCluskeys parents received the devastating news about the photos. }); McCluskey broke off her month-long relationship with Melvin Rowland, a 37-year-old registered sex offender, after learning he had lied about his name, age, and criminal past. }); MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. He was fired after the release of the DPS investigation. At some point, Deras called her with a strange request. Because Rowland was a con and highly manipulative, things were difficult to discernshe didnt always believe he was a threat, or that her life was in danger, and she wished to take care of the situation by herself. It tells the story of McCluskey's tumultuous relationship with her killer . " Listen ," a new ESPN documentary, explores the tragic death of Lauren McCluskey, who was shot and killed on the University of Utah campus in October 2018. 2023 Cable News Network. Three days later, while on the phone with her mother, Lauren was abducted by Rowland and shot to death in her own car, according to police. eventAction: 'click_ads' Its hard for them to change if they dont acknowledge their failures, and that has to happen going forward.. At least two other officers stated they were present when this happened. As Rowland's actions escalated, McCluskey began voicing concerns to her immediate family and . ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); The University of Utah has settled two lawsuits with the parents of Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old student who was killed by an ex-boyfriend she had complained about to police more than 20 times. The extortionist, identified as an ex-boyfriend, demanded $1,000. Deras now works for Logan Police 85 miles away from his previous workplace. ga('ads.send', { In 2019, McCluskeys parents filed a $56 million federal lawsuit against the college and campus police. Discovery Company. SALT LAKE CITY A former University of Utah police officer showed explicit photos of Lauren McCluskey to other officers, including in a hallway and at the scene of her murder, according to an independent investigation. Deras reportedly said that he could ogle at them anytime he pleased, according to the outlet. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), According to police statements, McCluskey was confronted and shot by Rowland on October 22, 2018 about 8:20 p.m. Did you encounter any technical issues? He then allegedly saved the photos on his personal phone and bragged to at least one officer that he could look at them whenever he wanted, according to court documents. McCluskey, a young track star, had ended his relationship with Rowland a month before her death after she discovered he was a registered sex offender and had lied about his name, age, and criminal history. The parents of Lauren McCluskey contend that a campus police officer disseminated explicit images of the University of Utah student that had been used by her killer to blackmail her. Deras reportedly showed the pictures initially to a supervisor on October 13, 2018, and asked how the photos could be uploaded on the department's evidence database. Utah State Senator Jani Iwamoto has a long-standing interest in dealing with public safety issues and sexual assault. let gads_event; The University of Utah continues to mislead, continues to cover up the facts and continues to fail to take responsibility for the murder of our daughter. Black Teenager Shot in Kansas City, Missouri. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office made the announcement involving Miguel Dera, who was accused of showing co-workers the photos of 21-year-old Lauren McCluskey. He is not, nor has he ever been, a boogeyman.. As part of the campus safety improvements, the university has also consolidated evening classes in neighborhood clusters to help keep students safer. . Although those people werent named, U. An internal investigation found that Deras 'mishandled sensitive evidence' regarding the 2018 murder case of Lauren McCluskey; Deras showed explicit photos of McCluskey to at least three co . Oct. 22, 8:23 p.m.: Dispatch received a call from Matt McCluskey, Lauren's father, stating he believed his daughter was in trouble Lauren McCluskey, a student at the University of Utah, told campus police she was being blackmailed over the photos by 37-year-old Melvin Rowland - only to be exploited by the officer she turned . In 2004, Rowland was convicted of attempted forcible sexual abuse and enticing a minor. "As a result, we have failed Lauren and her family. A detailed report was released by the university from the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) on Wednesday, August 4, nearly three months after the university concluded that its internal review in the case was not enough and it needed the attention of state authorities. Her parents should hold every single person and organization involved accountable for failing their kid in such an egregious manner . A frightened McCluskey paid the money to Rowland but when the threats did not stop, she sent copies of the threatening messages along with the explicit pictures to the police. Lauren McCluskey's parents, Matt and Jill McCluskey, hug some of their daughter's teammates after a vigil for their daughter on Oct. 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City. We made it. ga('ads.send', { The information was not disclosed until The Salt Lake Tribune pushed for, and ultimately obtained records connected to the case. The legal notice alleges that the two officers were terminated for "telling the truth and participating in the interview process." He was a bouncer and was really charming so Lauren began inviting him over to her residence on her campus. A University of Utah spokesperson declined to comment when approached for comment. Rowland physically threatened McCluskey and blackmailed her into paying him to not share intimate pictures of her that he was in possession of. According to the report, the lieutenant who conducted the February internal affairs investigation verbally reported the results of his investigation up the chain of command, but did not physically give his report to the acting Chief of Police Rick McLenon to review it.. Lauren McCluskey killing A former University of Utah police officer is accused of sharing an explicit photo of slain student Lauren McCluskey, 21, days before her Oct. 22, 2018, murder at the . 1.1 911 calls; 2 Victim. The university said in the settlement that the murder of Lauren McCluskey was a brutal, senseless, and preventable tragedy and acknowledges the unspeakable loss the McCluskey family has suffered and continues to suffer.. With our commitment to learning from our mistakes, we honor Lauren and ensure her legacy will be improved campus safety for all students, Watkins said. Too late for McCluskey, changes are coming about, somewhat ironically in a year when campus population and social interactions will drastically decrease due to the coronavirus. . Officer Miguel Deras on Tuesday denied the allegations unearthed by the Salt Lake Tribune, which quoted unnamed officers as saying he had "bragged" about having the images of Lauren McCluskey . At that time, both Jill and Matt, educators, had been offered a tenured position to teach in their respective fields of . Its origin tale is wrapped up with the Bible 2.0 Exodus of Brigham Young and his 2022 Copyright JES Publishing | Website by, subscribing to our City Life newsletter, The Hive, Experience History in Park City This Summer. Two days later, he again showed the photos to a second supervisor, asking how to attach them to a case file. And while youre here,subscribeand get six issues ofSalt Lakemagazine, your guide to the best of life in Utah. Artwork of Lauren McCluskey in her room at her parents home, where she grew up, in Pullman, Wash. first reported last month by The Salt Lake Tribune, the allegations were absolutely untrue.. hitType: 'event', Student protesters pictured in September 2017 on the University of Utah campus. McCluskey ran track and . The legal notice, written by Deras' attorney Jeremy Jones, claims the university hid evidence about the case from the public "to make it easier for the University to scapegoat or blame officers." The two officers also claim they were not given an opportunity to appeal their terminations or present information in their defense. They issued a 2 1/2 page statement of their own Wednesday, saying the report actually backs their client. By then, Deras had already left his job with the University of Utah Police. Asked to comment on the legal notice, the deputy chief of University of Utah Police, Jason Hinojosa, told Newsweek: "We are typically not authorized to comment on pending litigation.". }) The university also said it has also been making improvements to campus safety after the death, including implementing new policies and trainings and adding a new shuttle service. Jill and Matt McCluskey speak on the two-year anniversary of their daughter Lauren McCluskey's death. . Laurens kindness, positive attitude, and work ethic were always on display regardless of the people she was with or activities she was involved in as a student-athlete at the U. Its simply who she was. McCluskey dated Rowland for around a month, then broke things off after Rowland not only concealed his criminal history but also lied about his name and age. The University of Utah has settled two lawsuits with the parents of Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old student who was killed by an ex-boyfriend she had complained about to police more than 20 times. A University of Utah police car is pictured on campus in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. A former University of Utah Police officer saved explicit photos of Lauren McCluskey on his personal phone, showed at least one to a coworker and bragged abo. The photos were part of her ex's extortion plan. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Hours after McCluskeys death, police found Roland inside a church, dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. . He acted appropriately at every turn., Chatman reaffirmed Wednesday that he stands by his departments new mission statement: We seek public trust by policing with compassion, integrity and accountability in our daily pursuit of excellence. As it turns out, theres an easy, straightforward way to reduce the endemic poverty and hunger in America: money. Lauren was a star athlete from when she was a youth, climbing trees at the age of two, says her mother, Jill McCluskey who, along with her husband Matt, is a member of the faculty at the University of Washington. sltrib. eventAction: 'view' The University of Utah and Jill and Matt McCluskey announced on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, that they have settled two lawsuits filed in the death of the McCluskeys' daughter, Lauren. }); Published Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Lauren McCluskey was murdered by a deranged stalker despite multiple calls to 911 to report him. }); if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Following McCluskeys murder, teammate and friend Brooke Martin was in shock. Looking back, its easy to see many points where McCluskeys murder could have been prevented. 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