SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Police released surveillance photos of Mackenize Lueck, the missing 23-year-old University of Utah student, from the time her family last heard from her on Monday, June 17. The photos show Lueck at Salt Lake City International Airport.
Time stamps on the surveillance photos show that Lueck deplaned from an aircraft at 2:09 a.m. and got into a Lyft at 2:40 a.m. During the 31 minutes that Lueck was at the airport, she did not appear to talk to anyone and walked from the jetway to catch the Lyft, Salt Lake City Assistant Police Chief Tim Doubt told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. The press conference was broadcast live on the Salt Lake City Police Facebook page.
She also made a quick stop to pick up her luggage before leaving the airport, Doubt said. The photos show what Lueck was wearing on the day she was last heard from.
Police have received over 125 tips related to the case and asked anyone with information to continue to call the dedicated tip line at 801-799-4420.
So far, police have said there is no evidence that any foul play may have occurred but due to the circumstances of the case, authorities want to make sure the 23-year-old woman is safe.
Doubt said that police received a call from the woman’s family late Thursday afternoon saying they had not heard from her since the early morning hours of June 17.
Doubt said that Lueck texted her mother at 2:01 a.m. local time on Monday, shortly after landing in Salt Lake City. Lueck had been visiting family in California for a funeral and returned to Utah on Monday.
From the airport, Lueck took a Lyft to Hatch Park, Doubt said. After reaching the park at 2:59 a.m., she was met by a person in a car. As of Tuesday, police have not provided a description of the person or the car.
Doubt said on Tuesday that the description of the person is vague and it could be a man or a woman. Doubt also added that police want the person in question to contact police.
The Lyft driver said Lueck did not appear to be in distress and police have no reason to question the driver’s story, according to Doubt.
In the time that Lueck has not been heard from, she missed an exam and a scheduled flight to Los Angeles on June 23, according to Doubt. Detectives have tried to locate Lueck via her phone but it is turned off.
Doubt said that occassionally police work a missing persons case where the individual does not want to have contact with family or friends.
If that is the case, Doubt addressed Lueck directly and implored her to either reach out to police in Salt Lake City or to a local police deparment where she may be.
“We just want to make sure you are safe and we will respect your wishes,” Doubt said.
Doubt said police were not aware of Lueck having any history of going off the grid or any mental health issues.
Authorities have canvassed the area of Hatch Park multiple times to get surveillance and are also knocking on doors to rule out anyone there who may have had contact with Lueck or seen anything.
Doubt also said detectives need the public’s help in answering a number of questions, including:
Does Mackenzie have an alternate phone that she has used or is using?
Who did Mackenzie meet in North Salt Lake City?
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Does Mackenzie have any social media accounts we don’t know about?
And is anyone in contact with Mackenzie online or by phone currently or within the last week?