U of U Athlete Killed By Boyfriend Identified

My daughter plays soccer for the University of Utah so when news came down the pipe yesterday of a female athlete shot and killed, I couldn't help but frantically reach for the phone, praying my baby girl would pick up.  My daughter is alright but for one parent who reached for that phone, the nightmare became a reality.

Lauren McCluskey was a senior track athlete and communication major from Pullman, Washington.  She excelled in track and also in the classroom pulling in a 3.75 GPA.  She was set to graduate this year.

According to KTVB, McCluskey dated her killer for about one month before finding out he had a criminal background.  At that point, she ended the relationship, blocked his phone number and the numbers of his friends.  This was about two weeks ago.  Her ex-boyfriend continued to harass her so she made an official complaint to the University of Utah police.

McCluskey's mother happened to be on the phone with her when she was abducted and eventually murdered.  She heard her daughter shout, "No no no," and stayed on the line while her husband called 911.  Unfortunately, it was too late.  There was nothing anyone could've done.  Here's a statement released by Lauren's mother, Jill McCluskey...

"It is with deepest sadness that we let you know that our daughter Lauren McCluskey, age 21, was the University of Utah student who was killed last night. Lauren previously dated her killer for about one month. He lied to her about his name, his age, and his criminal history. Lauren was informed by a friend about his criminal history, and ended the relationship with her killer on October 9, 2018. He had borrowed her car, and she requested the University of Utah police accompany her on October 10, 2018 to get her car back. She blocked his and his friends' phone numbers and complained to the University of Utah Police that she was being harassed. Last night a little before 9 pm, she was returning to her university apartment from her night class and talking to me on the phone. Suddenly, I heard her yell, "No, no, no!" I thought she might have been in a car accident. That was the last I heard from her. My husband called 911. I kept the line open and in a few minutes, a young woman picked up the phone and said all of Lauren's things were on the ground.

Lauren was a senior student athlete on the University of Utah track team. She was an outstanding student majoring in Communication and was excited to graduate in May 2019. She was a 2015 honors graduate of Pullman High School where she was Washington state champion in the high jump and the school record holder in the 100 meter hurdles. She attended Capital Church in Salt Lake City. She loved to sing and had strength and determination. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

I can't imagine the tears streaming down this mother's face as she wrote this.  The unbearable sorrow her and her husband are going through... there aren't any words.  Many organizations, people, friends, classmates, and more are all grieving and expressing their love and sorrow online.

I'm so sorry for this beautiful young lady who had everything in the world going for her.  I'm so sorry her parents, family, and dear friends are going through so much pain.  Please keep all of these people in your thoughts and prayers and do me one more favor.  Reach out to your children today, no matter how old, whether they live with you or not, or whatever difficult or strange relationship you have with them.  Reach out to them and let them know you LOVE them.

I have to go.  I have five kids and so I have five phone calls that need to be made asap.