>>> I'M LESTER HOLT.
TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
A YOUNG WOMAN ALONE WITH DANGER
IN THE DARK.
>> I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE SHE
WOULD MEET SOMEONE AT A PARK AT
3:00 A.M
I THINK SHE KNEW THE SECOND SHE
GOT IN HIS CAR THAT SOMETHING
WAS WRONG.
>> A NEW CHAPTER IN A
HEARTBREAKING STORY.
>> I'D LIKE TO HAVE A WELLNESS
CHECK DONE ON MY DAUGHTER.
>> A SECRET LIFE UNCOVERED
>> SHE WAS ON A DATING SITE
LOOKING FOR SUGAR DADDIES.
>> GOING INTO IT BLINDLY IS NOT
SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND.
>> NEVER BEFORE REVEALED
DETAILS.
>> IS THIS GUY DODGING US?
>> Reporter: HE KIND OF SELECTED
HER AS HIS VICTIM?
>> CORRECT
TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE -- THE
DIG SITE, THERE WAS A DAMAGED
IPHONE
>> LOOKED LIKE MAYBE CLOTHING.
IT WAS JUST A SINKING FEELING
REALLY
>> I JUST REPLAY THIS ONE NIGHT
I HAD WITH HER
AND I JUST WANT TO GRAB HER AND
SAY, "DON'T DO IT.
DON'T GO."
>> HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH
"THE WAITING CAR."
>> Reporter: OUR MINDS HAVE A
CURIOUS WAY OF DECEIVING US.
WE SENSE SOMETHING OFF
SOMETHING WRONG, EVEN TERRIBLE
AND YET, SOMETHING IN THE BRAIN
WANTS TO BELIEVE THE WORST
DIDN'T HAPPEN.
KENNEDY STONER KNOWS THAT
FEELING WELL
>> I WAS KIND OF PUSHING AWAY
FROM MY GUT INSTINCT
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY.
I NEVER IMAGINED THIS EVER
HAPPENING TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS
>> Reporter: I WOULDN'T THINK
YOU'D WANT TO IMAGINE IT
RIGHT?
>> NO, OR ANYONE THAT I KNOW --
OR SO MY MIND DIDN'T GO THERE.
>> Reporter: SO SHE TOLD HERSELF
IT WOULD BE FINE AS SHE REACHED
OUT FROM HER HOME HERE IN SALT
LAKE CITY, UTAH.
MESSAGES TO HER FRIEND
MACKENZIE LUECK.
>> I SAW THAT SHE WASN'T OPENING
MY SNAP CHATS, AND I TEXTED HER,
AND I DIDN'T GET A TEXT BACK
AND, "THIS IS STUPID."
BUT I WAS KIND OF WONDERING IF
SHE WAS MAD AT ME FOR SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: THE MIND WANTS A
SIMPLE EXPLANATION
AFTER ALL, SHE KNEW HER BEST
FRIEND WAS GRIEVING.
MACKENZIE'S GRANDMOTHER HAD
RECENTLY PASSED AWAY IN
CALIFORNIA
>> I KNOW SHE WAS HEARTBROKEN
OVER THAT.
AND SO WAS THE REST OF HER
FAMILY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL VERY
CLOSE.
>> Reporter: AND SHE WENT TO THE
FUNERAL?
>> SHE DID
SHE LEFT UTAH.
SHE WENT TO THE FUNERAL.
SO I WAS THINKING MAYBE SHE JUST
LIKE TOOK A FEW DAYS OFF SOCIAL
MEDIA OR SOMETHING
>> Reporter: MACKENZIE'S
PARENTS, THOUGH, HADN'T HEARD
FROM HER EITHER.
AFTER THREE DAYS OF ESCALATING
FEAR, MACKENZIE'S DAD MADE THAT
MOST DREADFUL PHONE CALL TO THE
SALT LAKE CITY POLICE
DEPARTMENT
>> YEAH, I'D LIKE TO GET -- IF
POSSIBLE, HAVE A WELLNESS CHECK
DONE ON MY DAUGHTER.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A HOLD
OF HER, AND HER PHONE JUST TENDS
TO GO TO VOICEMAIL
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF I COULD
HAVE SOMEBODY, MAYBE, GO BY HER
HOUSE AND CHECK ON HER
>> Reporter: THE STORY
MACKENZIE'S DAD TOLD WAS THIS.
ON THE NIGHT OF SUNDAY,
JUNE 16th, 2019, MACKENZIE HAD
BOARDED A FLIGHT FROM
LOS ANGELES BACK TO UTAH,
ARRIVING IN SALT LAKE CITY
AROUND 1:35 A.M. MONDAY.
AT 2:01 A.M., SHE TEXTED HER MOM
TO SAY SHE LANDED SAFELY
AFTER THAT, THREE DAYS OF
SILENCE.
TWO PATROL OFFICERS WENT
STRAIGHT AWAY TO MACKENZIE'S
TOWNHOUSE.
HER CAR WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY.
THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN
REPEATED KNOCKS AT THE DOOR,
HOWEVER, WENT UNANSWERED
PEERING THROUGH A WINDOW, THE
OFFICERS SAW NOTHING
NOT A SOUL AROUND.
THEY CALLED MACKENZIE'S DAD TO
REPORT THE NEWS.
NEXT, THE OFFICERS PHONED
MACKENZIE'S FRIENDS, BOSS,
PROFESSORS
NONE OF THEM HAD SEEN HER.
ALL REASONS WHY, BY THE END OF
THIS UNSETTLING DAY, MACKENZIE'S
CASE WAS REFERRED TO A PLACE
THAT SOUNDED VERY SERIOUS
INDEED -- THE SALT LAKE CITY
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMICIDE
SQUAD.
>> WE GET A LOT OF MISSING
PERSONS CASES IN SALT LAKE CITY.
>> Reporter: LT. TODD MITCHELL
IS THE UNIT'S CHIEF DETECTIVE.
>> SO I TRY MY BEST TO SIFT
THROUGH THOSE AND FIND THE --
THE ONES THAT KINDA RAISE THE
HAIR ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK,
FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
AND THIS RAISED THE HAIR ON THE
BACK OF MY NECK.
SO, THAT'S WHY I DECIDED, "YEAH,
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW AND
AT LEAST START AN INITIAL
INVESTIGATION INTO IT.
>> Reporter: TRUTH BE TOLD, MOST
REPORTS ARE EASILY RESOLVED.
THE MISSING PERSON MAY HAVE
SIMPLY LOST THEIR PHONE OR JUST
DECIDED TAKE A BREAK FROM SOME
FAMILY DRAMA
BUT THAT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE THE
CASE WITH MACKENZIE.
THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD WITH
HER MOM AND DAD WOULD BE THE
ENVY OF MOST PARENTS
>> THEY WERE ALWAYS CONTACTING
EACH OTHER
THEY'D SEND LITTLE, SILLY TEXTS
BACK AND FORTH ON A DAILY BASIS.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES
NATE WILEY AND TIFFANY SAYES LED
THE MISSING PERSONS
INVESTIGATION, EVEN THOUGH THEIR
SPECIALTY WAS MURDER
>> I MEAN, A USUAL HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATION WE START, THERE'S
A DEAD BODY.
WE'RE STARTING WITH SOMETHING.
WE HAVE A VICTIM AND WE'RE
MOVING BACKWARDS IN THIS CASE.
WE STARTED WITH NOTHING.
>> Reporter: FIRST ACTION SAYES
AND WILEY TOOK WAS TO PULL THE
SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT'S
SURVEILLANCE CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM
THE NIGHT OF MACKENZIE'S
DISAPPEARANCE.
AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE SHE WAS
>> SO THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF
THE ORDINARY
WE'RE ABLE TO SEE HER COME OFF
THE -- THE TERMINAL.
AND WE FOLLOWED HER ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO THE BAGGAGE CLAIM TO
WHERE SHE PICKED UP HER LUGGAGE.
>> Reporter: SEEMED PERFECTLY
NORMAL, FINE, CASUAL
>> YES
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT
WE COULD SEE AT ALL.
>> Reporter: THE LAST CLIP SHOWS
MACKENZIE, LIKE SO MANY OTHER
PASSENGERS, CASUALLY GETTING
INTO A CAR OUTSIDE BAGGAGE
CLAIM.
BUT THE IDENTITY OF THE DRIVER
A MYSTERY.
NEWS OF THIS POLICE
INVESTIGATION QUICKLY SPREAD
AMONG MACKENZIE'S FRIENDS.
>> THE SECOND THAT I HEARD ABOUT
THAT, MY STOMACH DROPPED
>> Reporter: SO KENNEDY LAUNCHED
HER OWN INVESTIGATION.
>> I WENT ON FACEBOOK.
I DROPPED PICTURES OF US
TOGETHER
AND I SAID, "SHE'S MISSING
LIKE, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING, YOU
REACH OUT TO ME OR YOU TELL THE
POLICE."
>> I THOUGHT SHE WAS STILL IN
CALIFORNIA UNTIL I SAW KENNEDY'S
MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK.
>> Reporter: ASHLEY FINE,
ANOTHER OF MACKENZIE'S COLLEGE
FRIENDS, PUT UP HER OWN FACEBOOK
POST
>> AND I TAGGED HER IN IT.
AND BECAUSE I TAGGED HER
FACEBOOK, SOME OF HER OTHER
FAMILY MEMBERS REACHED OUT TO ME
IMMEDIATELY.
>> Reporter: WHAT FAMILY
MEMBERS?
>> SOME OF HER DISTANT COUSINS
>> Reporter: OKAY.
>> ONE WHO LIVES HERE IN UTAH.
AND WE STARTED TALKING AND
MESSAGING.
AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW, I HAVE A
FEELING THAT SHE TOOK A LYFT
SHARE.
I FEEL REALLY STRONG THAT SHE
DID THAT."
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE WORRIED
THAT MAYBE SOMETHING HAPPENED IN
THAT CAR
>> DEFINITELY.
DEFINITELY
>> Reporter: ON THEIR OWN,
ASHLEY AND THIS COUSIN CALLED
LYFT AND UBER TO SEE IF EITHER
ONE OF THEM HAD PICKED UP
MACKENZIE AT THE AIRPORT
>> AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN THIS
BEGAN.
BECAUSE SOMEHOW THEY LET IT
SLIP, LYFT DID, THAT SHE GOT IN
A LYFT THAT NIGHT.
>> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU DO AT
THAT POINT
>> WE CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT
ABOUT THE LYFT
>> Reporter: A BIG BREAK FOR
SAYES AND WILEY BECAUSE IT GAVE
THEM PROBABLE CAUSE TO SERVE
LYFT WITH A SEARCH WARRANT
>> AND FIND OUT WHERE HER
DESTINATION WAS, WHERE SHE WAS
DROPPED OFF, WHAT TIME SHE WAS
PICKED UP.
>> Reporter: WHERE DID SHE GO?
>> SO, WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE
DESTINATION FROM THE AIRPORT ALL
THE WAY UP TO A NORTH SALT LAKE
ADDRESS, AND SHE WAS DROPPED OFF
AT HATCH PARK UP IN NORTH
SALT LAKE JUST BEFORE 3:00 A.M
>> Reporter: A PARK?
AT 3:00 A.M.
WHY WOULD MACKENZIE COME HERE?
AND JUST AS IMPORTANT, WHY WOULD
A DRIVER LEAVE A YOUNG WOMAN
ALONE, BURDENED WITH LUGGAGE, AT
A PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT?
WHO WOULD DO SUCH A THING?
IT WAS DETECTIVE SAYES' JOB TO
TRACK DOWN THE DRIVER WHO, SHE
DISCOVERED, WAS NOT SO EASY TO
FIND
>> WE WERE LIKE, "IS THIS GUY
DODGING US?"
>>> MACKENZIE'S FRIENDS HAVE A
TERRIFYING THEORY ABOUT WHY
SHE'S MISSING.
WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> I ASSUMED THAT THE LYFT
DRIVER ABDUCTED HER.
AND HERE'S ONE REASON WHY.
>> HER LAST TEXT MESSAGE THAT WE
RECOVERED WAS AT 2:58, PRIOR TO
HER ARRIVING AT THE HATCH PARK
LOCATION
AND THAT WAS THE LAST ACTIVITY
EVER WE HAD ON HER PHONE
>> Reporter: BEFORE MACKENZIE
LUECK DISAPPEARED IN JUNE 2019,
A DISTURBING STORY HAD GONE
NATIONAL -- SEVERAL STORIES,
ACTUALLY, ABOUT WOMEN BEING
ASSAULTED WHILE USING LYFT OR
UBER
>> AT LEAST 14 WOMEN HAVE NOW
FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE RIDE
SHARE GIANT.
>> Reporter: AND, PERHAPS NO
SURPRISE, MACKENZIE'S FRIEND
ASHLEY FINE IMAGINED SOMETHING
LIKE THAT -- OR WORSE.
>> I ASSUMED THAT THE LYFT
DRIVER ABDUCTED HER, OR MAYBE
THEY WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND
HAD THE CAR DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES
THOUGHT THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY
TOO.
SO THEY WANTED VERY MUCH TO FIND
THAT ELUSIVE LYFT DRIVER WHO
GAVE MACKENZIE A RIDE THE NIGHT
SHE VANISHED
>> WE WANTED TO KNOW IF HE WAS
IN FACT GOING TO BE A SUSPECT OR
NOT.
>> Translator: HE WAS, THOUGH,
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
JUST AS ODD?
MACKENZIE'S PHONE, THE
DETECTIVES LEARNED, WAS TURNED
OFF JUST AS HER LYFT RIDE CAME
TO AN END.
>> HER LAST TEXT MESSAGE THAT WE
RECOVERED WAS AT 2:58 PRIOR TO
HER ARRIVING AT THE HATCH PARK
LOCATION
>> HMM HMM
>> AND THAT WAS THE LAST
ACTIVITY EVER WE HAD ON HER
PHONE.
>> Reporter: ON THE MORNING OF
SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd -- SIX DAYS
AFTER MACKENZIE WENT MISSING --
DETECTIVE TIFFANY SAYES FINALLY
TRACKED DOWN MACKENZIE'S LYFT
DRIVER
>> Reporter: HE SAYS, THERE
WASN'T A LOT OF CONVERSATION
GOING ON IN THE CAR.
HE DID RECALL HER BEING ON HER
PHONE, UM, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHO SHE WAS TALKING TO
>> WAS HE FULLY COOPERATIVE?
DID HE SEEM, HE SEEM LIKE HE
WANTED TO HELP
>> OH YES, DEFINITELY.
HE DID
HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T SEEM LIKE
HE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS
AT ALL
>> Reporter: BECAUSE HE HAD AN
ALIBI -- A VERY GOOD ONE,
ACTUALLY
AS SOON AS HE DROPPED MACKENZIE
OFF, SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE AT A
NEARBY INTERSECTION CAPTURED HIM
LEAVING TO PICK UP ANOTHER
FARE -
THE DATE
TIME AND LOCATION ALL CONFIRMED
BY THE TRACKING SOFTWARE ON HIS
LYFT APP
>> AND HE CONTINUED THAT THROUGH
THE NIGHT.
AND SO -
>> SO, YOU COULD ELIMINATE HIM
PRETTY EASILY BASED ON THE FACT
HE WAS ELSEWHERE
>> VERY QUICKLY, YES
>> SHE WAS SMILING
UM, SHE WAS IN UH, IN GOOD
SPIRITS.
>> Reporter: MACKENZIE'S LYFT
DRIVER, HEATH CANADA TOLD
POLICE -- AND LATER US -- HE
REMEMBERED THE WEIRD DROP OFF
LOCATION
EVEN MACKENZIE COMMENTED ON
THAT, HE SAID.
>> SAYING HOW IT WAS ODD TO BE
DROPPED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT AT A PARK.
>> Reporter: CANADA, THOUGH,
SAID HE WASN'T TOO WORRIED
BECAUSE SOMEONE, WITH A CAR, WAS
THERE WAITING FOR MACKENZIE.
>> I UN -- UNLOADED UM, HER
LUGGAGE, SAID GOODBYE.
AND DROVE AWAY
>> Reporter: SO -- WHO WAS THAT
SOMEONE IN THE WAITING CAR
THE DETECTIVES WERE HOPING THEY
COULD IDENTIFY HIM OR HER,
THROUGH MACKENZIE'S PHONE
RECORDS.
AND -- SHE HAD BEEN TEXTING A
NUMBER, WITH A TWO-ZERO-SIX AREA
CODE, RIGHT UP TO THE POINT HER
PHONE WENT DEAD.
>> SO WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY
TAKE THAT NUMBER AND RUN IT
THROUGH OUR LITTLE DATA BASES
AND IT CAME BACK AS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING, IT DIDN'T COME BACK TO
ANYBODY.
>> Reporter: HAD TO BE SOME TYPE
OF BURNER PHONE, THEY THOUGHT.
>> SO WHOEVER THAT WAS DID NOT
WANT ANYONE TO KNOW UH ANYONE IN
ANY OFFICIAL CAPACITY TO KNOW
WHO IT WAS
>> YEAH IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS AT
THAT POINT
>> Reporter: BUT -- ACCORDING TO
THE LYFT DRIVER -- WHOEVER MET
MACKENZIE AT THE PARK MADE NO
EFFORT TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITY
FROM HER
TO THE CONTRARY.
>> THEY SEEMED TO KNOW EACH
OTHER, UM, REALLY WELL
BECAUSE --
I THINK ALL I HEARD WAS HOW ARE
YOU DOING, HOW WAS YOUR TRIP,
JUST KIND OF BASIC UH,
GREETINGS.
>> THE SITUATION SEEMED R-- VERY
SAFE
SHE UH OBVIOUSLY KNEW THE PERSON
THAT SHE WAS UM GETTING IN, UM
INTO THE CAR WITH.
>> Reporter: THAT MACKENZIE HAD
CAUGHT A RIDE WITH SOMEONE SHE
KNEW WAS BOTH GOOD -- AND BAD
NEWS
THE GOOD NEWS, OF COURSE WAS
THAT IT MEANT MAYBE MACKENZIE
JUST WENT OFF WITH A FRIEND
SOMEWHERE.
THE BAD NEWS
BECAUSE THERE WAS NOW NO PROOF
OF A CRIME, THE DETECTIVES HAD
LOST THEIR POWER TO GET ANY
ADDITIONAL SEARCH WARRANTS
>> WE HAD LOST OUR WHAT WE CALL
PROBABLE CAUSE THAT A CRIME HAD
BEEN COMMITTED
AND SO JUST, JUST LIKE THAT.
>> JUST LIKE THAT?
BECAUSE OF THE SUPPOSEDLY --
JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LYFT
DRIVER SAID, SUDDENLY YOU CAN'T
BE GETTING WARRANTS OR THINGS?
>> CORRECT
AND SO THAT WAS THE HARD PART
AND IT REALLY SLOWED DOWN THE
INVESTIGATION AT THAT POINT
BECAUSE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CRIME
TO ATTACH TO IT.
IT WAS STILL NOW JUST A MISSING
PERSON'S INVESTIGATION
>> Reporter: WITHOUT A WARRANT
THE DETECTIVES WERE BLOCKED FROM
GETTING DETAILED PHONE RECORDS
WHICH -- THEORETICALLY -- WOULD
HAVE SHOWN WHO MACKENZIE WAS
TEXTING.
SO WHO WAS THIS "FRIEND"
MACKENZIE MET AT THE PARK -- AND
WHERE DID THEY GO?
>> COMING UP -
ONE PLACE MACKENZIE WASN'T
MISSING WAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAYING 'HEY
I'M LOOKING AT HER SITE RIGHT
NOW, IT'S SHOWING THAT SHE'S
ACTIVELY ON-LINE
HER BANK ACCOUNT WAS ACTIVE TOO.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THERE
WOULD BE FURTHER TRANSACTIONS ON
THERE SO THAT WE COULD FIND HER.
>> WHEN "DATELINE" CONTI
>> Reporter: SO MANY QUESTIONS
WHY DID MACKENZIE GO TO A PARK
EIGHT MILES FROM HOME, AT
3:00 A.M., NO LESS
WHO DID SHE MEET
IT MADE NO SENSE, THOUGHT HER
FRIEND ASHLEY FINE
>> I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE SHE
WOULD MEET SOMEONE AT A PARK AT
3:00 A.M
IT'S JUST SO UNLIKE HER.
>> Reporter: IT IS
>> SO UNLIKE HER
>> Reporter: BECAUSE MACKENZIE,
LIKE MOST OF HER SORORITY
SISTERS, HAD TALKED A LOT ABOUT
SAFETY
>> I MEAN, I'VE BEEN OUT WITH
HER A LOT OF TIMES, AND SHE'S
ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY SAFE
SHE'S TEXTED ME AFTER -- AFTER
GOING OUT AT NIGHT AND SAID,
"HEY, DID YOU MAKE IT HOME
ARE YOU OKAY?"
>> Reporter: YOU WOULD EXCHANGE
THINGS JUST TO KEEP EACH OTHER
SAFE
>> YES
>> Reporter: ASHLEY HAD MET
MACKENZIE ALMOST FOUR YEARS
EARLIER.
>> SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT SHYER
THAN PEOPLE WOULD THINK SHE
WOULD BE, BUT ONCE YOU GOT TO
KNOW HER, SHE HAD A BIG
PERSONALITY.
SHE CAN MAKE ANYONE LAUGH.
>> Reporter: KENNEDY STONER ALSO
MET MACKENZIE IN COLLEGE
>> HER FAMILY DOESN'T LIVE HERE.
SO SHE WAS ALL ON HER OWN HERE
SO SHE HAD A JOB
SHE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL.
SHE WAS, LIKE, CHECKING OFF
EVERYTHING THAT A RESPONSIBLE
ADULT WOULD HAVE ON THEIR CHECK
LIST, I GUESS.
>> Reporter: MACKENZIE GREW UP
NEAR LOS ANGELES -- EL SEGUNDO,
CALIFORNIA
AND SHE WAS RAISED IN THE CHURCH
OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
BUT WHEN SHE CAME TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TO STUDY
KINESIOLOGY, ACCORDING TO
ASHLEY, MACKENZIE DIDN'T EXACTLY
REMAIN DEVOUT.
>> I KNOW SHE WAS REGISTERED
HERE IN A WARD IN
SALT LAKE CITY, BUT I HEARD THAT
SHE WAS NEVER ACTIVE
AND THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME
BECAUSE I THINK SHE WANTED TO
FIND HER OWN PATH.
>> Reporter: YOU SAW HER
CHANGING IN RECENT TIMES, DIDN'T
YOU?
IN WHAT WAYS
>> I THINK SHE WAS TRYING TO
ALMOST GAIN CONFIDENCE AND
SECURITY IN HERSELF.
SHE'D ALWAYS WRITE HERSELF,
LIKE, NOTES SAYING HOW SHE
WANTED TO FEEL MORE CONFIDENT.
BECAUSE I THINK SHE REALIZED SHE
WAS REALLY SHY AND SHE WANTED TO
BE MORE OUTGOING AND MEET
PEOPLE
AND SHE WANTED TO EXPLORE DATING
AND -- AND, UM, IT MIGHT NOT BE
HOW EVERYONE ELSE THINKS DATING
SHOULD BE.
>> Reporter: WHAT ASHLEY IS
GETTING AT IS THAT MACKENZIE WAS
ACTIVE ON DATING SITES
SO MUCH SO THAT BY SATURDAY,
JUNE 22nd, THE SIXTH DAY AFTER
MACKENZIE'S DISAPPEARANCE,
DETECTIVES HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL
PHONE CALLS FROM SOME OF THE MEN
MACKENZIE MET ONLINE
MAINLY TO SAY THEY HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH HER DISAPPEARANCE
>> I MEAN, NOWADAYS, THAT'S HOW
PEOPLE MEET PEOPLE
SO, WHILE IT WAS OF SIGNIFICANCE
BECAUSE IT GAVE US, YOU KNOW,
ONE MORE THING TO LOOK AT, IT
WASN'T THIS, YOU KNOW, BIG, HUGE
RED FLAG EITHER.
>> Reporter: SO WAS MACKENZIE
OFF ON A LARK WITH A GUY SHE MET
ONLINE
A HOOK-UP SHE WANTED TO KEEP
SECRET FROM HER DEVOUTLY
RELIGIOUS PARENTS?
WELL, THAT CERTAINLY SEEMED FAR
MORE LIKELY THAN SOME SORT OF
KIDNAPPING SCENARIO.
>> SHE COULD HAVE GONE CAMPING
OR GONE WITH A FRIEND WHERE THEY
WOULD LOSE CELL SERVICE, AND IT
WOULDN'T BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
>> Reporter: BUT ONCE THEY DID
SOME CHECKING AROUND, THAT
CAMPING IDEA SEEMED A LOT LESS
LIKELY
WHY?
STANDARD PROCEDURE
THEY LOOKED UP AIRLINE FLIGHT
RECORDS AND DISCOVERED MACKENZIE
HAD BEEN BOOKED ON A FLIGHT OUT
OF TOWN.
TO LAS VEGAS
SO MAYBE SHE WAS THERE
AND MEANWHILE, THE DETECTIVES
BEGAN TO SEE ACTIVITY ON HER
BANK ACCOUNT
AND SOMETHING ELSE
>> DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAYING,
"HEY, I'M LOOKING AT HER SITE
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S SHOWING THAT SHE'S ACTIVELY
ONLINE."
>> Reporter: SO MAYBE SHE WAS
JUST FINE, IGNORING THE FUSS, OR
JUST ZONED OUT AND ENTIRELY
UNAWARE OF IT.
>> AND SO WE'RE HOPEFUL.
>> Reporter: SURE.
>> 'CAUSE WHEN PEOPLE GO
MISSING, EVEN IF IT'S ON THEIR
OWN ACCORD, THEY'RE STILL GONNA
BE MAKING TRANSACTIONS OR PAYING
FOR STUFF.
AND SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THERE
WOULD BE FURTHER TRANSACTIONS ON
THERE SO THAT WE COULD FIND HER.
>> Reporter: NOT FAR FROM THE
POLICE STATION, KENNEDY AND
ASHLEY HOSTED A RALLY TO MAKE
SURE EVERYONE IN SALT LAKE CITY
KNEW TO BE LOOKING FOR
MACKENZIE.
>> HEY, GUYS, THIS GIRL'S
MISSING, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR
HER.
SHE COULD BE IN DANGER
WE THINK SHE'S IN DANGER
>> Reporter: BUT WAS SHE
ON SUNDAY, JUNE THE 23rd,
DETECTIVES LEARNED MACKENZIE HAD
A FLIGHT BOOKED FOR THAT VERY
DAY, TRAVELING FROM LAS VEGAS TO
LOS ANGELES TO ATTEND A FRIEND'S
WEDDING.
>> AND SHE WOULDN'T MISS THAT.
SO WE CONTACTED LAPD, AND THEY
HAD OFFICERS WAITING FOR THAT
FLIGHT TO LAND
>> Reporter: THEY WAITED BY THE
JETWAY FOR ALL THE PASSENGERS TO
DEPLANE.
MACKENZIE WAS NOT AMONG THEM
THEN, THEY LEARNED THIS.
IT WASN'T MACKENZIE WHO'D BEEN
LOGGING INTO HER SOCIAL MEDIA
ACCOUNTS
THAT HAD BEEN HER FRIENDS.
>> THAT HAD OBTAINED HER EMAIL
AND PASSWORD, AND THEY WEREN'T
DOING IT TO TRY TO RUIN THINGS
OR ANYTHING.
THEY WERE TRYING TO GO ON THERE
TO MONITOR THE SITES AS WELL TO
SEE IF ANY INFORMATION COULD
COME UP.
>> Reporter: AND THE ACTIVITY ON
MACKENZIE'S BANK ACCOUNT
>> IT WAS THE LYFT TRANSACTION
ON THE 17th AND THEN AN
AUTOMATIC PAYROLL DEPOSIT FROM
HER WORK
>> Reporter: AND THEN THE
DETECTIVES GOT A TIP FROM THIS
GUY WHO JUST MAYBE COULD BRING
ALL THOSE BLURRY DETAILS INTO
SHARP FOCUS.
>>> COMING UP --
>> I GOT ON THE COMPUTER, AND
WITHIN AN HOUR, TWO HOURS, I HAD
FOUND HER PROFILE.
>> THE WORLD OF SUGAR BABIES
DID MACKENZIE KNOW WHAT SHE WAS
GETTING INTO
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GO INTO
IT ARE, LIKE, SERIOUSLY SO BLIND
TO THE WHOLE REALITY OF WHAT IT
IS
>> Reporter: IT WAS A FEW WEEKS
BEFORE MACKENZIE LUECK VANISHED.
A CHANCE MEETING AT A BAR WITH
THIS MAN, ROB JOSEPH
>> SHE JUST SEEMED LIKE A VERY
BRIGHT, BUBBLY GIRL.
FRIENDLY
>> Reporter: THEY TALKED FOR
MORE THAN AN HOUR, SAID ROB.
OR, SHE DID, WHILE HE LISTENED
ROB IS AN EX-SALT LAKE CITY COP.
PRIVATE EYE NOW.
WHICH, OF COURSE, HE TOLD HER.
>> IF YOU MENTION YOU'RE AN
EX-COP AND YOU'RE A P.I. --
EVERYBODY ALL OF A SUDDEN WANTS
TO TELL YOU THEIR DARK SECRETS,
YOU KNOW, OR -
OR RISKY BEHAVIORS
>> Reporter: IS THAT WHAT HAP --
IS THAT HOW PEOPLE REACT TRULY
>> OH YEAH, YOU'D BE SURPRISED
THAT PEOPLE JUST WANNA TELL YOU
THINGS THAT YOU DON'T WANNA
HEAR
>> Reporter: ANYWAY, HE ONLY SAW
MACKENZIE THAT ONE TIME, HE
SAID
DIDN'T GET HER PHONE NUMBER,
AND --
>> I DIDN'T OFFER MY NUMBER.
I GENERALLY DON'T GIVE OUT MY
NUMBER
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS THAT,
HE SAID.
HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE HER
AGAIN.
BUT, JUST THREE WEEKS LATER --
MACKENZIE WAS MISSING.
AND ROB SAID THE FRIEND WHO WAS
WITH HIM AT THE BAR THAT NIGHT
MADE THE CONNECTION.
>> HE JUST MENTIONED TO ME
CASUALLY, "HEY, YOU KNOW, THAT
GIRL WE MET AT THE BAR, THAT'S
THE GIRL THAT WENT MISSING."
>> Reporter: OF COURSE, ROB
REMEMBERED THE FRIENDLY COLLEGE
STUDENT, AND THE SECRET SHE
REVEALED TO HIM THAT NIGHT
>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHE WAS
SEEKING APPROVAL OR JUST ADVICE
OR RECOMMENDATIONS AND -
>> Reporter: HOW'D SHE PUT IT?
>> SHE JUST SAID SHE WAS ON A
DATING SITE.
AND LOOKING FOR SUGAR DADDIES.
AND I ASKED HER WHICH ONE.
AND SHE SAID "SEEKING
ARRANGEMENTS."
>> Reporter: "SEEKING
ARRANGEMENT," A WEBSITE DESIGNED
TO CONNECT YOUNG WOMEN WITH
PROSPEROUS OLDER MEN
ROB KNEW A LOT ABOUT DATING
SITES, HE'S A P.I., REMEMBER,
AND HE FIGURED IF MACKENZIE WAS
MISSING, THAT JUST MIGHT HAVE
SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
>> I WENT STRAIGHT HOME, GOT ON
THE COMPUTER AND GOT ONTO
SEEKING ARRANGEMENTS
AND -- AND WITHIN AN HOUR, TWO
HOURS, I HAD FOUND HER PROFILE
>> Reporter: THERE SHE WAS,
"BEACH BABY 96."
>> WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT
HER PROFILE WAS IT WAS JUST VERY
AUTHENTIC AND HONEST
SHE WASN'T REALLY HIDING WHO SHE
WAS.
>> Reporter: SOON AS HE FOUND
IT, HE SENT A SCREEN GRAB OF
MACKENZIE'S PROFILE TO THE SALT
LAKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> THIS WAS DEFINITELY ANOTHER
AVENUE THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT
AND, YOU KNOW, TRACK DOWN
ANYBODY THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH HER
>> Reporter: MACKENZIE, IT
APPEARED, HAD COMPARTMENTALIZED
INFORMATION ABOUT HER LIFE
THE PLANE TICKET TO LAS VEGAS,
FOR INSTANCE, HAD BEEN PAID FOR
BY A MAN SHE MET THROUGH SEEKING
ARRANGEMENT.
AND A $300 DEPOSIT TO ONE OF
MACKENZIE'S BANK ACCOUNTS?
>> THAT WAS FROM ONE OF HER
OTHER DATES THAT SHE HAD BEEN
ON
THAT SHE'D RECEIVED A -- A
PAYMENT FROM AND THAT WAS PRIOR
TO HER GOING OVER TO HER UH
GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL.
>> Reporter: HER FRIEND ASHLEY
SAID SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
HER BEING ON THAT SITE
>> Reporter: SHE DIDN'T TALK
ABOUT IT
IT WASN'T LIKE A SUBJECT OF
CONVERSATION
>> NOT WITH ME
>> Reporter: MACKENZIE'S FRIEND
KENNEDY WANTED TO AVOID THE
SUBJECT ALL TOGETHER
BUT, SHE ACKNOWLEDGED, THAT
SEEKING ARRANGEMENT IS WELL
KNOWN ON CAMPUS.
>> THIS SITE IS NOT UNFAMILIAR
TO A LOT OF WOMEN IN COLLEGE
>> Reporter: EVERYBODY KNOWS
ABOUT IT
>> EVERYBODY KNOWS OF THIS SITE.
>> Reporter: SEEKING ARRANGEMENT
WAS FOUNDED IN 2006 BY A
SELF-PROCLAIMED "NERD" AND M-I-T
GRAD, NAMED BRANDON WADE
HE DECLINED OUR INTERVIEW
REQUEST, BUT IN THIS 2016 "TODAY
SHOW" STORY, WADE SAID HE CAME
UP WITH THE IDEA AS A WAY TO
MEET YOUNG WOMEN
>> THE AVERAGE SUGAR BABY IS
ROUGHLY 27 YEARS OLD
50% OF THEM ARE COLLEGE
STUDENTS
THEY ARE AMBITIOUS
THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THEY ARE
ON THE WEBSITE BECAUSE THEY WANT
TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO IS
SUCCESSFUL, WHO IS GOING TO
ACTUALLY HELP THEM OR SPOIL
THEM
>> I THINK WE'RE LIVING IN A
CULTURE WHERE IT'S MUCH MORE
ACCEPTED AND EMBRACED FOR WOMEN
TO BE UPFRONT ABOUT WHAT THEY
NEED AND WANT.
>> Reporter: JOURNALIST MARIELLA
MOSTHOF WRITES ABOUT SEX AND
CULTURE, AND SEES "SUGARING" AS
A FORM OF FEMALE EMPOWERMENT
THAT'S OPEN, THAT IS LESS
STIGMATIZED THAN IT HAS BEEN IN
THE PAST
>> Reporter: SO THEY PERCEIVE
THIS AS HOLDING POWER?
>> I SEE IT AS VERY POWERFUL,
YES.
>> Reporter: HOW -- EXPLAIN THAT
A LITTLE BIT
>> ANY TIME YOU GO INTO A
RELATIONSHIP OF ANY KIND OF
SAYING, "THIS IS WHAT I NEED
AND IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME THIS,
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON," IS A
POWERFUL THING TO SAY.
>> Reporter: THERE IS SOME
DEBATE ABOUT THIS, WHETHER IT
ACTUALLY EMPOWERS YOUNG WOMEN OR
EXPLOITS THE INNOCENT.
>> I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
GO INTO IT ARE, LIKE, SERIOUSLY
SO BLIND TO, LIKE, THE WHOLE
REALITY OF WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW.
>> Reporter: LIKE MACKENZIE,
TASIA LARKIN'S A 20-SOMETHING
FROM SALT LAKE CITY WITH A
SEEKING ARRANGEMENT PROFILE.
BUT UNLIKE MACKENZIE, TASIA TOLD
US SHE WAS ANYTHING BUT A NEWBIE
WHEN WE SPOKE TO HER IN 2019
AT THE TIME, SHE HAD BEEN WITH A
SUGAR DADDY FOR SIX MONTHS
HE WAS 63.
>> Reporter: DO YOU MIND TELLIN'
ME HOW MUCH HE PAYS YOU?
>> MY ALLOWANCE IS $1,200 A
MONTH.
>> Reporter: TASIA TOLD US IT
TOOK HER A LONG TIME TO FIND AN
ARRANGEMENT.
>> YOU HAVE TO FISH THROUGH ALL
OF THOSE GUYS WHO, LIKE,
LITERALLY, THEY'RE LIKE, "LET'S
MEET UP AT A HOTEL, HAVE SEX,
AND I'LL GIVE YOU MONEY.
AND I'M LIKE, "THAT'S A
PROSTITUTE."
>> Reporter: SHADES OF GRAY CAN
BE CONFUSING FOR ANYBODY, SAID
TASIA.
LET ALONE A NOVICE ON "SEEKING
ARRANGEMENT.
>> I'VE SEEN LIKE GIRLS WHO HAVE
HAD SUGAR DADDIES.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN THE SAME PERSON
AFTER IT
>> Reporter: DID YOU READ
MACKENZIE'S PROFILE?
>> YES, I DID.
>> Reporter: SHE CAME FROM A
VERY SHELTERED SORT OF
UPBRINGING
WOULD THAT HAVE MADE IT MORE
DANGEROUS FOR HER?
>> OH, MOST DEFINITELY
GOING INTO IT BLINDLY IS NOT
SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND,
LIKE, AT ALL
>> WELCOME TO "LET'S TALK
SUGAR.
THIS EPISODE IS ALL ABOUT
GETTING READY FOR YOUR SUGAR
DATE
>> Reporter: SEEKING ARRANGEMENT
DOES MAKE, WHAT THEY CALL,
"LET'S TALK SUGAR" VIDEOS THAT
OFFER UP ADVICE TO NOVICE SUGAR
BABIES
GIVING TIPS ON EVERYTHING FROM
HOW TO ASK FOR AN ALLOWANCE TO
WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR PURSE
PERFUME, THEY SAY, AND PEPPER
SPRAY.
>> NOT THAT YOU'LL NEED IT ON
YOUR DATE, BUT GOING OUT LOOKING
HOT IS ALWAYS A RISK
>> Reporter: DID MACKENZIE WATCH
THE VIDEOS
WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT ONE OF HER DECISIONS, SAID
TASIA, BETRAYED HER LACK OF
EXPERIENCE
>> WHY WOULD YOU MEET IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A PARK.
>> Reporter: AND THERE WAS
SOMETHING ELSE, WHETHER
MACKENZIE DID IT OR THE PERSON
SHE MET, WE DON'T KNOW
BUT, REMEMBER, RIGHT AFTER THE
LYFT DRIVER DROPPED HER OFF AT
THE PARK, SOMEONE TURNED OFF
MACKENZIE'S CELL PHONE
WHICH HAPPENS TO BE CONTRARY TO
SEEKING ARRANGEMENT'S MOST
IMPORTANT RULE
>> YOU NEVER WANNA GET STUCK
PHONELESS.
THAT'S YOUR LIFELINE
>> COMING UP -
>> WE'VE GOT AN IP ADDRESS THAT
COMES BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE.
>> TRACKING TEXTS AND A TIP FROM
A CONCERNED NEIGHBOR
>> SHE DESCRIBED IT AS JUST
BEING REALLY OFFENSIVELY SMOKY
AN
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES IN
SALT LAKE CITY WERE TRYING TO
FIND OUT IF MACKENZIE LUECK'S
DISAPPEARANCE WAS VOLUNTARY, OR
NOT.
REMEMBER THE FLIGHT SHE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE ON, TO
LOS ANGELES?
THEY FOUND OUT IT HAD BEEN PAID
FOR BY A SUGAR DADDY
BUT REMEMBER, MACKENZIE WASN'T
ON THAT FLIGHT, AND THEY FOUND
OUT SHE WASN'T ON THE ONE TO
VEGAS, EITHER.
>> IT WAS AT THAT POINT, THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO SAY OKAY WE'VE GOT
ENOUGH HERE THAT WE CAN BUILD
OUR PROBABLE CAUSE BACK UP AND
REALLY KICK IN AND START SERVING
SOME SEARCH WARRANTS AGAIN
>> Reporter: AND OFF, THE
DETECTIVES WENT, IN SEARCH OF
THE MYSTERY PERSON MACKENZIE WAS
TEXTING THE NIGHT SHE VANISHED
>> WITH A 206 AREA CODE.
CONVERSATIONS GOING WELL BEFORE
SHE LEFT L.A. TO ALL THE WAY TO
WHERE SHE ENDED UP IN HATCH
PARK
>> Reporter: THAT DIGITAL TRAIL
EVENTUALLY LED THEM TO A WI-FI
ROUTER AT THIS SALT LAKE CITY
HOUSE.
OWNED BY A MAN NAMED
AYOOLA AJAYI, "AJ," EX-NATIONAL
GUARD, SUCCESSFUL TECH WORKER,
PART TIME MODEL.
POLICE KNOCKED ON AJ'S DOOR,
TALKED WITH HIM, AND FOUND HE
WAS FRIENDLY, HELPFUL.
SURE, HE SAID, HE HAD
GIRLFRIENDS.
BUT MACKENZIE?
THEY SHOWED HIM A PHOTO. AND
HE -
>> TOLD THEM HE'D NEVER SEEN
THAT LADY BEFORE
>> Reporter: SO, WHY THEN, THE
POLICE ASKED, DID MACKENZIE GET
TEXTS ROUTED THROUGH AJ'S HOME
WI-FI SYSTEM
>> HE SAID, "WELL I HAVE AN OPEN
WI-FI BECAUSE I RUN AN AIRBNB
BUSINESS AND SO IT COULD BE
ANYBODY FROM HERE.
>> Reporter: DID HE RUN AN
AIRBNB BUSINESS?
>> HE DID.
HE RENTED OUT THE TWO BEDROOMS,
DOWN IN THIS BASEMENT FOR
AIRBNB
>> Reporter: THEY LOOKED AROUND,
SAW NOTHING AMISS, AND LEFT.
AND THEN, THAT SAME EVENING, AJ
STOPPED BY THE POLICE STATION TO
SAY HE'D DISCOVERED SOMETHING.
TURNED OUT HE HAD TEXTED WITH
MACKENZIE LUECK THE NIGHT SHE
DISAPPEARED.
HE'D FORGOTTEN HE SAID, BECAUSE
MACKENZIE WAS THE ONE WHO
REACHED OUT TO HIM WITHOUT
IDENTIFYING HERSELF.
MAYBE, HE SAID, SHE'D SEEN HIS
SEEKING ARRANGEMENT PROFILE.
>> SO, I THINK THAT'S HOW SHE
MET ON MY PROFILE.
>> SO SHE JUST TEXTED YOUR
NUMBER
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: SAID HE HAD NO IDEA
WHO IT WAS
>> YOU'RE STILL SAYING THAT --
THAT'S THE ONLY TEXTS -- THAT'S
THE ONLY MESSAGES YOU GOT FROM
HER, RIGHT
>> THAT I CAN REMEMBER
SO ABOUT -- PERHAPS IT JUST SENT
ME A QUESTION MARK.
SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT
I'VE TALKED TO HER IN THE PAST
>> Reporter: BUT SHE BLEW HIM
OFF, HE SAID.
GHOSTED HIM.
SO HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT HER
BUT, HE TOLD THAT STORY WITH SO
MUCH CONFIDENCE.
TOO MUCH, MAYBE?
>> WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT THINGS
NOW.
WE'VE GOT AN IP ADDRESS THAT
COMES BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE AND
NOW WE KNOW THAT HE SOLELY HAD
CONTACT WITH HER
>> Reporter: EXCEPT, THERE WAS
NO PROOF MACKENZIE HAD BEEN
ABDUCTED, BY AJ OR ANYONE ELSE
FOR THAT MATTER.
SO, HE WAS FREE TO LEAVE
BUT BEFORE DOING SO, HE GAVE
DETECTIVES HIS CELL PHONE
NUMBER, JUST IN CASE THEY NEEDED
TO GET HOLD OF HIM
A CELL NUMBER ACTUALLY
REGISTERED IN HIS NAME
REMEMBER POLICE DIDN'T HAVE THAT
BEFORE, THEY JUST HAD THAT BOGUS
2-6-0 NUMBER USED BY THE TEXTING
APP.
SO NOW WITH AJ'S PERSONAL CELL
NUMBER THEY COULD GET A SEARCH
WARRANT FOR HIS CALL RECORDS AND
TRACKING DATA.
AND TWO DAYS LATER -
>> WE GOT THE CONFIRMATION BACK
FROM THE FBI THAT MACKENZIE'S
RECORDS WERE SHOWING HER GOING
FROM THE AIRPORT TO HATCH PARK
AND AJ'S RECORDS WERE SHOWING
GOING FROM HIS RESIDENCE AND
ALSO MEETING UP AT HATCH PARK AT
THE EXACT SAME TIME.
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS ENOUGH
TO GET A WARRANT TO SEARCH AJ'S
HOME
WHERE INVESTIGATORS NOTICED A
MATTRESS WAS MISSING FROM THE
BEDROOM, AND THERE WAS A STRONG
SMELL OF BLEACH.
THEY ALSO SPOKE WITH A CONCERNED
NEIGHBOR, HER FACE BLURRED IN
THIS POLICE VIDEO, WHO WANTED
THE POLICE TO KNOW AJ, THE WEEK
BEFORE HAD STARTED AN ILLEGAL,
BACKYARD TRASH FIRE.
>> AND SHE DESCRIBED IT AS JUST
BEING A REALLY OFFENSIVELY SMOKY
AND VERY, VERY ODOROUS
>> Reporter: DEBRIS EVEN FLEW
INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD
>> LOOKED LIKE MAYBE THERE WERE
CLOTHING, PIECES OF LIKE UM,
LIKE MAYBE FAKE LEATHER, VINYL
SOMETHING, WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT
IT WAS
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE
FOR YOU WHEN THIS DISCOVERY WAS
MADE
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO
DESCRIBE IT.
I MEAN IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST A
SINKING FEELING REALLY.
I MEAN WE -- IT'S LIKE WE WANNA
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT WE ALSO
DON'T WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
BECAUSE IF IT'S WHAT WE THINK
HAPPENED THEN WE DON'T WANNA
KNOW THAT HAPPENED, IF THAT
MAKES SENSE.
>>> COMING UP:
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST
PART IN THE INVESTIGATION IS
WATCHING HIM WALK OUT THE DOOR
THAT NIGHT
>>> HARD FOR DETECTIVES, BUT IT
GAVE MACKENZIE'S FRIENDS REASON
TO HOPE.
>> MAYBE KENZIE WAS STILL ALIVE
AND HE WAS HIDING HER, BECAUSE
THE POLICE LET HIM GO.
♪♪ (MÚSICA) ♪♪
>> Caller:
>>> A NEIGHBOR SAID AJ HAD SET A
SUSPICIOUS FIRE.
THE NEIGHBOR HAD FOUND DEBRIS IN
HER BACK YARD.
THEY LOOKED IN AJ'S BACK YARD
AND FOUND SOMETHING ELSE
DISTURBING, A FRESHLY-DUG PATCH
OF SOIL.
THEY CALLED IN A CADAVER DOG,
WHICH GAVE THE UNMISTAKENABLE TA
SIGNAL, HUMAN REMAINS.
AJ WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
A TEAM FROM THE CRIME LAB SPENT
THE NIGHT DIGGING UP THE BACK
YARD
THEY FOUND MORE BURNT CLOTHING,
PURSES OR BACKPACKS.
AND THEN DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM
OF THE DIG SITE, THERE WAS A
VERY BURNT AND DAMAGED iPHONE.
AND THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
IDENTIFIED HUMAN TISSUE.
>> JUST FRAGMENTS, MIND YOU.
THEY COULDN'T BE CERTAIN WHO OR
EVEN WHAT THEY HAD EXACTLY
>> WE HAD THESE TISSUE SAMPLES
OR PIECES.
SO IN ORDER TO CHARGE SOMEBODY
OR ARREST THEM, THAT NEEDED TO
BE CONFIRMED AND WE KNEW THAT
WAS GOING TO TAKE TIME.
>> SO WITHOUT SOLID PROOF A
MURDER HAD BEEN COMMITTED, THEY
ONCE AGAIN, RELUCTANTLY, LET AJ
GO.
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST
PART IN THE INVESTIGATION, WAS
WATCHING HIM WALK OUT THE DOOR
THAT NIGHT.
>> MACKENZIE'S FRIENDS HEARD HE
WAS RELEASED AND THEY TOOK IT AS
A SIGN OF HOPE.
>> THAT MAYBE KENZIE WAS STILL
ALIVE AND HE WAS HIDING HER,
BECAUSE THE POLICE LET HIM GO
THE NEXT DAY.
>> AT DAYBREAK, DETECTIVES GOT A
CALL FROM THE STATE CRIME LAB
ABOUT THE REMAINS FOUND IN THE
BACK YARD.
>> THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
THAT AS BEING CONSISTENT WITH
MACKENZIE.
>> THE SWAT TEAM TOOK AJ INTO
CUSTODY AND POLICE CALLED A
PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE HIS
ARREST.
>> WE ARE FILING CHARGES OF
AGGRAVATED MURDER IN THE
HOMICIDE OF MACKENZIE LUECK.
>> I ALMOST BLACKED OUT OR
SOMETHING.
I DROPPED MY PURSE, MY PHONE AND
I DROPPED TO THE GROUND ON THE
STREET AND I WAS JUST BAWLING.
I JUST COULDN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT.
I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT
>> BUT THE DETECTIVES' WORK WAS
NOT DONE
ALTHOUGH THEY FOUND HUMAN TISSUE
IN THE FIRE PIT ANDLING LINGKED
MACKENZIE THEY HAD NOT FOUND HER
BODY
SO THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED
ONCE AGAIN, AJ'S PERSONAL CELL
PHONE GAVE HIM AWAY.
REMEMBER WHEN HE FIRST SPOKE TO
POLICE ABOUT MACKENZIE
THE VERY NEXT DAY HIS CELL PHONE
MADE ITS WAY UP INTO THESE
MOUNTAINS.
>> ABOUT TWO HOURS KNOT SS NORTH
UP TO LOGAN CITY AND PARTIALLY
NORTH TO THE CANYON AND THEN
RETURNS BACK TO SALT LAKE CITY A
COUPLE HOURS LATER
THAT WAS ODD TO US.
>> IS HE, A NERVOUS KILLER,
EXHUME HER BODY FROM THAT BACK
YARD FIRE PIT AND BURY HER UP
HERE
>> WE SEARCHED LOGAN CANYON AND
IT TOOK US THE BETTER PART OF
THE DAY UNTIL WE FOUND HER.
>> THAT'S GOT TO BE ANOTHER
TOUGH PART OF YOUR JOB.
>> IT WAS HORRIFIC
IT WAS A SIGHT THAT NONE OF US
WANTED TO SEE.
>> THE SEARCH FOR MACKENZIE WAS
OVER, BUT THE INVESTIGATION WAS
NOT.
IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING, A WOMAN
CAME FORWARD TO SAY SHE'D BEEN
SEXUAL ASSAULTED BY AJ A YEAR
EARLIER.
>> AT AJ'S RESIDENCE, THE SAME
RESIDENCE WHERE MACKENZIE WAS
KILLED.
>> SHE SAID SHE MET HIM THROUGH
A DATING APP, A RELIGIOUS ONE.
AJ WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED
KIDNAPPING AND FORCIBLE SEXUAL
ABUSE IN THAT CASE
THE EVIDENCE WAS TIGHTENING
AROUND HIM
EVIDENCE OF WHAT HE DID TO
MACKENZIE WAS GROWING.
AND FINALLY, OCTOBER 7th, 2020,
AJ PLEADED GUILTY TO MURDERING
MACKENZIE LUECK.
AS PART OF HIS PLEA DEAL, HE
ADMITTED HE THOUGHT ABOUT
KILLING MACKENZIE AND THEN HE
PLANNED THE KILLING OF
MACKENZIE, A THOROUGHLY
PREMEDITATED MURDER.
>> HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO
MURDER MACKENZIE BEFORE SHE EVEN
TOUCHED DOWN AT THE AIRPORT.
>> HE KIND OF SELECTED HER AS
HIS VICTIM
>> CORRECT.
>> IS THERE ANY EXPLANATION AT
ALL OF WHAT HIS MOTIVATION WAS
TO DO THAT
>> NONE.
HE NEVER OFFED EDOFFERED ANY REA
OF WHY OR EVEN HOW
>> AJAYI ALSO PLEADED GUILTY TO
SEXUALLY ABUSING HIS FIRST
VICTIM
HE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT
PAROLE
ONE MORE THING, SAID THE
DETECTIVES
HE WAS ACTIVE ON THE SEEKING
ARRANGEMENT SITE RIGHT UP UNTIL
HE WAS ARRESTED.
>> EVEN AFTER WE HAD MADE
CONTACT WITH HIM, HE WAS STILL
ON THAT PAGE, STILL TRYING TO
GET A DATE
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHY
YOU KNOW, SOME SELFISH JERK USED
HIS POSITION ON A DATING WEBSITE
TO SOMEHOW ENSNARE THIS BRIGHT,
PRETTY WOMAN
AND FOR WHAT
>> YOU LOOK AT HIS PROFILE PAGES
ON THESE SITES AND HE COMES
ACROSS AS A GENTLEMAN, SOMEBODY
THAT HE TRULY ISN'T.
THAT'S THE WHOLE CAUTIONARY
TALE, IS YOU NEVER KNOW ARE THEY
ACTUALLY WHO THEY REALLY SAY
THEY ARE.
>> ALWAYS SHE'D BEEN SURROUNDED
BY PEOPLE WHO LOVED HER, WORRIED
ABOUT HER, CARED ABOUT HER
MACKENZIE LUECK WAS AN INNOCENT,
SETTING OUT IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT
TO EXPLORE NEW POSSIBILITIES,
UNAWARE THAT IN THE WORLD SHE
WAS ENTERING, THE INNOCENT CAN
ALSO BE PREY
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN FRIDAY AT
9/8 CENTRAL.
AND OF COURSE I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD
NIGHT.