Update: Authorities have announced that Ayoola Ajayi, 31, is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, obstruction of justice and desecration of body.
Police in Utah have arrested a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a 23-year-old college student from El Segundo, California, it was announced Friday morning.
Mackenzie Lueck was first reported missing on June 17 after she arrived back in Utah after spending time with her family in the Los Angeles area. Police say Lueck texted her parents that she'd landed safely back in Utah, but she disappeared shortly after she was dropped off by a Lyft driver who dropped her off at a park in North Salt Lake City where she got into another vehicle. Authorities did not have description of the vehicle and surveillance cameras at the park were not functioning at the time.
Early Friday morning, authorities searched an apartment complex in Salt Lake City where two people were seen being taken into custody. Salt Lake City Police announced around 9 a.m. that one person had been taken into custody "regarding the Mackenzie Lueck case."
Salt Lake City police Chief Mike Brown said one suspect identified as Ayoola Ajayi, was arrested Friday morning.
Brown also confirmed "with a heavy heart" that charred material - including female human tissue and some personal items belonging to Lueck - were discovered during the search.
Police previously searched a separate home on Wednesday, where authorities were seen removing several bags of evidence, including ammunition and a pitchfork. A man living in that home was interviewed by detectives, but he has not been arrested, police said.
Investigators are also asking anyone who might have picked up a mattress and box spring "given away" by the residence, to contact authorities.
Lueck's family issued a statement, which was read by her uncle during the press conference Friday morning.
"The Lueck family would like to express their gratitude for the efforts put forth by the Salt Lake City Police Department and all partnering agencies that assisted, as well as all of the people that provided tips on this case,” according to the family. “They're also grateful to her community, to her friends and others around the nation that have supported this investigation. The family will not be taking any questions, and no interviews will be held. Inquiries should be directed to the Salt Lake City Police Department. Again, we ask that everybody respect the privacy of Mackenzie's family and friends at this time."
Ajayi's LinkedIn profile indicate that the suspect was once a U.S. Army information technology specialist between Sept. 2014 through June 2016. He's been working as technical support analyst for Dell since last year.
Lueck, a pre-nursing student and senior at the University of Utah, was a major in kinesiology, according to a school spokesman.
Photo: Salt Lake City Police Department