Episode 29, Season 2 - The Murder of Lauren McCluskey

Lauren McCluskey was a standout track star at the University of Utah who was kind, smart and inexperienced with men.

That all changed when she met a handsome, charismatic, and older part-time computer science student, who wooed her with an old-fashioned romance.

It’s not long though before this seeming too-good-to be true guy is revealed to be not only a master manipulator, but a cold-blooded killer.

Listen to the episode HERE.

Photo caption (L-R): Lauren McCluskey was a standout track star at the University of Utah who had very little experience with dating (credit: The McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention); While out with friends one night, she meets a 28-year old part-time computer science student who tells Lauren his name is Sean Fields. The pair are soon dating (credit: NBC News); Things move quickly between Lauren and her persistent boyfriend. She's later stunned to learn his name is actually Melvin Rowland and he's a 37-year old registered sex offender (credit; University of Utah and Daily Mail); Surveillance footage of Melvin in Lauren's dorm, laying in wait for her to return so he can murder her (credit: ABC News); Lauren repeatedly reported Melvin's stalking and threats to University of Utah Campus Security, but was blown off. University president Ruth Watkins defended the university's response, but later retracted her statements (credit: Salt Lake Tribune); Lauren's parents, Matt and Jill McCluskey in her dorm room (credit: New York Times); Officer Miguel Deras, who worked for U of U campus security, bragged about explicit photos he had of Lauren that he was supposed to be investigating (credit: Salt Lake Tribune); Scene of the crime following Lauren's brutal murder at the hands of Melvin (credit: ABC News)

Sources: