On Jan. 17, 2019, the University of Utah released audio recordings from the Department of Public Safety in the Lauren McCluskey case as the investigation has reached a point where these recordings can be made public. Names of dispatchers, private info and telephone numbers, addresses and dates of birth have been redacted.
The first nine recordings occurred on Oct. 10, 2018, and involved a request for a University of Utah Department of Public Safety (UUPS) safety escort to accompany Lauren McCluskey as she picked up her vehicle from the Rice-Eccles Stadium parking lot, which had been borrowed by her ex-boyfriend. Calls on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13 involved reports of extortion.
The report of the independent review team engaged by the university and the University of Utah’s response to the team’s recommendations are here.
Oct. 10, 2018
Note: This is the first call to UUPS about Lauren McCluskey.
Call 2: A UUPS dispatcher calls Lauren McCluskey offering a safety escort to pick up her car.
Note: Lauren identifies the person dropping off her car as one of Melvin Shawn Rowland’s friends. However, UUPS’s subsequent investigation after Lauren’s murder found that this text likely came from Rowland, who was using a spoofed telephone number and pretending to be the friend.
Call 3: A UUPS dispatcher calls Jill McCluskey to give her an update on the retrieval of Lauren McCluskey’s car.
Note: The dispatcher says she offered to provide a safety escort and several other options to Lauren. The dispatcher explains that a security officer will be in the vicinity when the vehicle is returned to Lauren.
Call 4: A UUPS dispatcher calls a security officer, explains the situation, and requests that the security officer be in the area while Lauren McCluskey’s vehicle is returned to her.
Date/time: Oct. 10, 2018, 3:15 p.m.
Call 5: Lauren McCluskey calls UUPS Dispatch, explains the plan for where she’ll retrieve her vehicle has changed and requests that a security officer give her a ride to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where her car will now be dropped off.
Call 6: Jill McCluskey calls UUPS Dispatch to check whether Lauren called and to confirm that a security officer will accompany Lauren to get her car.
Call 7: A UUPS dispatcher makes radio contact with a security officer, explains the change in vehicle pick up location and requests that the officer accompany Lauren.
Call 8: Lauren McCluskey calls UUPS Dispatch to have the security officer pick her up to go to Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Call 9: Jill McCluskey calls UUPS Dispatch regarding a missed call from UUPS. A dispatcher explains Lauren successfully retrieved her vehicle.
Oct. 12, 2018
Note: Subsequent investigation by UUPS after Lauren McCluskey’s murder determined these texts were likely from Rowland using spoofing technology.
Call 11: A dispatcher makes radio contact with an officer regarding Lauren’s report of texts.
Note: This call starts a formal police investigation by UUPS. Shortly after receiving this call from a dispatcher, an officer called Lauren. While calls to and from Dispatch are recorded, other calls are not recorded so there is no recording of the officer’s call.
Oct. 13, 2018
Note: Based on this call, UUPS identifies Rowland as one of several potential suspects attempting to extort Lauren. Shortly after receiving a call from a dispatcher, an officer called Lauren. While calls to and from Dispatch are recorded, other calls are not recorded so there is no recording of the officer’s call.
Call 13: A dispatcher makes radio contact with an officer regarding Lauren’s report and requesting that the officer call Lauren.
Calls 14a and 14b: A Salt Lake City Police dispatcher transfers a call from Lauren McCluskey about her extortion case to UUPS Dispatch. Lauren asks the UUPS dispatcher whether an arrest has been made in her case. The dispatcher arranges for an officer to contact Lauren.
Oct. 22, 2018
Note: Shawn Fields was an alias used by Melvin Shawn Rowland. After receiving this call, UUPS police are dispatched to the area.
