University of Utah admits error in Lauren McCluskey’s death and agrees to pay $13.5m settlement
Lauren McCluskey had reported harassment to police more than 20 times
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The University of Utah admitted error in the campus slaying of Lauren McCluskey and will pay her family a $13.5 million settlement.
Ms McCluskey had contacted university police multiple times to report threats from Melvin Shawn Rowland before he killed her in 2018.
The 21-year-old track and field athlete had dated Rowland for a few weeks until she discovered he had lied about his identity and was a convicted sex offender.
Rowland, 37, killed himself as police closed in after Ms McCluskey was found fatally shot in a car near campus housing.
Her parents sued the university for $56 million after officials claimed that their own investigation showed there was no way they could have prevented the killing.
An independent commission set up by the university then found they had missed a string of warning signs before the murder.
“The university acknowledges and deeply regrets that it did not handle Lauren's case as it should have and that, at the time, its employees failed to fully understand and respond appropriately to Lauren's situation,” said university president Ruth Watkins.
“As a result, we failed Lauren and her family.”The university will pay the family $10.5 million and donate $3 million to a foundation in her name to improve campus security.
An indoor track facility will also be built and named after Ms McCluskey as part of the settlement.
“We acknowledge and applaud the many positive changes that have occurred at the University of Utah since her death and we hope they continue,” said Ms McCluskey’s mother, Jill McCluskey.
“This settlement is important for many reasons. It addresses how Lauren died, but also honours how she lived.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments