“Running Out of Time”: 20/20 Reports on Lauren McCluskey Homicide August 29 2025

On Friday, August 29, 2025, ABC’s 20/20 presents a two-hour investigative special titled Running Out of Time, anchored by David Muir with reporting from ESPN’s T.J. Quinn and Nicole Noren. This powerful collaboration revisits the devastating case of Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old University of Utah student-athlete who was murdered on campus after desperately seeking help from university and law enforcement authorities. The broadcast offers a sobering look at institutional failures and exposes a system unequipped to protect one of its own.

Lauren’s story is a haunting example of how miscommunication, negligence, and a lack of accountability can result in irreversible consequences. Through emotional interviews with Lauren’s family, close friends, journalists, and law enforcement professionals, Running Out of Time provides a meticulous timeline of events leading up to her death and the subsequent efforts to ensure her legacy results in meaningful change.

A Bright Future Cut Short

Lauren McCluskey was more than a student-athlete—she was a national-caliber track star, an honors student, and a deeply thoughtful individual who brought energy and compassion to everything she did. Born in California and raised in Pullman, Washington, she excelled in both academics and athletics, earning All-American honors in track and field and eventually accepting a scholarship to compete for the University of Utah.

A communications major with a 3.77 GPA, Lauren was nearing graduation and dreaming of a career in public relations. She was known for her kindness, her quiet determination, and her dedication to her team. Outside of academics and sports, she loved karaoke, dancing, and was active in her Christian faith. Her achievements made her a role model on campus—but none of her successes could shield her from the danger that would eventually claim her life.

The Man Behind the Lie: Melvin Rowland

Lauren met Melvin Rowland in September 2018 at a Salt Lake City bar. He introduced himself as a younger man with a respectable background in security. But the truth soon unraveled. Lauren discovered that Rowland was 37 years old, a convicted sex offender with a 2004 conviction for enticing a minor, and on parole at the time they met. She ended the relationship immediately upon learning the truth.

After the breakup, Rowland’s behavior escalated dramatically. He began harassing Lauren through text messages, visiting her dorm, and threatening to release intimate photos unless she paid him $1,000. Despite clearly dangerous patterns of behavior, campus police and other authorities failed to act on Lauren’s repeated complaints and evidence of extortion and stalking.

A Systemic Failure to Protect

Between October 12 and October 22, 2018, Lauren made numerous attempts to seek help. She contacted campus police and Salt Lake City police, reported extortion, and even provided Rowland’s sex offender status and parole information to authorities. In one alarming detail, Officer Miguel Deras, who was assigned to her case, downloaded her explicit photos to his personal phone and shared them with fellow officers—not to assist in the case, but for inappropriate commentary.

Despite the extensive documentation and Lauren’s increasing fear, none of the agencies involved took meaningful steps to investigate or detain Rowland. Officer Kayla Dallof, for example, failed to even read a crucial email containing Rowland’s criminal details until after Lauren’s death. When Lauren reached out again, she was told to visit the station the following week.

The Night of the Murder

On October 22, 2018, just after 8 p.m., Lauren was on the phone with her mother when Melvin Rowland confronted her outside her dormitory. He dragged her across the parking lot, forced her into a car, and shot her seven times. Her father, Matt McCluskey, called campus police within minutes, but it was too late. Lauren’s body was found later that evening. Hours after the murder, Rowland took his own life after fleeing police.

Rowland had acquired the firearm from an acquaintance, who was later sentenced to three years in prison for providing him access. But the true focus quickly turned to the university and law enforcement’s complete failure to act on Lauren’s warnings.

The Legal and Institutional Response

Lauren’s parents, Jill and Matt McCluskey, filed lawsuits against the University of Utah, its police department, and the state. They alleged that authorities violated their daughter’s rights and failed to take necessary action despite knowing Rowland’s background and the credible threats Lauren faced. In 2020, the university reached a $13.5 million settlement: $10.5 million paid directly to the McCluskeys and $3 million donated to the Lauren McCluskey Foundation.

In a public statement, University President Ruth Watkins admitted the school had failed Lauren, citing poor training and a lack of proper protocols. In the years since the tragedy, the university has restructured its public safety department and built a new $13 million facility for campus police. Yet many, including Lauren’s friends and activists, remain skeptical of whether true reform has occurred.

A Campus and Community Demanding Change

Lauren’s death galvanized student activism. Her teammates, classmates, and the broader Salt Lake City community began to demand accountability. Brooke Martin, a friend and fellow athlete, created a mural in her honor and helped launch UnsafeU, a student-led movement calling for campus safety reforms and transparency in university investigations of harassment and assault.

Over time, UnsafeU gathered more stories of mishandled complaints and coordinated protests on campus. On the anniversary of Lauren’s death, over 100 students walked out of class to honor her memory and call for change. The protests continued, including a major rally in 2020 demanding the resignation of University President Watkins and a complete overhaul of the campus police department.

Legislative Reform: Lauren’s Law

In the wake of the murder, Utah lawmakers worked closely with Jill and Matt McCluskey and advocates to introduce legislation addressing the shortcomings that led to Lauren’s death. Senate Bill 134, passed in 2019, established clearer responsibilities for campus police and required universities to provide annual safety assessments.

State Senator Jani Iwamoto, inspired by Lauren’s story and the wave of student activism, later sponsored Senate Bill 80 to improve communication between campus security, law enforcement, and victims. These legislative efforts represent the early stages of what advocates hope will be sweeping reforms in how schools handle stalking, abuse, and dating violence complaints.

The Foundation Carrying Lauren’s Light

Lauren’s parents established the Lauren McCluskey Foundation to turn grief into action. Its mission is to promote campus safety and raise awareness of dating violence and stalking. The foundation supports research, safety score initiatives, and educational programs across the country. All funds from the university settlement were directed to the foundation’s work.

One of its programs, Lauren’s Promise, encourages professors to include a pledge in their syllabi stating they will support students who feel unsafe or threatened. The promise has been adopted by educators across the nation, aiming to prevent what happened to Lauren from happening again.

A Life Remembered

Lauren McCluskey left behind more than just tragedy. She left a model of excellence in everything she pursued—from athletics to academics to friendship. Her final class presentation, delivered just weeks before her death, spoke of resilience, love, and overcoming adversity. She lived those words every day, even in the face of danger.

The University of Utah awarded Lauren a posthumous degree in communications. In her honor, the Center for Violence Prevention was renamed the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention. These gestures, while symbolic, represent the ongoing work to rebuild a broken system that failed her.

Lauren’s voice lives on through legislation, foundation programs, and the growing awareness of the need to protect students. Her legacy is not just a warning—it’s a call to action. Her story remains one of the most heartbreaking and powerful cases of institutional failure in recent memory, and Running Out of Time ensures that her name and her message will not be forgotten.