Lauren McCluskey’s boyfriend, Melvin Rowland, had a long history of domestic violence and manipulation that eventually led to her tragic murder.
University of Utah student and standout track runner Lauren McCluskey, 21, was brutally murdered on October 22, 2018.
After night class, the communications major was returning to her dorm when her ex-boyfriend kidnapped her, pulled her away, and shot her dead in the rear of the car he had driven to campus.
The investigation into Rowland’s death revealed that he had planned the murder for several days.
The ex-boyfriend, Melvin Rowland, had previously been harassing and stalking Lauren with what appeared to be the assistance of his pals.
The murder of Lauren McCluskey by Melvin Rowland was a tragic and preventable event that highlighted the importance of campus safety measures and the need for better support for victims of domestic violence.
Lauren Mccluskey Boyfriend: Who Was Melvin Rowland?
Melvin On September 2, 2018, Shawn Rowland met Lauren McCluskey at the London Belle, a pub in Salt Lake City, where he was a bouncer.
When they initially met, Melvin gave her a false name and age and omitted the information that he was a parolee serving a sentence for sex offenses. After that, the two of them started dating, and Melvin frequently went to see his girlfriend in her dorm room to get to know her and her friends better.
Jill and Matt, Lauren’s parents, claim that Melvin had Lauren completely won over with his old-fashioned charm before things went south.
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Melvin fabricated his age, claiming to be 28 when he was over 37. Lauren broke their relationship right away because he kept secret from her his long criminal history, which included time spent on sexual assault.
Why Did Melvin Rowland Commit Suicide?
After killing Lauren McCluskey, Melvin Rowland fled the scene and eventually died by suicide that night.
The motive behind Rowland’s actions remains unclear, but it is believed that anger, jealousy, and a desire for control drove him. Rowland had a long history of domestic violence and manipulation, and his behavior towards McCluskey was no different.
According to a Utah Department of Public Safety report, Rowland was motivated by a desire to control McCluskey. He was angered by the fact that she had ended the relationship. He believed he was entitled to her and that she had no right to leave him.
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He had spent years in and out of prison for various crimes, including robbery and sexual assault, and had become increasingly resentful towards authority figures.
How Did Melvin Rowland Die?
After confronting Lauren, Melvin dragged his ex to another area of the parking lot and coerced her into the backseat of his car. Melvin shot Lauren multiple times as she was there fumbling, killing her almost instantaneously.
The municipal Police were alerted about Melvin’s threat because the University of Utah Police were already aware of it, and they later discovered him on October 23 at 12:40 am.
Police trailed the alleged shooter from Salt Lake City into the Trinity A.M.E. Church on foot on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
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Unfortunately, Melvin also shot himself to death before they could catch him. The Police had just entered the church when this incident happened.
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