Who is Ayoola A. Ajayi? Suspect charged with murder in MacKenzie Lueck case

A Utah man was taken into custody Friday and charged in the disappearance of University of Utah college student MacKenzie Lueck, police said.

>> Read more trending news

Ayoola A. Ajayi, 31, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder, kidnapping and desecration of a body in the death of Lueck, Salt Lake City police Chief Mike Brown said.

Ajayi, of Salt Lake City, met Lueck at a park where she was last seen after taking a Lyft ride from the airport at 3 a.m. June 17, police said.

Investigators said burned evidence, including Lueck's belongings and remains, were found at Ajayi's home. Ajayi was previously identified as a person of interest and his home was searched Wednesday and Thursday.

Ajayi has no previous criminal history in Utah, The Deseret News reported. He sporadically attended University of Utah, taking classes in 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2016 but never earned a degree, according to the Deseret News.

He spent six months in the Army National Guard but was dismissed "with an uncharacterized discharge for failure to meet medical procurement standards," Utah National Guard officials told the Deseret News.

Ajayi also self-published a book "Forge Identity" and his Amazon profile says he was born and raised in Africa and became an entrepreneur.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Missing college student is dead; Man charged with aggravated murder
• Chick-fil-A worker jumps through drive-thru window, saves choking boy
• FDA announces dog food brands it says could be linked to heart disease

Cox Media Group