In 2018, University of Utah track and field athlete Lauren McCluskey repeatedly sought help as her ex-boyfriend stalked and extorted her, but the people and the institutions responsible for listening to her and protecting her failed at every turn.
LISTEN is an investigative documentary from ESPN exploring Lauren’s life, murder, and her parents’ quest for answers. Journalists examine the steps that could have prevented her death by using hours of material never seen or heard by the public – including surveillance video, 911 calls and police interview and dispatch recordings. Viewers get an intimate look into the last weeks of Lauren’s life as she pleaded for and sought help over and over. Viewers also learn what has transpired with her case since her death at age 21 on Oct. 22, 2018.
Allegations of police misconduct roiled the state and led to legislative change. The McCluskey family settled a lawsuit for $13.5 million, but revelations of individual and institutional failure continued.
Award-winning ESPN journalists T.J. Quinn and Nicole Noren, who reported the story for four years, give a window into their investigation and ongoing battles to obtain records from the University of Utah. The 90-minute documentary features numerous interviewees who had never spoken publicly about the case, including Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, former campus police officer Miguel Deras and parole agent Megan Thomson.
0:00 Introduction to Lauren McCluskey and this investigation
5:16 Chapter 1: Too good to be true
33:24 Chapter 2: Could this have been prevented?
39:52 Chapter 3: The consummate manipulator
50:09 Chapter 4: A lot of ‘what-ifs’
1:05:01 Chapter 5: Another drop the ball
1:21:44 Chapter 6: I will listen and believe you
***Content warning: This program contains graphic descriptions of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and gun violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
To learn more about this story, please go to ESPN.com: https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/34212123/investigative-mccluskey
Copyright @ 2023 ESPN, Inc. All rights reserved.
Credits:
Director: Nicole Noren
Editor: Cathy Honeywell
Producer/Reporters: Nicole Noren, T.J. Quinn, William Weinbaum
Producers: Mike Drago, Cathy Honeywell, José Morales, Laura Purtell
Executive Producer: Rayna Banks
Sr. Executive Producers: Chris Buckle, Craig T. Lazarus
Cinematography: Cody Shimek, Jeff Halperin, Jason Jobes, Mike Walker, Sarah Nathan, Bryan Brousseau, Bob O’Reilly, Ethan Sigman
Production Audio: Gerald Hartley, Joel Barham, Chuck Kraft, Adam Mills, Brian Reilly
Motion Design: Nick Waligorski
Research Manager: John Mastroberardino
Original Music: Inza Bamba
Sound Design/Mixers: David Jaunai, Ben Ayotte
Colorist: Adam Schaub
Hair & Makeup: Josie Torres
Legal: Peter Scher, Jeremy Brodis, Jeffrey Hunt
Music Department: Claude Mitchell, Ryan Brodhead, Lindsay Harper
Production Support: Roxanne Ryan, Leo Alvarez, Tim Anderson, Rick Elders, Georgi Rivera, Gabe Vega
Music credits:
Alex Clare, “Too Close”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuvdzBt64RQ
Nick Mulvey, “A Prayer Of My Own”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APrIXCPvDHk
Inza Bamba: https://vimeo.com/user15333696
#TrueCrime #Documentary #LaurenMcCluskey #DatingViolence #IntimatePartnerViolence #CampusSafety #UniversityOfUtah
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this is so heartbreaking. most of us undergoing abuse are super afraid to report for so many varied reasons but she did over and over. until you go through it yourself, you have no right to judge anyone undergoing abuse and the fact that this young lady was strong enough to trust law enforcement and still lose her life is just disgusting.
These overachievers tend to fail at life.
And in cases like this never leave your kids alone!!!!!! Lessons to parents!
i also want to say to everyone watching this that our laws consider abuse misdemeanors. an abuser knows this. they can simply relocate to even just another county, continue abuse, and not get extradited when they offend again. you can have battery and assault charges all across the country open due to relocation and never be held accountable. even when the victim knows where the person is, reports it, and because it's a misdemeanor, they simply say there is nothing they can do. so when you tell someone to just leave or get a restraining order, know that none of that actually helps.
These campus police should be considered glorified security guards… They clearly cannot handle cases bigger than an open container.
Why is the friend smiling the whole time this video was recorded🤯
It pisses me off that she is STILL BEING VICTIMIZED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH POLICE OFFICER WHO DIDNT TAKE HER THREATS SERIOUS AND HE HAS WORKED THERE 3 YEARS
I think we need to let general dynamics know what we think of the people they employee and the company they keep.
The killer killed himself, because he was afraid that the cops were going to kill him. He would’ve been a poster child for Black Lives Matter
I would be so pissed at the persons who didn´t do there job, but what a lovely pair of parents they are!
Once I realized the police were not going to do something, I would have left and gone back home or started an on-campus rally about the lack of campus help. This is sad.
She slept with the beast!!.
sue .sue.sue thats neglience
I'm still in shock about how many times this creep slipped thru the cracks! Why doesn't evil POS like this turn their guns on themselves FIRST! Makes me sick how many times this university and the authorities denied Lauren help! They should've relieved every single one of their duties. I don't buy any of them saying "Oh I didn't know…" Where's the feelings of guilt for these people who let him get away with all he did? I see no remorse in any of them.Lauren's parents should be owning that university actually the the whole city. Look at this officer's pupils…they're huge throughout the entire interview. He's lied from the time he opened his mouth. He didn't even sound truthful at all. Where's the remorse??? If the people weren't fired or arrested…if they were any kind of decent person, they should've stepped down from their jobs. They're just as guilty as who pulled the trigger. ESPN did a fantastic job on this story and honoring Lauren…finally giving her a voice, unfortunately too late.💔💔😔
Parole board is the the culprit
mud shark got what she deserved
Wow!! The strength in these parents is astonishing. Laura was so lucky to have wonderful parents. Please, except my deepest, most sincere condolences on the loss of your beautiful, precious daughter Lauren. A lot of people dropped the ball. This inexperienced police officer has zero common sense, and should be working for the geek squad. There are things that a police academy just can’t teach. The reason that you’re on probation for one year, meaning u can be terminated at any time the first year. This guy JUST DOESN’T HAVE THE MATURITY NOR THE COMMON SENSE IT TAKES TO DO THE JOB. I can tell you right now that he lied about the pictures just by his body language. He should have “Been the very first one gone!! He’s definitely a repeated liability. No u fire the chief who had no knowledge because of “officer experienced”not doing his job correctly and professionally. Doesn’t seem to take any responsibility in her death. He thinks because he has excuses.It’s all ok he’s off the hook. OMGGGG AMERICA DO NOT HIRE THIS MAN IN ANY AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT POSITION !!
Why did he shoot her? 😢
Heartbreaking. University of Utah only cares about their name, reputation and business. Officer Deras is lousy and incapable of doing his job. This documentary should be shared and promoted among colleges, universities and the general public.
Hours of true crime made me so desensitized, but this case makes me sick to my stomach.
Heartbreaking and senseless tragedy that WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT 1,000% PREVENTABLE!!!!! Shame on you UTAH and all of you who played a part in this terrible crime.
No wayyyy, L.E. refusing to take responsibility on ANY level w.s.e!!
Shocking rly!!
Only oz. of respect comes from the inexperienced + poorly trained Latino p.o., that admitted his negligence in this crime!
It should have been 1 phone call! Unacceptable!
All these Police evolved should be in jail for murder. One kid is dead because they don't want to do what we pay them to do.
It's beautiful to see that her parents were able to turn this horrible tragedy into a foundation that'll help others. May the Lord continue to bless your family.❤
Her parents should sue the university, the university police and the city police. The multitude of failures to intervene is honestly beyond belief. The undeniable apathy from every single “professional” representative from law enforcement exceeds negligence.
Disgraceful. This beautiful young woman tried so darned hard to get help. Someone should have lost their job after this catastrophe Rest peacefully Lauren..
So the police FINALLY does their job, but it’s TOO LATE and an innocent life was taken. SERVE AND PROTECT. It’s your job!!!😡🤬
Great documentary! Such important information going forward. Alot of people still not taking accountability for their failings. Lauren's parents are such gracious people. I'm praying for their continued strength. They raised an amazing daughter with such a big heart. I'm so sorry this happened to her.❤
@2:15
Wow I never knew she was from my home town!
The cop is not at fault. The fault is on the Detective & she should be Prosecuted
Yes as a woman whose ex stalked me for 5 years my daughter & I moved 4 x in that time. I changed my social security number legally. I’m now disabled from severe head trauma from when he attempted to kill me! The cops only try to help once your dead or near death. I needed 4 brain surgeries & I have an implant in my brain & a battery in my chest along with Teflon in my head from the second surgery. I’m lucky to have lived but the nerve damage alone causes me daily severe pain. I had to leave my family & Midwest home for a warm climate. I have seizures now. I never did before this. He took a plea deal & he was a very wealthy man so he didn’t even get 6 months!!! I lost my career. I’m severely disabled. I have to take meds & opioids the rest of my life. I have to inject an anti inflammatory the pain is SO debilitating if I didn’t have my faith & my kids I probably would have taken my life already, honestly. I actually had planned to & my pain doctor even knew but he told me no more could be done. I had the most severe case of this he ever saw with extensive contact of my nerves & arteries in my head they are severely tangled & slammed to the side the doc as I was hospitalized again in the month of Feb in Chicago my doc said u r on the highest level of meds u have had every surgery & procedure there is he said that’s why it’s called the suicide disease & he left my room. If u google what is the most excruciating condition known to mankind only what I have comes up & I have the most severe case 3 neuron- surgeons have seen sadly. I actually planned to have one more summer. Summer I still have some pain but it’s NITHING like fall winter & spring. It’s so severe I climb the walls!! I was blessed tho my family did not want my life to end but they understood. They sent me to spend one winter in the SW & it worked !!! So they pitched in with me & bought me a manufactured home out there & my daughter now an adult bought a house out here too to be near me & I son plans on moving here w/ his new wife next year. I still have pain here especially at night or during storms. I can cope tho. I had an order of protection. That’s just a piece of paper. The law will do nothing even if he hits you. Honestly you have to literally die. I almost did sadly my daughter pointed out in a changing room the sign that said shop lifting is a FELONY. She said ya but beating & trying to kill your wife is a misdemeanor!!! What a sad state of affairs. Our priorities are terrible!!!! We just do not care about woman & what happens to them !!! It NEEDS TO CHANGE !!!!
THEY FAILED THIS POOR WOMAN! all those people get to wake up everyday and live there lives and this young womans life was ended due to human error and just basic lazyness. this is absolutely awful.
I would NEVER send my child to a school with this kind of ongoing, unresolved issues. Nothing has changed.
So many mistakes, & the one that shared her pictures "Shame on you!!!" As I watched this I hated seeing all the students let him in to her building! & Him showing the gun to those in her building 😠😤😡. That lady is right, no matter what she could say to her parents, it's not gonna change what's happened, she's still gone. 😞. R.I.P. Lauren😺🙏
I am just sick that another young woman dies as she falls through the cracks!!! It’s a story that happens far far too often. I’m so sorry for Lauren & her parents. This could have so EASILY been prevented & should have been !!