Sex Offender Lurked for Days Before Killing Utah Student

Lauren McCluskey, a member of the University of Utah cross country and track and field team. McCluskey, a University of Utah student was shot and killed on campus by a former boyfriend Melvin Rowland, who was found dead hours later inside a church, Oct. 23, 2018, authorities said. Steve C. Wilson/University of Utah via AP

SALT LAKE CITY—A sex offender parolee who killed a University of Utah student and track athlete had been lurking on campus for days trying to confront the woman who had broken up with him weeks earlier when she discovered his criminal background, authorities said on Oct. 25.

Melvin Rowland, 37, spent the hours before the fatal shooting on Oct. 22 in victim Lauren McCluskey’s dorm building socializing with her friends, university police chief Dale Brophy said.