How well do you think you know the people you meet online? Brace yourself for a chilling tale of an encounter that turned deadly. Ayoola Ajay, a man with a disturbing past and a morbid fascination for death, crossed paths with Mackenzie Luke, a bright nursing student with an adventurous online persona. Their meeting, facilitated by a dating website, leads to an unthinkable tragedy.
As we trace the steps of the investigation, the scattered pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place. The discovery of Mackenzie's remains, Ajay's chilling attempts to conceal his crime, and the role Mackenzie's online life might have played in her untimely end - every revelation is a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurk behind the screens. As we connect the dots, we illuminate the darkness surrounding not just a murder but the loss of a young life full of promise.
Finally, prepare yourself as we present Ajay's shocking confession and the subsequent courtroom drama. Hear directly from Ajay himself and the family of Mackenzie, as they share their heartrending experiences. When the gavel finally falls, sentencing Ajay to a life without parole, the question remains - Can justice truly be served for the life ripped away too soon? Tune in for this mystery unraveled, and remember to like and subscribe if our podcast piques your interest.
How well do you think you know the people you meet online? Brace yourself for a chilling tale of an encounter that turned deadly. Ayoola Ajay, a man with a disturbing past and a morbid fascination for death, crossed paths with Mackenzie Luke, a bright nursing student with an adventurous online persona. Their meeting, facilitated by a dating website, leads to an unthinkable tragedy.
As we trace the steps of the investigation, the scattered pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place. The discovery of Mackenzie's remains, Ajay's chilling attempts to conceal his crime, and the role Mackenzie's online life might have played in her untimely end - every revelation is a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurk behind the screens. As we connect the dots, we illuminate the darkness surrounding not just a murder but the loss of a young life full of promise.
Finally, prepare yourself as we present Ajay's shocking confession and the subsequent courtroom drama. Hear directly from Ajay himself and the family of Mackenzie, as they share their heartrending experiences. When the gavel finally falls, sentencing Ajay to a life without parole, the question remains - Can justice truly be served for the life ripped away too soon? Tune in for this mystery unraveled, and remember to like and subscribe if our podcast piques your interest.
Most homicides we deal with have clearly identifiable motives Financial gain, revenge, perceived wrongs but that doesn't exist in this case. Without having met her in person before, ayola Ajay already decided to murder her. The only conclusion that evidence suggests is that Ayola Ajay simply wanted to know what it felt like to kill. Originally from Nigeria, ayola Ajay was born in 1988. He held a green card that allowed him to work in the US. He formally studied at Utah State University, but was barred from campus in 2012 for several reasons, including problems with his visa and allegations that he had stolen an iPad. Ajay was allowed to return to campus in 2015 after resolving issues with his visa. He studied computer science, but did not graduate. Ajay was an information technology worker and was briefly in the Army National Guard.
Speaker 1:
According to prosecutors, he and Luke met in 2018 on a dating website called Seeking Arrangements, which represents itself as a platform for sugar daddies and sugar babies to meet. According to a contractor, in April 2019, ajay asked him to build a secret, soundproofed room under the front porch with head height hooks on the wall and a fingerprint scanner for entry. Ajay claimed that he wanted to hide alcohol from his Mormon girlfriend. The contractor was uncomfortable with the request and turned it down. A cleaner separately said that she noticed a lot of cameras in Ajay's home, especially in the master bedroom. Prior to murdering Luke, ajay sexually assaulted a woman whom he had met on a dating app and invited to his residence. On March 10, 2018, ajay invited the woman into his home While they watched TV on his couch. He began kissing the victim and trying to inappropriately and forcefully touch her when she tried to get away. Ajay pinned her down and bit her at least three times, causing significant pain and leaving bruising and bike marks. According to the North Park Police Department of North Logan, utah, ajay was also investigated in connection with a rape reported in 2014. The alleged victim did not pursue charges. Ajay has also been accused by his ex-wife of threatening to have someone kidnap and kill her, leading her to cut off communication with him. Ajay's ex-wife also reported that he would get real aggressive when she didn't do what he demanded.
Speaker 1:
Ajay wrote a book called Forge Identity, featuring two characters who are killed and burned. The book features Ezekiel who, as a teenager, must decide if he will join the ranks of a criminal mastermind or fight to escape the tyranny that has surrounded his young life. The book was sold on Amazon and the author's name was the same as that of Ajay. A Facebook page with photos of Ajay promoted the book. The book was later taken off Amazon.
Speaker 1:
Mackenzie Speth. Luke was born on March 8, 1996, and raised in Los Angeles country, along with one older brother and two younger brothers. She attended the University of Utah, where she majored in nursing and was a member of the Alpha Chi sorority. Luke worked at Assault Lake City Biological Testing Company and planned to have a career in health sciences. Luke planned on graduating in May 2020. She was also a self-proclaimed sugar baby, according to her past social media posts, dating two older men prior to dating her killer.
Speaker 1:
On June 17, 2019, in the early morning hours, luke arrived at Assault Lake City International Airport from California. She was picked up by a Lyft driver and taken to Hatch Park where she had agreed to meet Ajay. According to Ajay's defense attorney, luke had met him on a dating website in 2018. Luke and Ajay agreed to meet up. Once she returned from California to Utah, luke, who told the driver she was meeting a friend, was dropped off at around 3 o'clock am. Ajay had planned to murder Luke prior to picking her up, turning off the video of his home security system to avoid documenting her presence in his home. Once he and Luke were at his residence in the Fair Park neighborhood, he tied her hands behind her back with zip ties and rope and tried to choke her with his hands, continuing after Luke told him to stop. Aji says he then moved Luke onto her stomach and strangled her with a belt until she stopped moving. Additionally, luke suffered blunt force trauma on the left side of her head. She was also found to be missing part of her scalp and had a 5 centimeter hole in her skull. An autopsy found that the blunt force trauma to the left side of her skull caused brain hammering that ultimately killed her.
Speaker 1:
According to District Attorney Sim Gill, the evidence suggested that Aji murdered Luke to see what it felt like to kill. After murdering Luke, aji claims he buried her body and some of her belongings in his backyard and threw some of her belongings into the Jordan River. The next day he burned her remains. Days later, after police came to Aji's house to ask him questions about Luke's disappearance, Aji dug up Luke's remains and took them to Loving Canyon, where he buried Luke in a wooded area in a shallow grave.
Speaker 1:
On June 20, luke's father called the Salt Lake City Police Department to inform them that no one had heard from her since she arrived back in Utah On June 28,. A Salt Lake City man identified as Ayala Aji was arrested and charged with the kidnapping and aggravated murder of Luke, along with desecration of her body. Detectives found that Luke and Ajay had exchanged several text messages in the early morning of June 17, with Luke's last text to him being at 2.58 am. Cell phone data placed both Luke and Ajay in the park at 2.59 am. Additionally, prosecutors say photos of Luke were found on Ajay's phone.
Speaker 3:
Jai has been arrested, charged with murder. Cops say he killed Missing University of Utah student Mackenzie Lewick. These are the last known images of the 23-year-old. She was at the Salt Lake City Airport returning from her grandmother's funeral. Ajay's dramatic arrest comes after cops spent hours searching his home and removing a trove of evidence.
Speaker 2:
We are filing charges of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping, obstruction of justice and desecration of a body in the homicide of Mackenzie Lewick.
Speaker 3:
There was a large SWAT team presence at the condo building where Ayula Ajay was taken into custody. Graney's cell phone video shows Ajay with his hands up surrendering to cops. They keep their guns pointed on the suspect until he's in handcuffs. The divorce 31-year-old is a former Army IT specialist. He recently worked as a senior technical support analyst at Dell. He lives about five miles from the park where Mackenzie Lewick vanished. Detectives spent 19 hours searching Ajay's house and backyard. Neighbors told cops he was burning something in his backyard after Mackenzie vanished.
Speaker 2:
A forensic excavation of the burn area was conducted, which resulted in the finding of several charred items that were consistent with personal items of Mackenzie Lewick.
Speaker 3:
Other charred material was determined to be female human tissue.
Speaker 2:
The arrested person denied any personal contact with Mackenzie or meeting with her at any time.
Speaker 3:
He listed a private room in the house on Airbnb for $27 a night.
Speaker 4:
I saw the images of the house and I was like wow.
Speaker 3:
Tara Chatterton cleaned the home Earlier this year she noticed something unusual.
Speaker 4:
There was cameras everywhere in the house. In the master bedroom there was three cameras in there.
Speaker 3:
Mackenzie boasted about being a sugar baby and Daily Mail TV has uncovered her page on the website seeking arrangement for screen name Beach Baby 96. The police chief called Mackenzie's family to tell them the devastating news.
Speaker 2:
This is one of the most difficult phone calls I've ever made, as both Greg and his wife Diana were devastated and heartbroken by this news.
Speaker 1:
A search of and around Ajay's property yielded Luke's belongings and some of her remains. Specifically, a freshly dug area in his yard contained her charred personal items charred muscle tissue, which the Utah State Crime Lab identified as Luke's and Bone. Neighbors reported that Ajay had bonfires behind his garage on June 17 and 18 that resulted in a horrible smell. Additionally, charred fabric and other items were found in a nearby alleyway. Investigators also searched Ajay's vehicle, which they reported smelled strongly of gas. There they found a red gas can similar to the one he purchased at 90s Am June 17. Let me just go through this.
Speaker 5:
You called me afterwards and you showed me some screenshots of your phone, right? Yes, you said you wanted to come down and show us some stuff and everything. Yes, okay, so we didn't call you down here. You're not under arrest, you're not being detained, you can leave anytime you want to.
Speaker 6:
It just doesn't make sense. I just want to. I want to get to the root of it too.
Speaker 5:
Yeah.
Speaker 6:
Because when you said my headpiece showing, that means something is wrong.
Speaker 5:
Okay, so you're still willing to talk to us and show us a thing and start crying.
Speaker 6:
I only want to share two things with you.
Speaker 5:
Okay.
Speaker 6:
So that's a seeking arrangement. So, if you see, some of them are even in Seattle and some of them are in the Philippines. So I have TTSD anxiety. I just need to talk to someone whenever I'm alone and I'm free.
Speaker 5:
So when you join that, site do they give you a different phone number for that site. No.
Speaker 6:
People normally put a number there to share with people, so I think that's how she met. On my profile I just put my phone number there.
Speaker 5:
What phone number did you put down?
Speaker 6:
That's 435. And you can see, that's my, that's my message. So that means she's using iPhone and I'm using iPhone.
Speaker 5:
So she just texted your number. This doesn't over the app.
Speaker 6:
Yeah, I don't know, but on the profile you can put whatever you want there. So my profile I have my phone number in the description that I just need someone to chat with, can you show me that. Yeah, so why is Omiside, omiside reaching out? Why not like?
Speaker 5:
We do missing persons as well.
Speaker 6:
So it's not just homicide.
Speaker 5:
We do missing people too, Because that's scary for me I was looking for someone.
Speaker 6:
That's where I was freaking out. I started logging into everything. I even downloaded the whole security camera and I was going to bring it here just to prove that I was on that camera the whole time. Yeah, I have a security camera in my living room, so, and when I view it, I was there the whole time that night. And then, just like I just showed you today, my baby mama was with me and she's pregnant.
Speaker 5:
I have an ID number or anything.
Speaker 6:
So, yeah, they're done. I think I closed my own username. That's why it's asking me to choose a username.
Speaker 5:
I see all these dates right here. The 17th, all these dates and times, the 16th, when I told you, all these messages are messaging her phone from your wifi, from your IP, really, that's why we're coming to talk. We need to take you out of the phone book.
Speaker 6:
You know, yeah, that's what I was freaking out. I started logging into everything I need to start gathering information. I even called my lawyer. I don't know what's going on.
Speaker 5:
You said you're downloading. Yes, and I went between from the 17th between 1 am and 3 am. Yes, so. And don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you did this. We're involved in it all. I'm just saying that someone at your house or someone who's using your IP address, that's all.
Speaker 6:
Yeah, just trying to get the bottom of it I would like to do that, because I'm freaking out there. I have anxiety and I have to tell you, sir, that's why I've been calling you. Please let me know if anywhere I can help. Even my lawyer don't want me to come here right now, so the last time. Here's my front door. I don't know if you remember it. That's my front door, that's the front door.
Speaker 5:
That's daylight, I'm talking about nighttime. Yeah, so the last time it's a motion sensor.
Speaker 6:
The last time someone get from the coming it's 9.58, 16, 9.58 here, and then it jumps to 6 AM in the morning.
Speaker 5:
Right.
Speaker 6:
And.
Speaker 5:
I have the same system. I can pause it. But if you pause it I can give you access to living.
Speaker 6:
I can give you authorization. I see if anything is deleted and I also have the address. I can give the address to you. If someone deleted you. You'll be able to see time different, but what I can do is you are right, Someone can delete it. But one thing that someone can do is, around that time, you can still view the old video from there. So that's someone delivering robot. Just like I told you, I was looking for food. So now let me just, you can still view the old video, so you can still view everything.
Speaker 6:
And the one thing is that when someone call me that lighter and the old time I view everything the lighter is in lighter you can see. There's no dots there, so skip the next video. The next video is that there, and then the light doesn't light up.
Speaker 5:
Well, that's at 3 something AM. Yeah, who's that? At 3 something.
Speaker 6:
So on that website you can put it there like you don't want this type of race or this type of gender. So she stopped responding once I sent out my pictures. I thought maybe she just doesn't want my type of race, so I just stopped responding to her Right.
Speaker 5:
But she actually text you on your phone number. Yes, so that's what I'm thinking, maybe there's a possibility with talking the past.
Speaker 6:
I've been on it for two years. I go in and out and when I check it there's some people who even still message me today that I haven't talked to since last year. And she just messaged me today like, did you see someone to talk to? And I said not today, that I have someone that I'm talking to right now. So you haven't deleted any text from that number. No, the only difference is that I upgraded from iPhone 6 to iPhone 10. So I brought it with me. Which one did you have?
Speaker 6:
This one I haven't used since last year Even right now it's not in the chat because I haven't used it since last year, so earlier you said you didn't want to talk to me so earlier.
Speaker 5:
you said we could have to take your phone and download it. Are you still willing to do that or no?
Speaker 6:
I just need to call my lawyer and see if it's OK, Because I want to help as much as I can. But she's saying that some police just want to pin it on someone, that they can pin it on me. But I actually have the app drive in my car. I downloaded the ORI drive. I have the O security camera. I even downloaded the whole text and all my text messages from my phone provider. I brought everything with me. But my way here she was like you are going to shoot yourself in the foot.
Speaker 5:
I'm talking about. We take your phone, we hook it up to a machine and we download the contents of your phone.
Speaker 6:
Let me get an approval from her first.
Speaker 5:
You want to do that now, or do you want to do it tomorrow? Give me a call.
Speaker 6:
I work tomorrow. I work Sunday to Saturday. What time do you work? I work from 8 AM to 4 PM, so I can come by this time.
Speaker 5:
You five you see, I'll be here all day. I get here at 6 AM.
Speaker 6:
So if you download the word on it, how are you going to download it?
Speaker 5:
Everything that's on your phone.
Speaker 6:
So you're just going to make the phone, so you have access to the app, the browser history, everything.
Speaker 5:
Yes.
Speaker 6:
OK.
Speaker 5:
Cool.
Speaker 6:
I'm OK with that. But I just need to approve her. That's fine, give me a call tomorrow morning when you wake up. Let me know what they said. Ok, and I'm willing. If you have anything that you need from me, I'm willing to give it to you.
Speaker 5:
It's another reason you can understand If this was your sister or something or your mom, we'd be working just as hard to find her for you. This family is in that same boat. We just want to do everything we can and just because you've chatted with her, you've texted back and forth twice or however many times and it's bouncing off your IP address. We just want to cross every avenue and make sure that people are not by people who are staying with you. People might be parked outside of your house using your Wi-Fi.
Speaker 5:
We just want to make sure.
Speaker 6:
OK.
Speaker 5:
OK, so get in Talk to your turn. You got my number. Give me a call tomorrow morning.
Speaker 6:
And another thing is that when people come to my house, my phone is not locked, so that one is also part of it. But on that day, the only person that comes to my house is my baby mama, and she never touched my phone without me, because we are not there anymore. And, just like I showed you, she came over and Ipia and she stayed too late.
Speaker 5:
Thank you, Alright. Yeah, give me a hug when you're in and we'll go from there.
Speaker 6:
Alright, If I bring my phone, I'll really take a second to plan on.
Speaker 5:
Do you bring the phone?
Speaker 6:
If I bring my, if I come back and I bring my phone.
Speaker 4:
Actually, my name is coming back, heh, heh heh, a week and a half now to prepare and we have been very busy because I care about McKenzie. I can't and I want her. I think you did care about her, I agree, and I I know that there's more for you to tell me and you're holding back and I don't understand why. Aj, I just told you that your phone records and the location put you up at the meet. Do you think honestly and expect me to believe that you ended that conversation and somehow you and her and her location end up in the exact same spot?
Speaker 6:
Oh, I'm not doubting you. If I see that too, if I'm in your case, I will be asking myself what are you asking? Me right now.
Speaker 4:
It's not a miraculous question. Yeah, I agree with you. Okay, stuff doesn't just happen. No, yes, I agree with you. I'm telling you to explain that and so far you have not. Well, how do I explain something I don't know? Are you saying you don't know or you don't remember? Because those are two different things, aj.
Speaker 1:
Detectives talk to Ajay for hours, leaving him in the room overnight, before releasing him the next morning. After being arrested, ajay told his attorneys where Luke was buried. His attorneys then worked with prosecutors to find Luke's body. On July 3rd. While searching, investigators found recently disturbed ground off the main road in a wooded area. There, in a shallow grave, was a charred human body. On July 5th, police reported that Luke's body had been recovered in Logan Canyon. The medical examiner's office determined that the body was Luke's. According to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, ajay's phone records place him in Logan Canyon on June 25th between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. A three-day preliminary hearing was set for October 28th 2020.
Speaker 1:
On October 7th 2020, Ajay pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated murder and third-degree desecration of a human body in connection with Luke's death. In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges of aggravated kidnapping and obstructing justice and removed the possibility of the death penalty. District Attorney Sim Gill said the guilty pleas allow Luke's parents to begin to obtain closure and a measure of justice. On October 23rd, 3rd District Judge Bernice Trees sentenced Ajay to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In addition, ajay was sentenced to five years in prison for desecrating Luke's body. He apologized in court, though Gill told the media he didn't believe the apology was genuine.
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Luke's parents gave a statement speaking about how they will never get to see their only daughter, mary, and have children. Luke's father said my daughter Mackenzie Luke, was a sweet, amazing young lady with the world ahead of her. She was a kind-hearted person that cared about others. Now I will not have the opportunity to see her blossom in life. Luke's cousin stated this is a nightmare you can't wake up from. I will never be able to forgive what happened to her. I will never forgive the monster who took her life. Never in my life have I felt anger the way I had the last 16 months. Never have I been so fearful for my life, because I know how real evil is in this world.
Speaker 1:
Ajay was also charged with the March 2018 kidnapping of another woman who he met on a dating app. The victim came forward after Ajay was arrested for Luke's murder. A trial for this case was set for December 2nd 2020. Ajay pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree forcible sexual abuse in connection to this case on October 7th 2020. He was later sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for the crime. Ajay also was charged with 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. These charges came about in August 2019 after police also said that they found numerous pornographic photos of children on his computer as they investigated Luke's death on July 2nd. Photos allegedly depicted children between the ages of 4 and 8. A preliminary hearing regarding these charges was scheduled to be held on October 1, 2020. Ajay pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 1, 2020. The pornography charges were later dismissed. Ajay will spend life in prison without parole for murdering Mackenzie.
Speaker 1:
Luke. Thanks for joining us on this episode of Human Wreckage. Iola's twisted mind and evil deeds caused a lot of heartache for Mackenzie's loved ones. One can only pray that his time in prison is a million times worse than the pain and suffering he caused. But probably not. Take care of yourselves. If you like what we do, like and subscribe, thank you.