Utah athlete, Lauren McCluskey, laid to rest

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) – A University of Utah track athlete, Lauren McCluskey, who was killed by a sex offender parolee she had briefly dated has been laid to rest in her hometown of Pullman, Washington.

McCluskey was remembered late Sunday as kind, sensitive, intelligent, dedicated and beautiful.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported that hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral. The 21-year-old was a graduate of Pullman High School.

Jill McCluskey, Lauren’s mother, said her daughter was special from the beginning.

A large photo of McCluskey, along with her blue Pullman High letterman jacket, red Utah jacket and other memorabilia were displayed near the front of the stage Sunday.

Police say McCluskey was shot to death Oct. 22 by 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, who killed himself a few hours later as police closed in.