ESPN to Debut Documentary About 2018 Murder of Student Athlete

An investigative documentary about the 2018 murder of a University of Utah student athlete is set to premiere on ESPN+ on Tuesday, March 28, according to ESPN. “LISTEN” will detail the case of Lauren McCluskey, whose ex-boyfriend Melvin Rowland stalked, extorted, and murdered her, the news release reports. The documentary will also dive deeper into institutional failures and her parents’ quest for justice in the aftermath.

The 90-minute documentary will include never-before-seen footage including surveillance videos, police and dispatch recordings, video and audio interviews from the investigation, phone recordings, and more. It will also feature interviews with Lauren’s parents, Jill and Matt McCluskey; Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes; former campus police officer Miguel Deras; Rowland’s parole agent, Megan Thomson; and another of Rowland’s ex-girlfriends.

The documentary by ESPN journalists T.J. Quinn and Nicole Noren serves as both true crime and accountability journalism, the news release reports. The case will also be the subject of the March 31 episode of ABC’s 20/20, titled “Running Out of Time.”

A trailer for the documentary is available in the ESPN press release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

  • From Safety to Strategy: How to Leverage Data Security In Higher Education

    Today’s higher education campuses function much like small cities. Each department works autonomously yet relies on shared resources to operate effectively. Since these departments often work independently, collaboration can be difficult, leading to inefficiencies. Read Now