The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that 19 charges of sexual exploitation of a minor have been filed against Ayoola Ajayi, the man accused of killing University of Utah student MacKenzie Lueck, whose body was found with blunt force trauma to the head and hands bound behind the back.
Police seized 31-year-old Ayoola Ajayi’s computer June 26 during an investigation into the death of MacKenize Lueck. On July 2, a forensic lab began analyzing its contents and found multiple images of children engaged in sex acts, according to charging documents, filed Tuesday in 3rd District Court.
The charges describe 19 photos in graphic detail and five times mentions children posing on a “floral mattress.”
In a statement the Salt Lake County District attorney’s office said, “West Regional Computer Forensics Lab examined the computer and found numerous images of children engaged in sex acts. Mr. Ajayi remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
The 19 charges all are second-degree felonies.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said as of now the charges encompass only someone possessing child pornography, but that his team is still investigating and will use federal resources to determine when the images were made, who made them and to possibly identify the children.
“I just want to commend the hard work of both our investigative partners and our attorneys who will continue to work this case very thoroughly,” Gill said. “This continues to be an ongoing investigation.”
Several images are described as showing girls, estimated age 4 to 7, performing a sex act on a male. Others are described as showing girls, estimated age 4 to 8, posed to showcase specific body parts.
The DA’s office has requested the court issue a warrant of arrest for Ajayi to ensure he appears to face charges, noting that his is currently in jail.