Slain Washington native, University of Utah track athlete buried in Pullman

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

Lauren 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 of the 21-year-old 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.