WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2008 News WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Friends, family remember student Jana Mackey
BY RUSTIN DODD
dodd@kansan.com
Days after University of Kansas student Jana Mackey was found dead inside a Lawrence home, friends and relatives were still gathered together, grieving the loss of the second-year KU law student and reflecting on a tumultuous and tragic weekend.
Thursday, Mackey, 25, was found dead inside the home of 46-year-old Adolfo Garcia-Nunez at 409 Michigan St. Garcia-Nunez, her alleged killer, fled the state and was taken into custody on Friday in Elizabeth, N.J. He was found dead inside his jail cell on Saturday, the result of an apparent suicide. Lawrence Police confirmed Garcia-Nunez's death on Saturday.
As of Tuesday, Police had not released Mackey's cause of death.
Friends of Mackeyconfirmed that Mackey and Garcia-Nunez had been dating for the past year until Mackey ended the
relationship three weeks ago.
memorial services
"Jana was the total package," Brandt said. "Beautiful, intelligent — she glowed."
Kelli Brandt, 2005 graduate and one of Mackey's closest friends, said family and friends spent the weekend collecting old photos and telling stories about Mackey's life. Brandt and Mackey met eight years ago while both were living in Hashinger Hall.
2 p.m., Wednesday at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. *Friends and family will gather to celebrate Mackey's life on Wednesday night at The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St.
KU Counseling and Psychological Services: Counselors will be available to meet with law school students, faculty and staff at Green Hall, according to a release from KU Law School.
"She was so comfortable in her own skin. All she wanted to do was bring everyone together."
A native of Hays, Mackey earned her undergraduate degree in Women's
KELLI BRANDT 2005 graduate
Studies. Brendt said she started out in music and theater, but as a sophomore, Mackey enrolled in a women's studies course.
"That course changed her life," Brandt said. "It gave her a purpose."
An advocate for women's
rights, Brandt said Mackey lobbied for the National Organization for Women and ProKanDo, a political action committee in Kansas.
Mackey went into law for the people, Brandt said, not for the money. "All she wanted to do was serve," Brandt said.
Mackey was enrolled this summer in the Paul E. Wilson Defender Project, representing state and federal
prisoners in appellate and post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts.
Gail Agrawal, KU law school dean, said in a statement, "She was a smart, engaging woman whose warm personality and quick smile endeared her to all who knew her."
*****
Massachusetts Street was mostly empty on Sunday evening, as a few walkers passed empty shops. This was a street that Mackey explored often. Friends described Mackey as a "real community girl." If Mackey wasn't at the law school, she was likely on the porch at Free State Brewery, hanging out at Henry's, or watching live music at the Replay Lounge. "She was so comfortable in her own skin," Brandt said. "All she wanted to do was bring everyone together."
Brandt said Mackey met Garcia-Nunez in Spring 2007 while dancing. Garcia-Nunez, an artist, painted a portrait for Mackey. The couple started dating and often went salsa dancing.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
But as Brandt acknowledged,
Janna Mackey was known for being "beautiful" and "intelligent."
Garcia-Nunez had a "dark side."
According to records from the Kansas Department of Corrections, Garcia-Nunez was convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated battery in 2004. Garcia-Nunez spent time in jail before being granted parole in August 2006.
Brandt said Mackey was aware of Garcia-Nunez's past, but according
to Brandt, Garcia-Nunez was able to rationalize his criminal background.
Brandt described a Garcia-Nunez who cooked "wonderful food" and was friendly to Mackey's friends.
"Only rarely did we see the other side," Brandt said.
But Brandt said Mackey decided to end the relationship three weeks ago when Garcia-Nunez began acting irrationally. Brandt said she asked Mackey if she thought Garcia-Nunez would ever hurt her. Brandt said her friend told her, "Absolutely not."
But friends started to worry when Mackey went missing last week and her car was discovered June 3 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Their worst fears came true when Mackey's body was found inside Garcia-Nunez's home late Thursday night.
Brandt said she and Mackey had sat together on Mackey's porch on a recent Sunday.
"She felt like she had a new lease on life," Brandt said. "She was in a really good place in her life. She was the strongest, most elegant, graceful woman," Brandt said.
Edited by Matt Hirschfeld