Suspect arrested in murder of Lauren Heike, Arizona woman found dead on hiking trail

The Bobster

Senior News Editor since 2004

Suspect arrested in murder of Lauren Heike, Arizona woman found dead on hiking trail​



By
David Propper


May 5, 2023 1:29am
Updated










A suspect was arrested Thursday evening in connection to the murder of Lauren Heike, the Arizona woman found dead along a hiking trail, according to authorities.
The man’s capture came five days after Heike’s body was discovered on a trail near her Phoenix home.
She appeared to have suffered trauma, authorities previously said.
Lauren Heike was found dead after going hiking on a trail near her Phoenix home.Lauren Heike was found dead after going hiking on a trail near her Phoenix home. Facebook / Lana Heike
Authorities say Lauren Heike appeared to have suffered trauma leading to her death. Authorities say Lauren Heike appeared to have suffered trauma leading to her death. Instagram / @lohighkey
Phoenix police said the suspect, in his early 20s, was arrested at his home — about a mile from the trail where Heike, 29, was killed.
Telemundo Arizona captured footage of the man moments after he was arrested that shows him sitting on a curb and at one point lying on his back while handcuffed.
He then is shown being placed inside a police vehicle.

Telemundo Arizona footage captures police placing handcuffs on the suspect during the arrest. Telemundo Arizona footage captures police placing handcuffs on the suspect during the arrest. Telemundo Arizona Telemundo Arizona footage shows the man moments after he was arrested, as police officers can be seen talking to him. Telemundo Arizona footage shows the man moments after he was arrested, as police officers can be seen talking to him. Telemundo Arizona
“With this information, we hope that the community tonight can rest a little easier knowing that this person is off the streets,” police spokesperson Sgt. Melissa Soliz said during a brief Thursday night press conference.

Authorities confirmed the man seen in surveillance footage previously released by the department is the suspect who was nabbed.

Investigators in Phoenix released an image showing the person of interest in the murder of Lauren Heike. Phoenix Police Department Investigators in Phoenix are spotted at the scene where Lauren Heike went hiking.Investigators in Phoenix at the scene where Lauren Heike went hiking. Phoenix 12 News
He was linked to the slaying through DNA evidence, CBS 5 reported.

It’s unclear if the suspect and victim had any connection.

Phoenix police homicide Lt. James Hester previously said in a Wednesday briefing that Heike was likely attacked from behind, calling the assailant’s behavior “heinous.”
 

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Her Name Is Lauren Heike: Beautiful White Female Chased And Stabbed 15 Times By Black Convicted Felon In Arizona

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Paul Kersey
05/06/2023


In 2020, the black suspect was sentenced to 3 years for robbery with a deadly weapon, only serving half his sentence, and getting out in time for this crime. Her Name is Lauren Heike. Chased by a black convicted felon, stabbed 15 times as she fought for her life…
REVEALED: Convicted felon, 22, ‘chased esthetician, 29, through barbed wire and stabbed her FIFTEEN times in the chest and back’ on hiking trail in Arizona—as it’s revealed he was fired from sports store job for being ‘aggressive’ to females, Daily Mail, May 5, 2023
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A convicted felon is accused of stabbing an esthetician 15 times in the back and chest after stalking her on a hiking trail in Arizona.
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal that Zion William Teasley, 22, was captured on surveillance footage following Lauren Heike, 29, for some time on April 28.
Her body was discovered in an area just off the Route 11 trail, with police believing that she was ‘chased through or over a barbed wire fence’.
Teasley was then caught on camera returning to the area where her body was discovered and climbing back over the fence.
A probable cause affidavit also revealed that the suspected killer had recently been fired from his job at a nearby sports store for being ‘aggressive’ to female employees and stealing.
His DNA was found on a shoe that Lauren discarded as she attempted to scale the barbed wire fence.
Police were able to track down Teasley because of a sample in their system from a prior felony conviction.
Teasley was released from prison in November after being sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to robbery with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct and robbery in June 2020.
He has been charged with breaching his probation, as well as one count of first-degree murder—meaning he could face the death penalty if found guilty.
The convicted felon dropped out of the Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego after just four months, first entering the training in March 2019.
A Marine Corps spokesman confirmed that he had separated from the training in June 2019, and his arrest documents confirmed that he was not on active duty.
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Lauren suffered fifteen stab wounds to her upper body, and had defensive wounds on her hands.
Teasley was identified from surveillance footage by his probation officer, as well as his former employer.
They told officers that he was ‘recently terminated for being aggressive toward female employees’ as well as stealing from the store.
Phone data also placed Teasley in the same area as Lauren before her death, moving in the same direction as the footage.
His employer also confirmed that he carried a pocket knife, which police say is consistent with the murder weapon.
When arrested by officers the suspected murderer said: ‘There’s no freaking way I’m here for a sex crime. I haven’t been with anyone for a long time.’
The probable cause affidavit also stated that during his interview, he spoke about ‘growing up as a Christian, and his internal struggle with his own sexuality.’
It added: ‘Zion was concerned about the salvation of his soul due to his thoughts’.
He also identified himself as being the man in the footage, before telling officers he recognized Lauren from the news and ‘wanted to look like her’.
Teasley claimed that he was ‘walking to a nearby movie theatre’, and admitted to officers he knew Lauren was attacked but ‘struggled to admit she was murdered’.
When asked if he had planned to kill Lauren he said: ‘I am definitely not the person who plans to kill another person. If I was going to do something like that it wouldn’t be premeditated. ‘
During his first court appearance he was given a $1million cash bond for the violation, but was remanded into custody with no bond in relation to the murder charge.
Hers is the face like Helen’s long ago, launching a thousand ships…
 

Death Penalty Pursued for Zion William Teasley in 2023 AZ Slaying of 29-Year-Old Lauren Heike




MCAO seeking death penalty against Lauren Heike's accused killer

Zion Teasley was arrested in May and charged with first degree murder

By: abc15.com staff

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has confirmed to ABC15 that it is seeking the death penalty against the man accused of killing Lauren Heike.

In May, a grand jury indictment was announced against 22-year-old Zion Teasley on a first-degree murder charge in Maricopa County.

Teasley is accused of murdering 29-year-old Lauren Heike, whose body was found on April 29 outside a neighborhood near Scottsdale Road and Mayo Boulevard.

Teasley was arrested on May 4 by the Phoenix Police Department after releasing surveillance video showing a man near the area where Heike's body was found.

Lauren's parents, Jeff and Lana Heike released the following statement regarding the announcement:

"We received word late this afternoon that the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO) has filed a Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty for Lauren's murder. Our family supports MCAO's decision and we are grateful for the work of both MCAO and Phoenix PD. We know that our journey through the criminal justice system is just beginning, but we will be there every step of the way to ensure that Lauren receives justice. As we make our way through our first Christmas season without Lauren, our hearts continue to break over her life being cut short by the violent actions of another. However, we want Lauren to be remembered for the beautiful and kind person that she was. We have hope and find joy in the knowledge that we will someday be reunited with Lauren. We ask for your prayers and for privacy at this time."

ABC15 has reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for more details.

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-no...accused-killer
 
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