Global Courant 2023-05-06 10:30:41
Authorities have released details of the brutal murder of a 29-year-old lone hiker in Phoenix, Arizona, who was found dead on a community trail last weekend.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, Lauren Heike was found with 15 stab wounds and injuries to her hands and forearms after being brutally assaulted by 22-year-old Zion William Teasley on Saturday, April 29.
DNA, video and cell phone evidence all linked Teasley to the crime, prosecutors allege.
Investigators say they believe the 29-year-old woman was chased over a barbed wire fence along the community trail based on the condition of her clothing. Her belongings were found scattered along the trail.
Heike’s mother and father remembered her as a beautiful and sweet person. (Phoenix Police Department)
Security cameras in the area captured Heike and the suspect walking separately along the same path around the time of the murder.
“The suspect ran after Lauren and then sprinted off before returning to the location where Lauren’s body was found and climbing over the barbed wire,” said Teasley’s likely statement.
ARIZONA SUSPICIOUS FACE OF MURDERS IN HIKER’S DEATH IDENTIFIED: SOURCE
Police say the man was known to be carrying a pocket knife with a 3-inch blade, which matches the wounds found on Heike’s body.
Cell phone records recording his location reportedly matched the surveillance video evidence.
Booking photo of Zion Teasley, taken Friday, May 5, 2023, provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Teasley faces first-degree murder charges following the death of Lauren Heike on the Arizona hiking trail (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
At this time, police have no motive for the apparently random killing.
“I believe at this time that the attack was random, but we have not yet completed our investigation,” Lieutenant James Hester said at a news conference on Friday, May 5.
“I believe at this point that the attack was random, but we have not yet completed our investigation.”
Teasley, a source told Fox News, is facing charges of first-degree murder. He also has a long criminal record dating back to 2020 for assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery, armed robbery and burglary, among others.
A judge set the defendant’s bail at $1 million. However, since Teasley is on probation for a previous conviction, he could remain behind bars.
PHOENIX POLICE ARRESTED SUSPECTED IN CONNECTION WITH DEATH OF LAUREN HEIKE
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old had a plane ticket to Detroit. He told investigators it was because his aunt died, but that has yet to be confirmed.
He is the same man seen in blurry surveillance footage running off the trail around the time Lauren Heike was attacked, officials confirmed.
Detectives said a person interested in this surveillance image is wanted for questioning in Lauren Heike’s death. (Phoenix Police Department)
Heike was found dead around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, along a popular community trail near where she lived, Phoenix police said.
Phoenix Homicide Lt. James Hester told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday, May 3, that Heike had been found in a location not easily visible from the trail. Hester said she was attacked from behind and died as a result of her injuries.
PHOENIX WOMAN, 29, FOUND DEAD ON HIKING TRAIL
Police said the body was identified as Heike. She was pronounced dead at the scene and was found to have “trauma to her body” according to investigators.
Lauren Heike, 29, was found dead on a hiking trail in Phoenix last weekend. (Phoenix Police Department)
Heike’s family shared an emotional message after Phoenix police arrested Teasley on Thursday, May 4.
“We breathe a sigh of relief this morning knowing that another family doesn’t have to be in our shoes because of this person,” Tana Heike wrote in a Facebook message Friday morning. “While this won’t bring our Lowie back and the journey ahead is sad and disheartening, we are eternally grateful for the love and support we’ve received from the moment she went missing.”
“We breathe a sigh of relief this morning knowing that another family doesn’t have to be in our shoes because of this person.”
Heike’s mother went on to say that the family has been overwhelmed by the amount of support and prayers they have received.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I think that’s a testament to what a beautiful person Lauren was,” Lana wrote.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on Fox News Digital’s breaking news team. You can reach her on Twitter at @s_rumpfwhiteten.
