A girl’s household has been left heartbroken after she was brutally murdered throughout a solo hike final week.
In keeping with the Phoenix Police Division, 29-year-old Lauren Heike went out for a hike on the Attain 11 path in Arizona final Friday when she was “viciously” attacked from behind and “fatally injured.” Nevertheless, she was not found till 10:30 a.m. the subsequent day when a passerby got here throughout her physique in an space that was not seen from the path. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they pronounced her useless. Heartbreaking.
Whereas her official explanation for demise hasn’t been introduced, court docket paperwork obtained by AZ Household revealed Lauren was stabbed 15 instances after being chased on the path. Terrible. Police imagine she might have tried to flee her attacker at one level as she was discovered close to a barbed wire fence. She additionally had a number of defensive wounds on her palms and arms.
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Because the stunning discovery, 22-year-old Zion William Teasley has been taken into custody and charged with first-degree homicide for the demise of Lauren. Police arrested the suspect at his house close to Scottsdale on Thursday – which was lower than a mile from the path the place the lady’s physique was discovered. Sgt. Melissa Soliz beforehand mentioned of the arrest at a information convention on Thursday:
“Proper now, he’s the person who we imagine to be accountable or in connection to the homicide of Lauren Heike. Our detectives are going to make sure that every bit of proof is checked out fastidiously, each angle and provides their full effort on this case. We’re hoping that the neighborhood can relaxation a little bit simpler realizing this individual is off the streets.”
In keeping with AZ Household, investigators related Zion to the crime as they recognized him from a brief surveillance video that confirmed somebody working within the space the place Lauren’s physique had been found. You may see the clip (under):
NEW INFO ON HOMICIDE investigation. Police are hoping somebody may also help them determine the individual on this quick video who might have data on a murder case from 6500 E Libby Road. Anybody with data name police or @SilentwitnessAZ
Unique media advisory:https://t.co/8ITIbfihky pic.twitter.com/2vnwY840NC— Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) May 3, 2023
When interviewed by detectives, the court docket docs said that Zion admitted he visited the identical path Lauren had been on however refused to reveal his precise routes, solely noting that he by no means walked across the similar space. He then was proven an image of the surveillance video. Whereas Zion responded to officers by saying “that’s me” at first, he then backtracked and claimed he wasn’t positive.
However when investigators confirmed an image of Lauren, he allegedly mentioned he acknowledged the sufferer and “wished to appear to be her,” including that he struggled along with his sexuality whereas rising up Christian. Police then requested Zion if he deliberate on killing Lauren, to which he replied:
“I’m undoubtedly not the one that plans to kill one other individual. If I used to be going to do one thing like that, it wouldn’t be premeditated.”
Chilling particulars…
The largest piece of proof? Additionally they found his DNA on Lauren’s sneakers. Throughout his preliminary court docket look on Friday, prosecutors insisted Zion had indicators of “premeditations” within the homicide – however didn’t elaborate. They detailed that he was beforehand charged with third-degree housebreaking, armed theft, kidnapping, and disorderly conduct in 2020. He ended up taking a plea deal, pleading responsible to armed theft, disorderly conduct, and theft. Zion served 16 months in jail earlier than being launched in November of 2022. Prosecutors additionally famous he’s probably a flight threat as he booked a airplane ticket to move to Detroit earlier than his arrest.
Right now, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace information present that Zion is being held on a $1 million bond. His subsequent court docket look might be on Might 11. After the invention of Lauren’s physique, her household has spoken out about this tragedy. Her mother, Lana Heike, described the ladies in a press convention on Wednesday, saying:
“She was stunning in and out. She had such a sort coronary heart. Everyone who met her, beloved her. She was tremendous humorous. She was only a candy baby – simply all the things to us.”
Her dad, Jeff Heike, added on the time:
“She was my little lady. I’m going to overlook her terribly. I simply hope they’ll discover whoever did this to her.”
Our hearts break for this household. Right here is hoping they’ll get some justice for his or her daughter’s demise.
[Image via Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Lauren Heike/Instagram]
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