This was reported by the Phoenix police. A few days ago, a man was arrested for killing a woman who was found dead last week on a hiking trail in the city.
Zion William Teasley, 22 was charged on suspicion of first-degree murder According to Phoenix Police, Lauren Heike was stabbed.
The arrest came less than a week after 29-year-old Heike was found dead shortly before 11:00 am on April 29 in a desert area. near an area around 64th Street and Mayo Boulevard after a local resident reported seeing an injured person.
On May 1, police identified Heike’s body.
How did Lauren Heike die?
Heike was walking on a deserted trail near East Libby Street and North 65th Square on April 28 before he died, according to Phoenix police.
“Without provocation or contact prior to the incident, Lauren was brutally attacked with a sharp object and succumbed to her injuries. I think Lauren fought off her attacker and was able to escape, but her injuries were too severe,” Phoenix Police Lieutenant James Hester said at a press conference on Friday.
According to the court record, the autopsy revealed that Heike had received 15 stab wounds to the upper body, with the deepest laceration being 3 inches deep.. In addition, he had defensive wounds and minor abrasions that were likely caused by running over a barbed wire fence.
Surveillance video shows the man walking very close to Heike on the path where she was found dead. Seconds later, the same man runs before vegetation blocks the camera’s view, according to court documents.
Then, about a minute later, the suspect is seen again as he runs in the opposite direction before attempting to cross the barbed wire fence, eventually disappearing from camera view.
The police found Teasley after they found Heike’s shoe with his DNA. In addition, the suspect’s mobile phone’s GPS showed movements that matched the directions of the person in the video.
People who knew him said that Teasley carried a penknife the size of Heike’s injuries, according to the indictment.
On the morning of May 3, Teasley had a scheduled meeting with his probation officer, who told police that the headphones in the suspect’s photographs resembled the ones Teasley wore at that meeting.
Who is Zion William Teasley?
Police said Teasley was taken into custody around 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Scottsdale apartment where he lives.
During police interrogation, Teasley confirmed that the man in the security video was him.. However, he later retracted it, saying he was unsure.
Teasley told investigators that he grew up as a Christian, struggled with his sexuality and worried about saving his soul because of his thoughts. Except, recognized Heike in media reports of her murder and “declared that he wanted to be like her”.according to court documents.
He assured investigators that he did not remember if he had ever met Heike in person. Prosecutors later confirmed that Teasley lived near where Heike’s remains were found.
During Teasley’s speech in court the judge said the killing could have been premeditated. The suspect also reportedly had a plane ticket to Detroit.
According to court records, Teasley was released from prison in November 2022 and was on parole at the time of Heike’s death. In 2021, he was convicted of armed robbery with a firearm, robbery and hooliganism, court records show.
Investigators determined that Teasley was fired from his job for being aggressive towards female employees and was suspected of shoplifting.
He is being held on $1,000,000 bail., according to the records, and you will be assigned a lawyer. His next trial is set for May 15.
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Source: La Opinion
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