SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Last Saturday, 29-year-old Lauren Heike was found with 15 stab wounds in a desert area near 6500 East Libby Street in Phoenix, Ariz., and pronounced dead at the scene. This week, authorities arrested her attacker.
The Phoenix Police Department identified him as 22-year-old Zion William Teasley. He has been charged with first degree murder.
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Officers responded to the area at around 10:30 a.m. April 29 and first responders pronounced Heike dead at the scene. A 3TV/CBS 5 report said she was stabbed 15 times, citing court documents.
“I can’t say enough about the effort that went on over the last several days,” said Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan Friday of the search for Heike’s killer. He credited community partnerships for the eventual apprehension of Teasley who is being held on $1 million bond in the Maricopa County jail. Since Teasley also faces a count of probation violations he is non-bondable.
Heike’s family was present at a Friday press conference about the arrest.
“I want to offer my deepest condolences to the Heike family,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego during the press conference. “Your daughter sounds like a wonderful person and we are so glad she was part of our community.”
Gallego said that Heike had been hiking when she was attacked by Teasley. According the 3TV/CBS 5 report, Teasley joined a Marine Corps bootcamp in 2019 but left before completing his training. His mother is a surveillance officer for the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County.
“During his initial court appearance Friday, Teasley didn’t say a word,” said the report. “Prosecutors revealed that Teasley had signs of ‘premeditations’ in the alleged killing of Heike and signaled a potential flight risk as he reportedly had a plane ticket ready to fly to Detroit.”
Additionally, prosecutors revealed that he had been previously arrested in 2020 on third-degree burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping and disorderly conduct charges. After pleading guilty to the armed robbery, robbery and disorderedly conduct, Teasley served 16 months in the Red Rock Correctional Facility in Eloy before being released in November 2022.
According to Sgt. Melissa Soliz, Teasley is the same person seen on a video surveillance video released by police May 2. When interviewed by detectives Teasley said that he recognized the area near the Reach 11 trail and at one point admitted to being the person in the video. However, he also said that he did not know.
“Teasley also reportedly spoke up about growing up as a Christian and about how he struggled with his sexuality, saying in part that he feared his soul’s salvation due to his thoughts,” said the report. “Detectives asked Teasley if he had planned to murder Lauren, to which he responded, ‘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.’”
Heike worked as a beverage cart server at Troon North Golf Club, according to 3TV/CBS5.
“As hard as this is for us, we’re grateful because we had such a beautiful child. We will love her every minute that we are on this Earth,” said Lauren’s mother, Lana, according to the outlet.
“She was my little girl. I’m really going to miss her,” said Lauren’s father, Jeff.
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