Lauren Heike, 29, Was Stabbed 15 Times While Hiking on a Nearby Trail

PHOENIX, AZ – In April 2023, 29-year-old Lauren Heike was killed near a popular North Phoenix hiking trail.

Lauren left on foot to go hiking on a nearby trail, but she never came home that day. The next day, a call came in from a woman who had found an injured person on the trail just after 10:30 AM. When officers arrived on the scene, the woman was immediately pronounced deceased. They quickly identified her as 29-year-old Lauren Heike. Lauren’s body showed significant trauma.

On May 2nd, investigators released surveillance footage of a person they described as a “person of interest.” On the morning of Lauren’s disappearance, April 29th, this person was seen walking a short distance behind Lauren on the trail. Lauren walked out of the camera’s view at 10:53 AM, with the same person following closely behind her. Shortly after that, the person of interest was seen sprinting back into the camera’s view, moving away from the area, as depicted in the footage released by police.

Lauren’s belongings were scattered all over the area, and her clothing was torn, suggesting she had gone through or over a barbed wire fence. Evidence indicated that Lauren had put up a massive fight. Investigators believe she managed to fend off the suspect initially, but her injuries were too severe for her to seek help, and sadly, she succumbed to them. The autopsy revealed that she had suffered 15 stab wounds to her upper body, primarily her chest and back. Her arms bore defensive wounds, further evidence of her struggle to protect herself.

Evidence suggested Lauren was attacked from behind. Her shoe was found nearby, and investigators ran a DNA test on it. The DNA matched a man named Zion William Teasley. Investigators reviewed Zion’s phone data, which confirmed that he was in the area on the morning of the murder. Not only was he in the area, but his phone’s tracking data showed that he took the same route captured in the surveillance footage.

The pieces began to fall into place. Investigators visited Zion’s place of employment to see if staff there could identify him from the video. It turned out Zion had recently been fired for being aggressive toward female employees and for theft. When employees reviewed the footage, they recognized him and noted that he was wearing clothing he had allegedly stolen from work. Managers also informed investigators that Zion routinely carried a three-inch pocket knife, which investigators believe was used to kill Lauren.

Given the evidence, one might assume this was a sexually motivated attack, but that does not appear to be the case. Digging into Zion’s past revealed a troubling history. In 2020, he was charged with 13 felonies in just two months, between May and July. These charges included third-degree burglary, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, five counts of kidnapping, disorderly conduct with a weapon, aggravated assault with a weapon, and four counts of robbery. During May and June of that year, he robbed at least four Circle K gas stations. At each location, he demanded the cashier load multiple Google Play gift cards with $200 each. When he was finally arrested for these robberies, he admitted to demanding the cards. In exchange for pleading guilty, he was sentenced on June 11, 2021, to three years in prison. However, he was credited for 381 days already served while awaiting sentencing and was released in early November 2022. He was on probation just five months before he allegedly took Lauren’s life.

Finally, on the evening of May 4th, 2023, around 6:30 PM, law enforcement arrested Zion Teasley. He was taken into custody without incident. During his arrest, however, he made a bold statement to officers, saying, “There’s no freaking way I’m in for a sex crime. I haven’t been with anyone for a long time.” During questioning, Zion admitted to being on the trail and recognized Lauren from the news. He made disturbing comments, including saying he wanted to look like her. However, he struggled to admit that Lauren had been murdered and claimed he couldn’t recall if he had met her in person. He also cast doubt on whether the surveillance footage actually depicted him.

Zion spoke extensively about his upbringing in Christianity and his struggles with his sexuality. He expressed concerns about the salvation of his soul due to his thoughts. Based on Zion’s statements about wanting to look like Lauren, his struggles with his sexuality, and his concerns about eternal salvation, many believe the attack was not sexually motivated but instead driven by jealousy.

Before his arrest, Zion had booked a flight to Detroit.

Lauren’s parents, Jeff and Lana Heike, released a statement through a news outlet, saying, “She had so much promise and hope for the future. We will remember Lauren for the kind, thoughtful, and loving person that she was.”

Teasley has pleaded not guilty. His murder trial is currently set for October 2025.