The man who was arrested on Thursday for killing a woman on a hiking trail on Thursday allegedly stabbed her 15 times.
AZ Family reported that Lauren Heike, who was found dead on Saturday at Reach 11 trail in Phoenix near her apartment, had defensive wounds on her hands and arms. Her suspected killer, Zion Teasley, allegedly stabbed her in the chest and back.
Teasley is accused of chasing Heike and attacking her from behind. Investigators claimed it took a day to locate her body because it was in an area that is not typically visible from the trail.
According to AZ Family, Teasley told arresting officers, “There’s no freaking way I’m in for a sex crime; I haven’t been with anyone for a long time.”
The news outlet also reported that Teasley, a former Marine, had been fired from a sportswear store for being aggressive to female employees.
Teasley was reportedly linked to the slaying by DNA recovered from Heike’s shoe. From there, police went to his former job — where they confirmed that the clothes seen in a surveillance video from the trail resembled clothes he was accused of stealing.
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At some point, investigators showed Teasley a photo of Heike. Teasley said he recognized her and “wanted to look like her,” according to AZ Family.
Teasley was charged with first-degree murder and remains jailed on a $1 million bond. However, reports indicated that he is ineligible for bond as his arrest constitutes a probation violation.
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[Featured image: Lauren Heike/Facebook]
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