Photo Credit: KTVZ

Phoenix Police Arrest Suspect In Connection With Woman Found Dead In Phoenix Desert

Phoenix Police announced they arrested a suspect who they believe murdered 29-year-old Lauren Heike, who was found dead on a hiking trail in a desert area last weekend.

Thursday, May 4, officials announced the suspect’s arrest and reported he was taken into custody around 6:30 p.m. at his residence, an apartment complex near Bell and Scottsdale roads. He was described as a man in his early 20s. The person’s identity has been identified as 22 year-old Zion Teasley.


The suspect’s general image matched the blurry image authorities released on Wednesday of who they believe the suspect to be after Heike was found dead on Saturday, April 29. Heike’s body was discovered with trauma to her body approximately one mile southeast of Mayo Clinic Hospital and about three miles southeast of Desert Ridge Marketplace.

Investigators reported a search warrant was served on his apartment. He was taken to the Phoenix Police headquarters for questioning.

Witnesses and residents of the apartment complex where the suspect was taken into custody gave details on the dramatic arrest.  Authorities entered the complex with three SWAT trucks, over 15 undercover vehicles. They “blew down the door,’ entered and started screaming to get down on the ground. Once the suspect was detained, he was removed from his residence and brought outside where he remained being questioned and police inside his apartment.

Teasley is being charged with first-degree murder. He reportedly has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2020 for charges including assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery, armed robbery and burglary.

At a news conference earlier this week, Heike’s family remembered their daughter as someone “who was everything to us.” Her family’s only hope no is that whoever is responsible for his daughter’s death is held accountable. “She was my little girl, and I’m going to miss her terribly,” said her father, Jeff. “I just hope they can find whoever did this to her.”

With the suspect in custody, police hope the community can rest easier knowing this man is off the streets.