Zion Teasley: Convicted felon, 22, charged with murder of Lauren Heike who was 'stabbed multiple times'
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: A 22-year-old convicted felon, Zion William Teasley, has been identified as the person accused of killing esthetician Lauren Heike. Heike was discovered dead with multiple stab wounds during a hiking trail in Phoenix. Chilling details about the crime and how Teasley was linked to it have been revealed. The prosecution has charged him with murder and revealed signs of "premeditation" in the alleged killing.
Court documents cited by Az Family reveal that Heike had been stabbed 15 times after being chased by Teasly on the Reach 11 trail west of Scottsdale Road and Mayo Boulevard. Teasley appeared at Maricopa County Court after being charged with the murder of Lauren Heike, 29, on April 28. Her body was found 24 hours later by first responders.
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Lauren Heike: Arizona woman found dead on Phoenix hiking trail, suspect spotted fleeing
Teasley was released in November 2022 after serving 16 months
Teasley was arrested in 2020 for third-degree burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, and disorderly conduct charges. In the case, Teasley accepted a plea agreement in which he admitted to robbery, disorderly conduct, and armed robbery. Prosecutors dismissed ten charges, some of which were more serious felonies, in exchange for a plea agreement. Before being freed in November 2022, Teasley had spent 16 months in the Red Rock Correctional Facility in Eloy.
Now he has been charged with breaching his probation, as well as one count of first-degree murder which means he could face the death penalty if found guilty as per the Daily Mail. Teasley is now being held on a $1 million bond in the Maricopa County jail. Teasley was silent throughout his ten-minute hearing and as per prosecutors showed "premeditated" behavior, and his alleged possession of a ticket for a flight to Detroit suggested that he was a flight risk.
Teasley was found on surveillance footage near the crime scene
Authorities also confirmed that Teasley is the same person who was found on surveillance footage running near the crime scene. "Our detectives are going to ensure that every piece of evidence is looked at carefully, every angle, and give their full effort on this case,” Sgt Melissa Soliz said. “We’re hoping that the community can rest a little easier knowing this person is off the streets,” Soliz added on Thursday.
Besides DNA evidence linking Teasly to the case, phone evidence and 'circumstantial' evidence have also been found as per the lawyers. The court as per the report heard that several people Teasley works with knew he had a knife which they say was "consistent with the murder weapon."