Zion William Teasley: Convicted felon charged with fatal stabbing of Lauren Heike met with probation officer after alleged murder
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Zion William Teasley, the suspect accused of the murder of Lauren Heike on a trail between north Phoenix and Scottsdale, has been the subject of new details emerging in the case. The 22-year-old was arrested on Thursday, May 4, evening at The Catherine Townhomes, located near Scottsdale and Bell roads, where he resides with his mother, just a short distance from the trail where Heike's body was discovered.
Heike was stabbed to death nearly 15 times last Friday, April 28, but her body wasn’t discovered until Saturday morning because it was not visible from the trail. During the arrest, court documents revealed that Teasley made a statement denying involvement in a sex crime. “There’s no freaking way I’m in for a sex crime; I haven’t been with anyone for a long time,” he said. Phoenix Homicide Lt James Hester, in a news conference, stated that investigators believe the attack on Heike was random. They believe Teasley followed her on the trail and launched an unprovoked attack. The motive behind the crime remains unknown.
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'Evidence trails from Zion William Teasley's crime scene'
Surveillance images, DNA evidence found on Heike's shoe, along with other forensic evidence and cell phone location data, have linked Teasley to the crime. Detectives identified him as a former employee of a nearby sportswear store, where he was recognized by former coworkers wearing clothes suspected to have been stolen from the store. The coworkers also mentioned that Teasley had been terminated from the job due to his aggressive behavior towards female employees. Interestingly, court papers indicate that the 22-year-old had met with his probation officers shortly after the alleged murder. However, the details of the visit remain confidential.
During interviews with detectives, Teasley acknowledged being familiar with the area but refused to disclose his specific routes, claiming that he never walked the same spots. He initially recognized himself in a surveillance photo saying “That’s me,” before expressing uncertainty. He also made statements about his religious background, mentioning struggles with his sexuality and concerns about his soul's salvation. Teasley's mother works as a surveillance officer for the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. However, she declined to speak with detectives about Heike's murder.
The Marine Corps confirmed Teasley's brief enrollment in boot camp in 2019 but did not disclose the reasons for his departure, citing privacy regulations. During his initial court appearance, prosecutors highlighted signs of premeditation in Heike's killing and raised concerns about Teasley potentially fleeing the area, as he had a plane ticket ready to fly to Detroit. Detectives asked Teasley if he had planned to murder Heike, 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,” as per AZFamily.
'Zion William Teasley's extensive criminal history'
Prosecutors also disclosed that Teasley had a previous arrest in 2020, where he faced charges of third-degree burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, and disorderly conduct. Through a plea deal, Teasley pleaded guilty to armed robbery and disorderly conduct, with several more serious charges being dropped. He had served 16 months in a correctional facility before his release in November 2022.
The case has garnered significant attention, with community members expressing relief that Teasley is now in custody. Heike's parents and friends have made emotional pleas for justice and assistance in finding her alleged killer. “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 Heike's mother, Lana. “She was my little girl. I’m really going to miss her,” said Heike's father, Jeff.
Teasley is currently being held on a $1 million bond in the Maricopa County jail on charges of first-degree murder and probation violations, which made him non-bondable. The investigation continues, with law enforcement committed to scrutinizing all evidence and angles in their pursuit of justice for Heike's tragic death.