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An ex-convict has been charged with first-degree murder in the city death of Lauren Heike<\/span>a woman who was attacked from behind and stabbed 15 times while walking on a desert trail northeast of Phoenix last month, authorities said<\/a> Monday. The Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office announced the grand jury indictment and said it is reviewing the case to determine whether prosecutors will pursue the death penalty for the 22-year-old. Zion Teasley<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was not immediately known Monday if Teasley still has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.<\/p>\n Phoenix police said the 29-year-old woman’s body was found April 29 near a hiking trail about a half-mile from her home, but she is believed to have been killed the day before.<\/p>\n BREAKING: Phoenix man charged in hiker Lauren Heike’s murder: https:\/\/t.co\/7V4beeZuBG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) May 22, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n According to court documents, Heike had defensive wounds on her hands and arms to defend herself from her attacker, and may also have been chased over or through a barbed wire fence.<\/p>\n Homicide investigators believe the attack was random and unprovoked after Teasley allegedly followed her on the trail. But the possible motive for the killing is still unclear.<\/p>\n Teasley was arrested on May 4 after police say they used DNA evidence collected at the scene surveillance video<\/a> to connect it to the case.<\/p>\n Arizona Department of Corrections records show Teasley served 16 months at a state prison in Eloy for armed robbery and other crimes and was released in November 2020.<\/p>\n “My heart goes out to the victim’s family and the pain they are experiencing losing their loved one in this way,” Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement. statement<\/a>. “Our office will work diligently to seek justice for Lauren and her family.”<\/p>\n Heike’s mother described her as “beautiful inside and out”, saying she was a “sweet little girl”. Heike said it is originally from the state of Washington<\/a>he was new to the area.<\/p>\n Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. <\/p>\n Create your free account or login Trending news<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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