Man admitted to stabbing woman 15 times in random hiking trail attack, police say

PHOENIX (AZFamily/Gray News) - A man in Arizona accused of murdering a woman on a a hiking trail more than three years ago will likely avoid the death penalty through a plea deal.

Court records said that Zion Teasley pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in court Friday in connection with the death of Lauren Heike.

Heike’s murder gained international attention after she was found stabbed more than a dozen times not far from her apartment, on April 28, 2023.

Days later, police arrested Teasley. Investigators said they linked Teasley to her death through DNA on Heike’s shoe, along with other forensic evidence, including cellphone location data.

Police believed Heike fought off her attacker and escaped but that her injuries were too severe.

Teasley was indicted on 10 counts after investigators said he had sexually explicit images involving a child under 15 years old and possibly shared them.

Authorities said they believe at this time that the attack was random, but added that they “have not concluded our investigation into that.”

He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in that case.

Sentencing in that case is scheduled for Dec. 4.