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Phoenix, AZ – The man accused of murdering 29-year-old Lauren Heike along a North Phoenix hiking trail in 2023 is now facing additional charges. Zion Teasley, 24, has been charged with 10 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, stemming from allegations that he knowingly distributed or received child pornography in 2019 and 2020.
Teasley, who was initially arrested in connection with Heike’s brutal murder, now faces further scrutiny as investigators continue to build their case against him. Heike was tragically killed in the desert near 64th Street and Mayo Boulevard, where she was stabbed 15 times. Security cameras from the area showed Teasley and Heike walking along the same path shortly before the murder.
Authorities reported that after the attack, Teasley fled the scene, only to return to the location where Heike’s body was discovered, climbing over a barbed wire fence.
In addition to the murder charges, Teasley has a criminal history that includes previous legal trouble. In 2024, he was charged with aggravated assault and burglary related to a 2020 incident where he attacked another woman with a knife. The victim survived the assault.
Teasley’s troubling past includes being fired from his job for aggressive behavior toward female employees and suspected theft.
As the investigation into Heike’s death continues, these new charges add another layer of seriousness to an already horrific case. The community remains shocked and devastated by the crime, with authorities vowing to continue their pursuit of justice.
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