Lauren Heike Murder: Newly released 911 calls reveal panic and fear during manhunt

Phoenix, Arizona: Phoenix police have released several 911 calls made in the wake of the murder of 29-year-old Lauren Heike. Nearly a year-and-a-half after her death, the recordings shed light on the initial response to her discovery and the subsequent reports that followed.

On April 28, 2023, Heike was found murdered near the Reach 11 trail, close to her North Phoenix apartment. The police indicated that she had been ambushed and chased into a deserted area before being stabbed 15 times.

Among the four recently released calls, one was made by a woman who stumbled upon Heike's body while walking. The caller described the grim scene to the 911 operator, stating, "I just found a woman's body in the desert."

"It looks like she's been there for a while," the caller added. Emergency responders took over 24 hours to locate her body after she was reported missing.

Following Heike’s murder, several other 911 calls were made by residents reporting a suspicious-looking man who matched the description of the suspected killer. The police arrested Zion Teasley, a 22-year-old man, less than a week after Heike's body was found.

Witnesses claimed to have seen the man in the area in the days leading up to Heike's body being discovered.

“I noticed a guy that looks vaguely familiar to the guy on the news that killed the 29-year-old lady,” one caller remarked.

Teasley was linked to the crime through DNA evidence found on Heike's shoe. Teasley is scheduled to return to court in three weeks for a status conference, with his trial set for October 2025. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has stated they will seek the death penalty in this case.