Suspect arrested in murder of Lauren Heike, Arizona woman found dead on hiking trail
A suspect was arrested Thursday evening in connection to the murder of Lauren Heike, the Arizona woman found dead along a hiking trail, according to authorities.
The man’s capture came five days after Heike’s body was discovered on a trail near her Phoenix home.
She appeared to have suffered trauma, authorities previously said.
Phoenix police said the suspect, in his early 20s, was arrested at his home — about a mile from the trail where Heike, 29, was killed.
Telemundo Arizona captured footage of the man moments after he was arrested that shows him sitting on a curb and at one point lying on his back while handcuffed.
He then is shown being placed inside a police vehicle.
“With this information, we hope that the community tonight can rest a little easier knowing that this person is off the streets,” police spokesperson Sgt. Melissa Soliz said during a brief Thursday night press conference.
Authorities confirmed the man seen in surveillance footage previously released by the department is the suspect who was nabbed.
He was linked to the slaying through DNA evidence, CBS 5 reported.
It’s unclear if the suspect and victim had any connection.
Phoenix police homicide Lt. James Hester previously said in a Wednesday briefing that Heike was likely attacked from behind, calling the assailant’s behavior “heinous.”
