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.
![Lauren Heike was found dead after going hiking on a trail near her Phoenix home.](https://mamardi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cdsds.jpg)
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 sidewalk curb and at one point lying down on his back while handcuffed.
He then is shown being placed inside a police vehicle.
![Telemundo Arizona footage shows the man moments after he was arrested, as police officers can be seen talking to him.](https://mamardi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/csdcs.png)
“With this information we hope that the community tonight can rest a little easier knowing that this person is off the streets,” police spokesperson Sergeant 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.
![Investigators in Phoenix are spotted at the scene where Lauren Heike went hiking.](https://mamardi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/phoenix-woman-hiking-trail-murder-19.jpg)
He was linked to the slaying through DNA evidence, CBS 5 reported.
It’s unclear if the suspect and victim had any connection.
Phoenix Homicide Lt. James Hester previously said in a Wednesday briefing that Heike was likely attacked from behind, calling the assailant’s behavior “heinous.”
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