A suspect has been arrested in reference to the homicide of Lauren Heike, an Arizona girl killed throughout a solo hike, police stated.
A person in his 20s was taken into custody Thursday at his dwelling, situated only a mile away from the place Heike lived, Sgt. Melissa Soliz of the Phoenix Police Division stated. She didn’t establish him, however video from Telemundo Arizona shows him sitting on a curb after which mendacity down on his again whereas handcuffed.
“With this data, we hope that the group tonight can relaxation slightly simpler realizing that this particular person is off the streets,” Soliz stated.
The arrest comes lower than per week after 29-year-old Heike was discovered lifeless alongside a desert-area mountaineering path in northeast Phoenix. Police stated she was “viciously” attacked from behind and “fatally injured” throughout her hike Friday night.
Her physique was found by a passerby the next morning.
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Heike sustained “trauma to her physique,” although her actual explanation for loss of life has not been disclosed, in line with authorities. A motive was additionally unclear.
Her mom, Lana Heike, known as her daughter “lovely in and out.”
“She had such a form coronary heart. Everyone who met her, cherished her. She was tremendous humorous. She was only a candy youngster — simply the whole lot to us,” she advised reporters throughout a press convention earlier this week.
Her father, Jeff, added: “She was my little woman. I’m going to overlook her terribly.”
The person arrested is similar particular person seen operating in a brief surveillance clip released amid the days-long manhunt. Police beforehand described the suspect as being between 5-foot-8 and 6 toes tall.
