Suspect in woman murdered on hiking trail after attack from behind is arrested
A man has been arrested in connection to the killing of a woman who was found dead on a hiking trail after being "attacked from behind."
The suspect, who is in his early 20s, was arrested at his home in Phoenix, Arizona, by police after 29-year-old Lauren Heike's body was discovered on a hiking trail on Friday morning.
Cops had released a short clip which showed a person of interest running away from the trail on Friday morning. Officers confirmed it was the suspect.
Police were caught on video arresting the man before placing him into a police vehicle.
Lauren was murdered while on a hiking trip (Facebook)
She had just recently moved to Arizona from Washington (Instagram)Sergeant Melissa Soliz said: "With this information we hope that the community tonight can rest a little easier knowing that this person is off the streets."
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His arrest comes five days after the esthetician, who had recently moved to the Phoenix area from Washington, was hiking alone in a popular trail in Arizona on Friday morning.
She was "viciously" attacked from behind between 10 and 11am, according to police.
The suspect was arrested by policeAuthorities said Lauren was found the next day with "trauma to her body" after she was discovered in an area that isn't publicly visible.
A member of the public called cops on April 29 after finding Lauren on the hiking trail - with the attack described as "heinous."
Phoenix Homicide Lt. James Hester had said: "We believe someone would have noticed this person either before the attack or after he fled from our scene."
According to authorities, the man was linked to the scene through his DNA.
The man was cuffed and led away by copsIt still remains unclear if the suspect and the 29-year-old knew each other.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Lauren's devastated family had pleaded for the community to come together to help find the killer.
Lana, Lauren's mum, said: "'We want somebody to come forward and help us find this person.
"Somebody wearing a backpack or a hoodie or whatever the video, it's hard to tell in a sunny hot day, that person will stand out. When you've done something, you're going to be unusual.
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The suspect in his early 20sLauren was described by her parents as "a beautiful, kind-hearted woman who was sweet to everyone she met."
"Please think if you had seen something, were in that area, if you know of somebody strange or acting weird. Somebody knows this person."
Lana added: "As hard as this is for us, we're grateful because we had such a beautiful child. We will love her every minute that we are on this Earth.
The 29-year-old's family have urged people to come forward (Facebook)"She was my little girl. I'm really going to miss her."
Her heartbroken dad Jeff, said: "I know someone knows something and they can help us."
Admire Medical Aesthetics, Lauren's former employer, described her as "kind and sweet nature, and her beloved clients always looked forward to seeing her."
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