Arizona woman killed while hiking, police release ominous video of possible suspect, heartbroken family pleads for public's help to find killer: 'She was my little girl'

An Arizona woman was attacked and killed while hiking, according to police.

Police responded to a call on April 29 about an injured person in the desert area in north Phoenix. Members of the local fire department found the body of 29-year-old Lauren Heike.

The Phoenix Police Department said in a statement, "Heike was found to have trauma to her body."

Investigators believe Heike was hiking on a trail behind the Paradise Ridge neighborhood when she was "viciously" attacked. Police said Heike was in a location where she "wasn't easily viewable by those who utilize the trail."

Phoenix homicide Lt. James Hester said during a press conference that Heike died April 28, and he believes she was "attacked from behind and died as a result of her injuries." Police did not reveal how Heike was killed or if any weapons were used in the deadly attack.

The Phoenix Police Department released an ominous, grainy video of a man running along the same hiking trail where Heike's body was found. Police said the man in the video is a person of interest in the murder of Lauren Heike.

Police are looking for a male standing between 5'8" and 6', and he was wearing dark clothing and a backpack.

"The behavior, in my opinion, was so heinous that I would imagine that the subject would be displaying behavior symptoms that just would look out of place," Hester stated.

Heike's heartbroken family are pleading for help from the public to find Lauren's killer.

Family member Ron Ohnhaus said during Wednesday's news conference at the headquarters of the Phoenix Police Department, "What would you do if this was your little sister, if this was your daughter, if this was your niece? We just ask and plead that you would find it in your heart to make that call and tell us or the authorities what you know."

River Hubbel, a close friend of Lauren, recalled how they had a daily exercise of telling each other what they were grateful for each morning.

"I had asked what we were all thankful for that day and she had specifically just said that she was so thankful to just wake up another day so positive and to be able to go get a coffee and go on a walk," Hubbel said while trying to hold back tears.

Lana Heike, Lauren's mother, said, "She loved to exercise. She was walking and we know she was happy she went out that morning on a beautiful day, to do what she does every day."

Lauren's grieving father Jeff said while crying, "She was my little girl. I'm going to miss her terribly. I just hope they can find whoever did this to her."

Anyone with information regarding Heike's murder is urged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

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