Killer murdered beautiful stranger because he was secretly TRANSGENDER and jealous of her looks, prosecutors say
Zion Teasley is accused of stabbing 29-year-old Lauren Heike 15 times after stalking her on an Arizona hiking trail in April, 2023. Police narrowed in on him thanks to DNA found in her show at the murder scene.
Police now say Teasley had been writing in his journal about his gender identity in the months leading up to the esthetician's murder, as reported by ABC 15.
'I have been battling with my gender identity and sexuality,' Teasley reportedly wrote in a journal entry.
'I am Christian, so this isn't allowed. I want to live a life of serving god, but how can I with these and other sins in the way. I [know] I am forgiven for my sins. But it's still a lot of pressure and it's hard to maintain a good Christian mindset 24/7.'
Prosecutors also claim Teasley was depressed and wrote alongside a screenshot: 'when I see a beautiful woman and I'm a man.'
Zion Teasley had been writing in his journal about his gender identity in the months before the murder
A camera captured the suspect following Heike, and eventually returning to the area where her body was found before hopping a fence
When policer asked the alleged killer about Heike before his arrest, he reportedly said: 'That's what I would want to look like.'
The alleged killer requested his trial date be pushed back three years and it is now scheduled for January 2027
Meanwhile investigators say they found a picture of Teasley in an outfit similar to what Heike was wearing when she was killed.
A well-placed camera captured the suspect following Heike, and eventually returning to the area where her body was found before hopping a fence. Cops who found Heike previously said she'd been 'chased through or over a barbed wire fence.'
After seeing surveillance footage of the murder suspect, Teasley allegedly replied: 'That's me. I think is it? I don't know.'
When asked the murder was planned, he reportedly told police: 'I'm telling you, if I was gonna do something like that, it definitely wouldn't be premeditated.'
Teasley is an ex-con with a record that goes back to 2020. He was arrested for Heike's murder just five months after finishing a three-year jail sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon.
Teasley - whose laundry list of crimes came after he dropped out of the Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego after just four months - pleaded not guilty to the murder.
A probable cause affidavit later revealed the suspected killer had recently been fired from his job at a nearby sports store for being 'aggressive' to female employees - further bolstering investigators' yet-to-be-proven narrative.
They claim Heike, who was found dead on the Reach 11 trail, was chased over a barbed wire fence as she relentlessly worked to escape her attacker.
Teasley's attorneys are now referring to him as 'her' in court.
The alleged killer requested his trial date be pushed back three years and it is now scheduled for January 2027.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Who was Noel Stanton and how did the founder of the Jesus Army die?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Charismatic preacher turned cult leader Noel Stanton built a religious empire that hid horrific abuse behind colourful buses and a "Christian community" for nearly four decades. Born on Christmas Day 1926, this ordinary Baptist minister transformed into one of Britain's most controversial religious figures when he founded the Jesus Army in rural Northamptonshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Noel Stanton preaching to his community Credit: BBC After his death in 2009, aged 82, shocking allegations emerged of systematic physical, sexual and psychological abuse spanning decades. A new BBC documentary now exposes the disturbing truth behind what one survivor describes as "a British cult hiding in plain sight." Who was Noel Stanton? In the 1970s, this firebrand preacher convinced dozens of idealistic Christians to hand over their homes, possessions, and even their children to create what he claimed would be "heaven on Earth" in rural Northamptonshire. Stanton established the Jesus Fellowship Church – better known as the Jesus Army – which grew from a small congregation at Bugbrooke Baptist Church into a nationwide movement with thousands of followers. Read more on cults 'DEEPLY DECIEVED' Sex cult brainwashed me into being a 'bride' for a rapist The bearded, authoritarian leader demanded total obedience from his flock. Members lived in communal houses, surrendered their savings to the group, and followed his increasingly bizarre rules about everything from diet to relationships. His preaching became increasingly focused on sexual "purity," with shocking footage from a 1993 documentary showing him urging followers to give their "genitals to Jesus". This obsession with controlling members' sexuality would later become central to many abuse allegations. How did the Jesus Army founder die? Noel Stanton died on May 20, 2009, aged 82, after leading his controversial religious movement for nearly four decades. Despite building what appeared to be a thriving Christian community with its distinctive fleet of colourful Jesus Army buses and evangelistic street outreach, Stanton's final years were marked by increasing scrutiny of his leadership methods. Watch moment rape cult leader who told followers he was an alien called Great Shaman is arrested in Argentina By the time of his death, cracks were already appearing in the movement he'd created, though the full extent of the abuse within the Jesus Army wouldn't become public knowledge until years later. Stanton was buried at the fellowship's New Creation Farm in Nether Heyford, a sprawling community site that had been purchased with money donated by his followers. Inside the controversial cult While presenting itself as a legitimate Christian church, the Jesus Army operated with all the classic hallmarks of a cult. Members were encouraged to cut ties with family and friends outside the group. Those living in communal "community houses" had to follow strict rules about everything from clothing to personal relationships. The group's radical "kingdom theology" taught followers that Stanton had special authority from God. This created an environment where questioning the leader was seen as questioning God himself. Ex-members describe an atmosphere of intense control, with decisions about jobs, marriages and even what clothes to wear dictated by "elders" appointed by Stanton. The Jesus Army became known for its distinctive evangelism style, with members in brightly coloured jackets approaching strangers in town centres, offering hugs and inviting them to join community life. What appeared to outsiders as a quirky but harmless Christian group was, behind closed doors, implementing practices that damaged hundreds of lives. 3 Aerial view of Sheepfold Grange, Northampton, Jesus Army Credit: Google Shock abuse claims Following Stanton's death, horrifying accounts of systematic physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse began to emerge from former members. Children as young as two were routinely "disciplined" with birch canes in a practice known as "rodding", causing physical and psychological trauma that survivors still deal with today. The group conducted terrifying "exorcisms" on members thought to be possessed by demons, with some subjected to hours of shouting, physical restraint and psychological abuse under the guise of spiritual cleansing. There were also several unexplained deaths within the community that former members claim weren't properly investigated at the time. Perhaps most disturbing were the widespread sexual abuse allegations. Multiple members, many of whom were children when the abuse occurred, have since come forward with accounts of sexual assault perpetrated by senior figures within the organisation. The cult's strict sexual teachings, which demanded celibacy from single members while simultaneously creating an environment where authority figures had unchecked power, created perfect conditions for predators. 3 The Jesus Army commune in Northampton was the site of many abuses Credit: Jesus Fellowship Central Offices/Youtube The Redress Scheme The scale of abuse was so extensive that, following the official disbanding of the Jesus Army in 2019, the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust established a Redress Scheme to compensate victims. The scheme identified numerous abusers within the organisation, with victims ranging from young children to vulnerable adults who had been drawn into the community. By November 2021, when the scheme closed, hundreds of former members had come forward with claims of serious abuse suffered during their time in the Jesus Army. Former members continue to speak out about their experiences, with many featured in the powerful new BBC documentary "Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army," which exposes the shocking truth behind what once appeared to be just an eccentric Christian group. The Jesus Fellowship Community Trust has acknowledged that "serious harm" was caused to many former members, particularly children, and has apologised for the "pain and suffering" experienced by those who lived under Stanton's leadership. What began as a dream of Christian community ended as a nightmare for hundreds of victims – a stark reminder of how easily religious devotion can be twisted into control and abuse when placed in the wrong hands.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Horror of British Christian cult where 'domineering' leader obsessively preached celibacy - but he and other 'elders' sexually abused dozens for decades
Its motto was 'Love, Power & Sacrifice'. Led by the celibacy-obsessed preacher Noel Stanton, the Jesus Army espoused what to its pious members seemed like noble aims. But, as a new two-part BBC documentary reveals, the radical Christian sect that grew to have more than 2,500 followers was far from holy. Over decades, so-called 'elders' abused dozens of defenceless children who grew up in the cult. Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army reveals how Stanton himself, who died in 2009, was an alleged abuser of young boys. In rapturous meetings held in halls around the country, he told his followers that they had to '100 per cent' belong to Jesus. And one of Stanton's biggest bugbears was - ironically as it later turned out - sex. In one bizarre talk given to hundreds of attendees, he decreed: 'Surrender the middle part of you. Many of us here will have to accept that an awful power of sin lurked there. But now, we give our genitals to Jesus.' Stanton himself, who died in 2009, was an alleged abuser of young boys. In rapturous meetings held in halls around the country, he told his followers that they had to '100 per cent' belong to Jesus No music, TV or holidays: Some of he rules imposed by 'dominating' leader of Jesus cult A typed list of rules laid down by Stanton is revealed in the BBC documentary. It reads: We do not listen to secular music, watch secular TV / video or read secular books. We only listen to Christian music, watch Christian videos and read Christian literature recommended by the Church. All tape recorders, Walkmen, video players, etc are kept under central household Church control. We do not have TV's [sic], radios, stereos or CD players in our houses or vehicles. We do not use telephone services to listen to music, sport reports or any other entertainment services. We do not go to cinemas, theatres, sporting events, concerts or other places of entertainment. We do not visit public houses or clubs except for evangelistic purposes. We neither hold nor attend parties, barbeques, buffets, etc except for evangelistic purposes. We do not go swimming for exercise or pleasure, neither do we sunbathe. We do not go on holidays, nor on recreational outings to seaside resorts, zoos, museums etc. Men, women and children who lived in properties owned by the church had to follow strict rules. They included bans on 'secular' music, TV, and films, visiting the cinema or theatre and even going swimming. The BBC documentary features testimony from abuse victims and others who left the cult - which was also known as the Jesus Fellowship Church - after their claims of having witnessed wrongdoing were ignored. One survivor, Sarah, was abused within a year of moving into the church's community. She says: 'At the time I was quite childlike, and emotionally I was probably looking for this father figure. 'He was so obvious about what was going on. Like he would put his hand on my thigh under the table, whilst his wife was opposite. He would intimidate you, and he would belittle you. 'And who is going to believe you if you say it? You know, this is a person of authority. 'He just shut me down and shut me down, until I felt like it was my fault.' Stanton, who had previously been a Baptist preacher, founded the Jesus Fellowship in the village of Bugbrooke in 1969 after undergoing a spiritual experience that one church member described as being 'visited by God'. Meetings quickly attracted attention for being raucous affairs, with attendees speaking 'in tongues' and watching on as Stanton performed immersion baptisms. In the mid 1970s, church members sold their homes and then pooled their wealth to buy up properties in Bugbrooke. At its heart was a rectory that was renamed New Creation Hall. Another church hub was a farmhouse called New Creation Farm. Stanton said in 1973: 'We always had a fairly substantial congregation and on Sunday evenings we might have as many as 50 people here. 'But four years ago there came a tremendous change. I had been baptised in water, of course, but suddenly I felt I was being baptised - really baptised - in the spirit. 'Some members of my congregation completely shared this wonderful experience. 'We realised that so much of the Christian faith was traditional and respectable but it was missing "life."' Another abuse victim, Abigail, recalls being sexually assaulted when she was 14. 'One of the things he used to say was, if he didn't ejaculate, it's not rape. 'And that was, obviously a very hard thing to hear. She adds: 'It kind of got spread what had happened to some of the leaders in the church. 'And you kind of hoped there would be this like kind of welcoming arms and kind of like, "oh my god that's really awful". 'But instead you're kind of met with, "isn't she a Jezebel". By 1984, the Jesus Fellowship was the UK's largest residential Christian community. There were 600 members living across the Midlands. The group had a builder's merchants, plumbing and decorating business and even a doctors' surgery. In 1986, the Baptists Union and Evangelical Alliance - two national church bodies - expelled the Jesus Fellowship from their organisations over concerns about their unusual practices. But Stanton and his fellow leaders were not deterred by the move. They launched the Jesus Fellowship in 1987. At its peak in the early 2000s, the church had grown to have nearly 3,000 members. Another clip in the upcoming documentary shows Stanton telling another meeting: 'We are looking for a new Britain, a new Britain morally. 'We live in a nation where, there's all sorts of sexual permissive problems and the like, every kind of moral problem.' Former member Philippa remembers witnessing her friend being abused at a church outpost called Battlecentre in Acton, West London. By 1984, the Jesus Fellowship was the UK's largest residential Christian community. There were 600 members living across the Midlands But when she reported what she had seen, she was branded a 'traitor'. She says: 'This elder, he didn't seem to mind that I was there. 'He would use me as lookout so I could warn him if anyone in the community house was coming into the room or passing by. 'He took her down into the cellar and he would touch her, try and hug her. I didn't actually try and watch, because I was supposed to be the lookout, but you can't help yourself but watch. 'We were 12 and 13 at the time. One day, my dad approached me and told me that my best friend had tried to commit suicide. 'I felt ashamed. I felt ashamed of what he had done to her, I felt ashamed I hadn't told anybody already. 'So the next day my dad arranged for me to tell the elder of our household. 'They would report back to Noel. Noel was just adamant I was a traitor and I was in collaboration with my best friend.' After Philippa went to the police, the abusive elder was found guilty of the indecent assault of a minor. He was sentenced to three months in prison. Philippa adds: 'I later found out, actually, that most of my peers had been abused. These people thought they were above the law.' Another survivor recalls the exorcisms that regularly took place. She says: 'Exorcisms were quite frequent. 'Noel was one of these people who would quite easily point out a demon in somebody. 'People would throw up, some people would convulse on the floor. 'You don't know what it is. And you are trying to rationalise it as a child.' Two church members were found dead in the 1970s. The first, 26-year-old solicitor's clerk David Hooper, was discovered lying naked in the garden of one of the church's properties in Bugbrooke on a freezing cold day in December 1976. He died from exposure. At an inquest into his death, the coroner said: 'He was found in circumstances which gave the impression of a man who had been sunbathing. This will always remain a mystery.' Eighteen months later, another church member was found dead on a railway track after having an argument with Stanton, who was unhappy that he had been enjoying reading. Children were regularly beaten - 'rodded' - if they were deemed to have been 'defiant'. Another former member, named as John, was ostracised when he chose to leave over his concerns about Stanton's level of control of the church. He says: 'Nobody was allowed to talk to me or have anything to do with me because I had become the enemy.' Abuse victim Noel, who was sexually assaulted by an elder, is seen telling police in a recorded interview: 'I remember him always asking me to sit on his lap. And I could feel he had an erection. He adds: 'He put his hand in my groin area. He would do it discreetly.' The man who abused him was given an 18-month suspended sentence. After Stanton's death, a leadership team that were called the Apostolic Five took over the running of the church. Northamptonshire Police launched a criminal investigation, named Operation Lifeboat, in 2014. However, only a handful of Jesus Army members were convicted, and just two went to jail. Former member Philippa adds: 'Basically it was a sweet shop for paedophiles.' Among alleged abusers who was named in a dossier was Stanton himself. Solicitor Kathleen Hallisey says: 'His kind of victim tended to be mid to late teens. He liked young boys. He sought out young boys and he abused them.' Overall, 33 allegations of abuse were made against Stanton. A compensation scheme for former members of the Jesus Fellowship was launched in 2022. More than 500 alleged perpetrators of physical, sexual and emotional abuse were identified. A statement from the now-defunct church that was given read: 'We continue to hold out an unreserved apology to anyone who has been affected by abuse and failings of any kind in the Jesus Fellowship. 'In 2013 we as the senior leadership of the church initiated a wide-ranging process that invited disclosures of any kind of abuse, both historic and recent, and referred all such reports to the authorities.'
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Mexican national married to a Marine Corps veteran seeks release from immigration custody
A woman detained at a citizenship appointment in May will not be deported following a judge's ruling this week barring her removal, but her Marine Corps veteran husband said she remains in custody at immigration detention center in Louisiana. For two months, Paola Clouatre, 25, has been held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement complex in Monroe, waiting to learn whether she will be allowed to remain in the country. Once a week she is allowed to see her husband, who makes the eight-hour roundtrip trek from Baton Rouge so the mother can breastfeed their 4-month-old baby and see their 2-year-old son. Clouatre, a Mexican national, entered the U.S. seeking asylum with her mother more than a decade ago. After marrying her husband in 2024 and applying for her green card to legally live and work in the U.S., she learned that ICE had issued an order for her deportation in 2018 after her mother failed to appear at an immigration hearing. In May, during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services appointment in New Orleans, a staffer asked about the deportation order. Clouatre explained that she was trying to reopen her case, with her husband telling The Associated Press that he and his wife were trying 'to do the right thing.' Soon after, officers arrived and handcuffed Clouatre. Adrian Clouatre has spent nearly eight weeks fighting for his wife's release, remaining optimistic that their family would soon be reunited outside the detention facility located nearly 180 miles (290 kilometers) from their south Louisiana home. On Wednesday, they got word that a judge in California — the original jurisdiction for Paola Clouatre's case — had stayed the order for her removal. Adrian Clouatre welcomed the decision. He said their lawyer is preparing paperwork seeking his wife's release, though it's not guaranteed and could take weeks even in the best of scenarios. 'I just keep telling our son, "'Mom's coming home soon,'' Adrian Clouatre said. Meanwhile, the couple's lawyer is working to get the Baton Rouge mother's green card process back on track, The New Orleans Advocate/The Times-Picayune reported. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has already ruled that the couple has a valid marriage, the process has been held up amid the legal battle. The Baton Rouge mother is one of tens of thousands of people in custody as part of President Donald Trump's pledge to remove millions of people who are in the country without legal permission. Clouatre said GOP U.S. Sen. John Kennedy has also requested that the Department of Homeland Security release his wife from custody. Kennedy's office did not return AP's emailed request for comment. Kennedy is not the first Louisiana Republican to get involved in an immigration case in the reliably red state. Earlier this month, An Iranian mother, who was detained by ICE after living in the U.S. for nearly five decades, was released following advocacy from Republican U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
