A Phoenix detective said Friday he believes Lauren Heike tried to defend herself and run from the suspect who police say fatally stabbed her last week along a trail in northeast Phoenix.

Lt. James Hester said Heike fought off her attacker and attempted to get away, but her injuries – 15 stab wounds - were too severe. He said her body was found off the hiking trail, indicating she tried to escape.

The Phoenix Police Department conducted a news conference on May 5, the same day that Zion William Teasley, 22, appeared in court on charges of first-degree murder in the slaying of the 29-year-old Phoenix woman whose body was found April 29.

Police said she was killed about 24 hours earlier.

Authorities said they believe the attack was random, and that there was no sexual assault.