Police have shared chilling footage of a suspect fleeing a murder scene after a woman was found dead on a hiking trail.
Lauren Heike, 29, was hiking alone in a popular trail in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday morning when she was "viciously" attacked from behind between 10 and 11am.
According to police, she 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."
Investigators have not shared how she died but police have released a short clip which shows a person of interest running away from the trail on Friday morning.
Cops said the possible suspect is a thin man with a dark complexion, 5'8 to 6' tall, who was wearing a grey shirt, dark trousers and backpack and shoes.
Phoenix Homicide Lt. James Hester believes a member of the public might have seen the person of interest fleeing the scene.
He said: "We believe someone would have noticed this person either before the attack or after he fled from our scene."
Authorities have not revealed how Lauren died amid fears it could jeopardise the investigation.
Mr Hester added: "'The behaviour, in my opinion, was so heinous that I would imagine that the subject would be displaying symptoms that look out of place."
And during a heart breaking press conference on Wednesday, Lauren's devastated family 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.
"Please think if you had seen something, were in that area, if you know of somebody strange or acting weird. Somebody knows this person."
Lauren was described by her parents as "a beautiful, kind-hearted woman who was sweet to everyone she met."
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.
"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."
Cops have refused to comment on whether the attack was random or by someone who knew Lauren.
The 29-year-old, who had just moved to Arizona from Washington, was an esthetician for Admire Medical Aesthetics.
The company paid tribute to their former employee, it said: "'It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Lauren Heike, a former esthetician for Admire Medical Aesthetics.
"Lauren touched the hearts of many with her kind and sweet nature, and her beloved clients always looked forward to seeing her.
"We will always remember the laughter and smiles that Lauren brought to each of us.
"Her warmth and compassion made her not just a great esthetician, but a wonderful human being. It is a true loss to everyone that she has touched."
