Bail set at $10M for man accused in Vanessa Marcotte's killing

LEOMINSTER, Mass. — Bail for the man accused of killing Princeton jogger Vanessa Marcotte was set at $10 million at his arraignment Tuesday morning.

Angelo Colon-Ortiz was arraigned in Leominster District Court on assault with intent to rape and other charges in the death of Vanessa Marcotte on Aug. 7.

He has not been charged with murder.

The body of the 27-year-old New York resident and account manager for Google was found in the woods after she didn't return from a run. Authorities say Marcotte was able to fight her attacker and DNA taken from her hands helped solve the case.

“I think it's very, very unusual to have one of the investigating detectives see a random vehicle and make note of it,” defense attorney Ed Ryan Jr. said.

Investigators say Colon-Ortiz was working in Princeton around the time Marcotte disappeared and had been working there for some time.

Troopers arrested Colon-Ortiz late Friday night after they say he willingly provided detectives with a sample of his DNA, which former FBI profiler and forensic behavioral analyst Mary Ellen O'Toole says demonstrates Colon-Ortiz's arrogance.

“They tend to be arrogant. They're thinking that they're smarter than investigators and so oftentimes, even though it's not in their best interest, they may voluntarily agree to do that,” she said.

But O'Toole says the same DNA could be a challenge during a criminal trial.

“That technology is certainly going to have a light shined down on it because it's very new,” O’Toole said.

Investigators say Colon-Ortiz did cooperate during his arrest, and requested an attorney.

After the court appearance, a man who identified himself as Colon-Ortiz's brother defended him in Spanish. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group