News

Community runs in honor of jogger killed in Princeton

PRINCETON, Mass. — It's been one week since a 27-year-old woman went out for a jog in Princeton and never returned home.

Vanessa Marcotte was murdered and possibly sexually assaulted on Brooks Station Road, not too far from her mother's home, whom she was visiting.

>>RELATED: 5 things to know about Vanessa Marcotte
>>PHOTOS: Young woman found dead in Princeton

Friends and the community planned a 3 mile run Sunday night in Marcotte's honor. She was active, often running, hiking and doing yoga, says her family.

"It's completely changed my life. Honestly, I'm the first one up in my house and I'm scared to get out of bed, even though we have an alarm system and a dog," said Kate Narita, an organizer.

Groups of runners got together and ran in the nearly 100 degree heat, going right past the location where Marcotte was found.

"Bring the community together, it was something nice. And something Vanessa enjoyed very much," said Sean Doyle, an organizer.

They tied balloons in honor of her and let them go into the sky.

"You want to honor the fact that she had every right to be running on that day on that time," said Narita.

The investigation into her murder remains active. A tip line has been set up to help find the assailant.