News

DA not ruling out connection between 2 joggers found dead

Vanessa Marcotte (left) and Karina Vetrano (right) 

BOSTON — After the body of a female jogger was found in Princeton Monday, many are pointing out similarities in a separate New York City case last week.

Police said 27-year-old Vanessa Marcotte left for a run around 1 p.m. Sunday, and her body was found about a half mile from her mother's Princeton home.

Marcotte lived in New York City, but was visiting her family here in Massachusetts.

With the news, many people have reached out to FOX25 drawing similarities between Marcotte's murder and another female jogger found dead last week.

In a news conference Tuesday, the Worcester County DA said they are not ruling out anything in regards to similarities between the two cases.

On the night of Aug. 2, a 30-year-old woman's body was found after she went for a run in New York City. Karina Vetrano's body was located in a recreation area near her home.

An autopsy showed she died from strangulation, and her clothes were in disarray, indicating a possible sexual assault.

A source told FOX25 that Marcotte's head and feet were burned and that investigators believe she may have been sexually assaulted as well.

FOX25 reached out to Vetrano's father, who said he had not been contacted by any authorities in Massachusetts.

New York Police are offering a $10,000 reward for anyone with information on Vetrano's murder.

AT A GLANCE: 

Vanessa Marcotte

  • 27 years old
  • Lives in New York City
  • Google account executive
  • Found burned, possibly sexually assaulted
  • Went missing half mile from mother's Princeton, Mass. home
  • Left for jog 1 p.m. Sunday, body found Monday morning

Karina Vetrano

  • 30 years old
  • Lives in New York City
  • Caterer and speech pathologist
  • Found strangled, sexually assaulted
  • Body found in recreation area near her home
  • Went for jog Tuesday night