Breakthrough in case of Google executive, 27, who was raped and murdered while jogging six months ago as police use DNA evidence to build a description of her 'athletic Hispanic 30-something' killer
- DNA evidence from the murder of Vanessa Marcotte, 27, may have revealed killer
- Cops are seeking a Hispanic man of average height and athletic build, around 30
- They say he had short or shaved hair and may have driven a dark SUV
- Marcotte was found raped and murdered near her mom's home on Aug 7, 2016
- Cops say their man may have had scratches on his face, neck and hands
- They warned the public not to approach suspects, but to call police instead
Breakthrough: Police have made a profile of the man they believe raped and murdered Vanessa Marcotte: Hispanic, average height, athletic build, around 30 years old
Police have used DNA evidence to build a profile of the man they they believe raped and murdered a Google executive in Massachusetts while she was out jogging last summer.
The partially burned body of Vanessa Marcotte, 27, was found in a wooded area in Princeton, half a mile from her mom's home, on August 7 last year.
Now, six months on, police say a DNA breakthrough has revealed the appearance of someone who was on the scene - and they hope that it will help them crack the case.
Officials are seeking a Hispanic man of average height and an athletic build, Worcester County district attorney Joseph D Early Jr said in a press conference.
He said the man is around 30 years old and had a shaved head or short hair on the day of the murder
He also likely had scratches or cuts on his face, neck, hands and arms that day, police said.
They added that they believe him to be the same man seen driving a dark colored SUV in the area around the time that the young jogger was killed.
The public is warned not to confront anyone suspected of being the killer, as he is to be considered dangerous. Instead, they should contact police.
DNA: Police used DNA to make the profile. Marcotte disappeared while jogging near the house owned by her mom (seen with Marcotte) in Princeton between 1pm and 4pm on August 7, 2016
Police have not revealed how they acquired the DNA, saying only that they got it during the course of their investigation.
It is also not clear exactly how the DNA was used to build the profile.
Marcotte vanished on an afternoon run while on a visit to the home her mom Rosanna, lived in off Brooks Station Road. Marcotte lived in New York.
Her naked body was found at around 8.20pm in woodlands near the home. She had been sexually assaulted, and her hands, feet and part of her head were burned.
It's believed she was killed some time between 1pm, when she left her mom's home, and 4pm.
Anyone with information is asked to call 508-453-7589.
Spotted: The location near Princeton where a parked SUV was seen at the time of the murder. It's believed that the Hispanic man now being hunted by cops was the SUV's driver
Marcotte's murder shook her family, who described her as 'a loving caring intelligent young women who had her whole life ahead of her'
Marcotte's shocking murder left her family shattered, they said in towards the end of last year.
Her uncle, Steven Therrien, read an emotional statement at a church in the town on December 31, asking for help finding the young woman's killer.
'It has been more than four months since Vanessa was tragically taken from us,' Therrien said.
'Not a day goes by that we don't reflect on the enormity of our loss. She had already achieved much but we know she had much more to do.
'She was a loving caring intelligent young women who had her whole life ahead of her.'
Marcotte's parents, Rossana and John Marcotte, stood silent next to Therrien at the news conference holding back the tears.
Her father held a banner that read 'Justice for Vanessa.'
And at Marcotte's funeral, her best friend, Leah Abrahams, have a moving eulogy to the girl that so many people loved.
'She was so perfect, it was otherworldly,' she said.
'Something about Vanessa always reminded me of the ocean — so breathlessly beautiful, quiet and peaceful.'
She later said: 'You epitomize grace, light, humility, and absolute magic.'
Victim: Karina Vetrano was raped and murdered in New York in early August. It was initially thought her murder was related to Marcotte's, but that's no longer the case
Investigators say they have received more than 1,000 tips but are still searching for the murderer.
Five days earlier, on August 2, Karina Vetrano, 30, was beaten, raped and strangled in Spring Creek Park near her home in Howard Beach, New York.
Initially it was speculated that the two murders may have been related.
But a suspect in Vetrano's murder, Chanel Lewis, was arrested at the start of February after police claim DNA evidence linked him to the crime.
NYPD detectives said Lewis made 'detailed' descriptions of how he attacked Karina during her evening jog after being arrested at his family home in Brooklyn.
Once in custody, he told them that he 'lost it' and choked her after venturing to the park while angry about how many people were in his crowded home, ABC reported.
While Lewis admitted to killing the jogger, sources told the network he denied raping her in interviews that were captured on film.
Curtis Lewis (center) was arrested for Vetrano's murder on August 2. Police say that he told them he 'lost it' and choked her after being angry about how many people were in his home
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