Private investigator walks FOX25 through Princeton jogger murder scene

BOSTON — Ten days into the death investigation of Vanessa Maroctte, a private investigator and former police chief tells FOX25 the killer picked a very strategic spot.

Tom Shamshak said the area where Marcotte’s body was dumped and burned is a challenging environment.

“What they are going to try to do is link any physical evidence here to a perpetrator,” he said.

On a walk through the wooded area where Marcotte’s body was found on Aug 7, Shamshak explained to FOX25 how investigators processed the scene.

“They're going to harvest as much physical evidence, trace evidence, hair, body fluids, any kind of clothing that may have been dropped here by the perpetrator of this homicide,” he said.

The slight trail off the side of the road was the perfect place for the killer to remain hidden from sight while still being aware of his surroundings, according to Shamshak

“The perp would have had a great line of sight in both directions to flee unobserved,” he said.

While Shamshak said the suspect clearly left in a hurry, the isolated area where he took Vanessa's life was an ideal spot for a crime of opportunity.

“There are no homes, no businesses, apparently there's very little traffic that comes through here,” he said.

Sources tell FOX25 that Marcotte was also sexually assaulted. As Bob Ward reported on Monday, the search for her killer has expanded to include sex offenders living in the area.

Marcotte, who grew up in Leominster and was working in New York City for Google, was laid to rest Tuesday. Friends have remembered her as a passionate volunteer and active runner. 

Cox Media Group