PRINCETON, Mass. — In the wake of a brutal and mysterious murder, friends and neighbors are left wondering if they're safe in their own neighborhood.
Police said 27-year-old Vanessa Marcotte was last seen 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, when she went for a run. A Mass. State Police K-9 unit found her body about a half mile from her mother's house.
FOX25's Bob Ward sat down with criminologist Jack Levin to go over what is publicly known about the case.
Here is some of what he had to say about it:
1. Statistically, Homicide clearance rates are nationally only about 60 percent compared to 20 or 30 percent years ago, despite huge advances in forensic science, especially DNA. The reason? Stranger Homicide is up.
2. The area where Vanessa was found suggests a killer who is familiar with those woods, he was in his comfort zone. He knew she wouldn't get any help. And he knew he could get away fast.
3. Setting the fire could have been done in an attempt to erase DNA.
4. He doesn't think this is a serial killer in the making because there was no real attempt to hide the body, either through burial or wrapping it up and discarding it elsewhere.
Hear more from Jack Levin about the case today on FOX25 News at 6 p.m.