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Questions remain as friends & family gather to mourn murdered jogger

FITCHBURG, Mass. — With still no answers in the case, friends and family gathered Monday night for the wake of a young woman killed during an afternoon run Aug. 7.

Vanessa Marcotte was murdered and possibly sexually assaulted on Brooks Station Road, not far from her mother's home, whom she was visiting from New York City. FOX25 News has learned she was partially burned.

Marcotte and her parents, John and Rossana, lived in Leominster while she was growing up. She attended Brancroft School in Worcester and went into Boston University for college. She was most recently working for Google in New York City.

Her wake was held from at the Brandon Funeral Home in Fitchburg. People from around the state and her friends from New York City attended, remembering their friend who was active and a passionate tutor.

“She was the most beautiful girl, educated intelligent. The Family didn't need this to happen to them,” family friend Bob Adley said. "I have a son, it could've been him. I just feel bad for the family.”

A funeral will be head Tuesday along with a 10 a.m. mass in Leominster where she grew up.

FOX25 News has followed the investigation since day one and it remains active. A tip line has been set up to help find the assailant.

State Police are asking that anyone who noticed a car on Brooks Station Road the afternoon of Aug. 7 to call the tip line. They are also asking the community to call if they noticed a man with any scratches or bruises that could have come from a struggle. As reported on FOX25 News last week, prosecutors said that Marcotte struggled with her assailant.

While the murderer remains on the loose, the Princeton community remains on edge. On Sunday evening, they came together to run three miles in Marcotte's honor, going right past the place she was killed.

"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.

Other people told FOX25 that there have been communication problems between the police and the community.

"People are afraid and they're mad...I don't want to be like that," said resident Ed Carlson.

Police told FOX25 News there are no updates so far in the investigation.

Brooks Station Road in Princeton is a long pretty stretch of rural roadway where the houses are far apart and a runner...

Posted by Bob Ward Boston 25 on Friday, August 12, 2016