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.
Man who knows #Vanessa Marcotte since she was a baby:"The most beautiful girl,educated, the family don't need to have this happen to them"
— Malini Basu (@WFXTMalini) August 15, 2016
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.
Friends of the jogger killed in Princeton tell @WFXTMalini she was friendly, smart. https://t.co/D59LP4v9sa
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) August 10, 2016
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.
Anonymous Tip Line for Vanessa Marcotte homicide: 508-453-7589. Please call with any info. https://t.co/3MMZu9o1xZ pic.twitter.com/2k3mEjEKVn
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) August 9, 2016
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.
Friends of Vanessa Marcotte gathered in Leominster for a prayer vigil 3 days after her death in Princeton. https://t.co/SisdzY7PPt
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) August 11, 2016
There is an now anonymous tip line for Princeton jogger murder
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) August 9, 2016
Vanessa Marcotte Investigation Tip Line: 508-453-7589 pic.twitter.com/JJafPZZrzX
5 things to know about Vanessa Marcotte - the jogger found dead in Princeton https://t.co/9QzIZpC3yO pic.twitter.com/He9r9bZNNT
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) August 8, 2016
In wake of jogger's murder, police give 5 tips for exercising safety https://t.co/ajdJ7cvFnf pic.twitter.com/hxzt5JwBdK
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) August 9, 2016
MSP search team using walking sticks to traverse wooded area off Brooks Station @fox25news pic.twitter.com/Ff32yzaJ3k
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) August 11, 2016
MSP search team using walking sticks to traverse wooded area off Brooks Station @fox25news pic.twitter.com/Ff32yzaJ3k
— Kathryn Burcham (@kathrynburcham) August 11, 2016
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
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