Reward Doubled In Howard Beach Jogger Murder Case
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The reward was doubled Tuesday for information leading to an arrest in the slaying of a jogger in Howard Beach, Queens last week.
Karina Vetrano, 30, was strangled and possibly sexually assaulted a week ago Tuesday after she left for a run in the Spring Creek federal park land near the Belt Parkway, police said.
Vetrano's father, Philip, went into the woods and found her body, police said. He was helping officers search for his daughter after he became concerned when she didn't answer his calls.
Police have said they are desperate for tips from the public that could help them find a suspect. Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said last week that they think her murder was random, adding "we believe there's a severe community threat."
On Monday, hundreds of residents packed into the St. Helen Catholic Church, at 157-10 83rd St. in Howard Beach, for a meeting intended to provide comfort and some answers to a deeply shaken neighborhood.
NYPD Chief of Queens South Detectives Michael Kemper said at the meeting that there has been an increased police presence in Howard Beach since Vetrano's murder.
He said police have not come up with any suspects yet, which led many people to ask, are we safe?
"Certainly I would recommend using caution," Kemper said Monday.
Also at the meeting, an attendee asked the NYPD if Vetrano's death could be related to another slaying this past weekend. The body of Vanessa Marcotte, 27, of New York City was found in Princeton, Massachusetts after she too went jogging this past Saturday.
"We don't believe there's a connection," Kemper said. "With that said, we are going to continue to share notes and compare evidence as both cases progress."