Police Seek Public's Help In Solving Pennypack Park Murder of Woman
By Hadas Kuznits, Jan Carabeo and Diana Rocco
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police are asking the public to contribute tips and surveillance video that may help them unravel the mystery of the female jogger whose body was found Tuesday morning in Pennypack Park.
Police said the body of the woman found in the 3000 block of Holme Avenue has been identified as 46-year-old Constance Murray.
"The medical examiner has just finished the autopsy and has ruled this a homicide," said Capt. James Clark, head of the homicide unit. "The manner of death: strangulation."
Clark says Murray went out for her routine jog about 9 p.m. Monday evening and when she didn't return home in a timely fashion, her husband and her daughter went searching for her.
"And when they couldn't find her, they then went to the police and filed a missing person's report," Clark said today.
Murray's body was found the following morning by a neighbor walking her dog.
Eyewitness News was back on scene Wednesday as investigators continued searching for clues.
A phone and ear buds Murray carried have not yet been found.
"We don't have a suspect right now, we don't have a motive right now. Hopefully we'll get those questions answered very soon," Clark said.
Capt. Clark said there was no evidence of sexual assault and there is no apparent connection to the unsolved "Fairmout Park Rapist" case.
"Any DNA that we get, we'll uploaded into the system and see if we get any matches that way," Clark said.
Police are now looking for surveillance video.
"It happened pretty much in our backyard," neighbor Paul Schlear said.
"I have no clue who would hurt her. None. I have no clue," Murray's friend said.
Her death was on the minds of many in her community and at the Pennypack Park concert series Wednesday.
"I have sympathy for family and hope they feel prayers and support from the community," neighbor William Hurtt said.
"I'm really shocked. I can't believe that it happened," Murray's friend said.
Murray's death has stunned friends and cast a dark cloud over the community. Her friend met Connie six years ago.
"She was a one-woman army. Nothing stopped her. Nothing. Nothing. Whatever she wanted to do, she would do," her friend said.
A $21,000 reward is being offered for information leading to arrest. Police are asking anyone who may have been in the area that night who thinks they may have seen or heard anything to come forward.