Arrest made in August rape-murder in NYC
Case drew suspicion of Princeton slay link
New York police have arrested a Brooklyn man in the rape and murder of woman in Queens last August, which occurred just days before Google executive Vanessa Marcotte was killed in Princeton.
Media reports at the time speculated about whether the two killings are linked.
Worcester County authorities won’t say if they are looking for any connection.
“Investigators follow every lead in the Marcotte case,” Paul Jarvey, spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., would only say yesterday.
The body of Marcotte, 27, a Boston University graduate living in New York, was found in woods amid evidence of a fire five days after Karina Anne Vetrano, the 30-year-old daughter of a retired FDNY firefighter, was raped and murdered while jogging on Howard Beach.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce yesterday announced the arrest Saturday night of Brooklyn resident Chanel Lewis, 20, an unemployed man living with his mother.
In the past 10 days, police learned Boyce was the subject of a May 911 call for suspicious activity on Howard Beach and has three courts summonses for similar behavior — though no criminal history.
Police first went to Lewis’ home Thursday.
“Lewis was interviewed by detectives and made detailed incriminating statements and admissions. Charges are now pending,” Boyce told reporters, adding, “This is a very good day for justice in New York City.”
Lewis, he said, “freely gave a buccal swab of his DNA. Within two days we had a hit from the crime scene. You’ve got to remember, Karina helped us identify this person. She had the DNA under her nails, she had touched DNA on her back and there was more DNA on (a) cellphone. That’s how we made the link.
“We don’t believe he knew her at all,” Boyce said. “From what he said, it appears to be a chance encounter.”