Justice for jogger GOOGLE SLAY SUSPECT NABBED
Arrest in Mass. in ’16 slay of city woman
A MASSACHUSETTS man, snared by an eagle-eyed state trooper and a DNA match, was held on $10 million bail Saturday in the slaying of a New York Google employee jumped while out jogging.
Angelo Colon-Ortiz, 31, was captured after a massive eightmonth manhunt for the killer of account manager Vanessa Marcotte, who was visiting with her mother in Princeton, Mass. when she was murdered.
“We got him,” said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, who credited the 27-yearold Marcotte with helping investigators from beyond the grave.
“It was through her determined fight and her efforts that we obtained the DNA of her killer,” Early said. The DNA was then used to create an eerily accurate physical profile of ColonOrtiz.
Authorities said the brutal killer intended to rape the Boston University graduate, who started working for Google in New York in January 2015.
Marcotte went out for a Sunday afternoon run in the small rural town and never returned to her mother’s home.
A state police K-9 unit found her body in the woods off a twolane road on the evening of Aug. 7, 2016, shortly after family members reported her missing.
Marcotte, whose hands, feet and head were reportedly burned by the murderer, died after waging a desperate battle for her life with the attacker.
Colon-Ortiz’s DNA was then recovered from her hands, according to Early.
The Marcotte family released a statement hours after the arrest praising law enforcement and local residents for their help in cracking the case.
“After eight long months, we’re able to take the first step toward justice for Vanessa,” read the statement. “She was a beautiful, intelligent, and generous young woman whose passion for giving back to the community will always be remembered.”
Colon-Ortiz, who was working in the area where Marcotte was attacked, voluntarily provided a DNA sample before he was picked up Friday night, authorities said.
The suspected killer has no previous arrests, according to the Boston Globe. He was due in court Tuesday for arraignment.
In February, Massachusetts investigators used DNA analysis to come up with a description of the suspect: A Hispanic man with a light complexion, about 30 years old, with an athletic build, balding or with short hair. The suspect was believed to be driving a dark-colored SUV.
A Massachusetts state trooper spotted a Hispanic man driving a dark-colored SUV last week, and then noticed a resemblance to the description created by investigators.
The trooper scribbled the SUV’s license plate on his hand, and visited the man’s home in Worcester.
Colon-Ortiz was charged with aggravated assault and battery and assault with intent to rape. Early said a murder charge was also expected against the suspect.
Cops said he surrendered without protest.
“Over the last eight-plus months, seasons changed, holidays came and passed, and Ms. Marcotte’s family waited and waited and hoped,” said State Police Col. Richard McKeon.
“No one ever stopped thinking about Ms. Marcotte and how we could solve this case. We never lost faith that this day would come.”
Marcotte’s best friend Ashley McNiff is planning to run in Monday’s Boston Marathon as a tribute to her former jogging partner.