MURDER DNA ON WAY
Items found near body of Queens jogger tested
Cops were testing potential DNA evidence that they hope will lead directly to the fiend who killed a Queens jogger, sources told The Post on Friday — as devastated family and friends gathered to mourn the tragic victim.
Evidence “with a strong potential for DNA recovery” was discovered in the rape-murder case of 30year-old Karina Vetrano, and police should have the results “within the next few days,” a high-ranking police source said. Additionally, cops discovered Vetrano’s missing sneaker and earphones about 60 feet away from where her bruised and battered body was found in a park near her Howard Beach home, sources said. The single blue and gold New Balance sneaker and the earphones were found far apart in Spring Creek Park, leaving investigators to believe that the savage murderer threw Vetrano’s belongings aaround during the Tuesday attack. Cops on Friday procured a drone from tthe FBI to survey the marshland for clues, sources said. They also used a threedimensional camera on the ground to photograph the route that the woman took. Vetrano was murdered after she set out on a solo run at 5 p.m. Tuesday on a remote dirt path through the under-developed marshy lanland — despite her dad’s warning not to jog there alone. The avid runner and fitness buff was dragged about 15 feet off the path. Vetrano’s killer knocked out her tooth as she desperately fought for her life, sources said.
Her former-firefighter father, Philip Vetrano, who regularly ran with Karina, found her body several hours later during a search of the parkland with police. No arrests have been made, but investigators believe the killer was a stranger to her.
Tearful mourners on Friday packed into the James Romanelli-Stephen Funeral Home in Ozone Park for the six-hour wake for Karina, whose body lay in an open casket wearing a high-neck black dress with her hair pulled back.
A somber rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve played on a loop as mourners filled the room where photos of the beautiful victim and floral arrangements were on display.
“I just can’t believe it,” said a friend who attended Archbishop Molloy HS with Karina.
FDNY Lt. Jerry Horton of Karina’s dad’s former firehouse said, “I have eight daughters . . . It’s unbelievable. I can’t even say anything.”
Karina’s funeral was scheduled for Saturday at noon at St. Helen Church in Howard Beach — just blocks from where she was killed.