Tip line set up in death of jogger found dead in Princeton

PRINCETON, Mass. — A New York City woman visiting family in Princeton was found dead after going jogging, according to Mass. State Police.

Police said 27-year-old Vanessa Marcotte was last seen 1 p.m. Sunday when she went for a run. A Mass. State Police K-9 unit found her body about a half mile from her mother's house.

A source told FOX25 that Marcotte was found with burns on her head and feet. Investigators are examining the possibility that Marcotte was sexually assaulted and then set on fire.

“People should be concerned, we are asking them to use an abundance of caution,” Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said.

In a news conference held Monday at noon, police said this is now a homicide investigation and that they do not know if it was a random act.

“We have a horrible set of facts, horrible set of circumstances and we are going to do everything we can to make sure that this investigation is carried out,” Early said.

According to her Linkedin page, Marcotte worked for Google in New York City.

Boston University spokesperson Colin Riley told FOX25 she graduated from the school in May 2011 with honors from the College of Communication.

"We're so terribly sad for her family and friends. They're in our thoughts and prayers," Riley said.

Police said Marcotte was a Leominster native, and her Linkedin lists her as graduating from The Bancroft School in Worcester in 2007.

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Neighbors said they received an automated call from Princeton Police around 8 p.m. Sunday. Massachusetts State Police troopers said they arrived to an already active scene around 10:30 p.m.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact them at (508) 453-7589.

Monday night, FOX25's Christine McCarthy said neighbors were warned not to walk or jog alone while the suspect was still at large. Police said they would be stepping up patrols while they investigated the murder.

Monday afternoon, FOX25's Kathryn Burcham spoke to investigators and learned about the condition Marcotte's body was in when it was found.

FOX25's Stephanie Coueignoux was in Princeton reporting on the murder Monday morning before Marcotte's identity was confirmed, watch her breaking news report below.

Cox Media Group