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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Joshua Taylor

Google employee 'solves own murder from beyond the grave' as DNA from hands leads police to suspected killer

A Google employee helped solve her own murder from beyond the grave after DNA on her hands led police to the suspected killer.

Vanessa Marcotte, 27, fought back against her attacker and left him with bruises, scratches and cuts.

Now eight months after the brutal killing, DNA samples from her hands have matched with prime suspect Angel Colon-Ortiz.

Vanessa, who worked as an account manager for Google, was murdered in August last year when she went for a jog near her mum's home in Massachusetts, US.

Her naked body was found that night in woodland half a mile away after she had been sexually assaulted and killed.

Vanessa's naked body was found in woodland by police sniffer dogs (Instagram/v_marcotte)
The 27-year-old was out jogging when she was attacked (v_marcotte/instagram)

Colon-Ortiz, 31, was arrested on Good Friday after being spotted by a state trooper who believed he matched the killer's description.

Worcester County district attorney Joseph Early Jr told a press conference: "We got him. This has been a rollercoaster all along."

He said Colon-Ortiz will now face charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, assault with intent to rape and murder, according to ABC News.

The Google worker was sexually assaulted before her death (@vtmarcotte/Twitter)
Her body was found dumped in woodland half a mile from her mum's home (wcvb.com)

After the suspect was arrested, his DNA was tested against samples from Vanessa's hands and a positive match was recorded.

"We’re very confident we have Vanessa Marcotte’s killer," Mr Early added, according to Fox News.

Police believe Vanessa was killed between 1pm and 3pm on August 7 - shortly before she was due to travel from Massachusetts to New York.

Her death sparked fears of a serial killer on the loose.

The crime scene is 60 miles from the city of Boston (wcvb.com)
Vanessa pictured on a beach trip (Instagram/v_marcotte)

Karina Vetrano, 30, was sexually assaulted and murdered while out running in Queens, New York, just days earlier.

NYPD spokesman Peter Donald said at the time: "We haven’t ruled anything out. We’re going to continue to investigate this case and follow the leads where they take us."

While authorities still do not believe the two killings are linked, Mr Early said when asked again about the possibility of a serial killer: "We haven't ruled anything out."

Worcester County district attorney Joseph Early Jr announces the arrest (WCVB Channel 5 Boston)
DNA evidence from Vanessa's hands led police to her killer (Crowdrise)

Google said in a statement after Vanessa's death: "Vanessa Marcotte was a much loved member of the Google team, working in our New York office for the last year and a half - and known for her ubiquitous smile, passion for volunteer work and love of Boston sports.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened, and our thoughts are with her family and friends."

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