This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/04/nyregion/missing-jogger-found-dead-in-queens.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Runner’s Body Is Found in Queens Marsh; Police Look for Answers Runner’s Body Is Found in Queens Marsh; Police Look for Answers
(about 5 hours later)
It was part of Karina Vetrano’s routine to leave her home in Howard Beach, Queens, and go for a run along an expanse of undeveloped wetlands on the northern end of Jamaica Bay. She usually ran with her father, a retired firefighter, who had recently injured his back.It was part of Karina Vetrano’s routine to leave her home in Howard Beach, Queens, and go for a run along an expanse of undeveloped wetlands on the northern end of Jamaica Bay. She usually ran with her father, a retired firefighter, who had recently injured his back.
On Tuesday evening, Ms. Vetrano, 30, left by herself, the authorities said, even though her father did not want her to go alone.On Tuesday evening, Ms. Vetrano, 30, left by herself, the authorities said, even though her father did not want her to go alone.
She exchanged text messages with a friend along the way, but suddenly stopped, the authorities said. Her father repeatedly called her cellphone, but she did not pick up. Almost two hours went by, and she did not return.She exchanged text messages with a friend along the way, but suddenly stopped, the authorities said. Her father repeatedly called her cellphone, but she did not pick up. Almost two hours went by, and she did not return.
“That’s when he got worried,” Robert K. Boyce, the New York Police Department’s chief of detectives, said of her father, Philip Vetrano.“That’s when he got worried,” Robert K. Boyce, the New York Police Department’s chief of detectives, said of her father, Philip Vetrano.
Mr. Vetrano reached a neighbor who is an official in the Police Department. Officers arrived shortly before 7 p.m. and began searching for her in the marshland just blocks from her home, her father also joining them.Mr. Vetrano reached a neighbor who is an official in the Police Department. Officers arrived shortly before 7 p.m. and began searching for her in the marshland just blocks from her home, her father also joining them.
Several hours later, the police and Mr. Vetrano found her body face down. She was about 15 feet from a trail in a marsh, off the intersection of 161st Avenue and 78th Street, the authorities said. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, the police said on Thursday. There were signs that Ms. Vetrano may have been strangled and sexually assaulted, the police said.Several hours later, the police and Mr. Vetrano found her body face down. She was about 15 feet from a trail in a marsh, off the intersection of 161st Avenue and 78th Street, the authorities said. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, the police said on Thursday. There were signs that Ms. Vetrano may have been strangled and sexually assaulted, the police said.
“Imagine if your own daughter turned up in this kind of situation,” Bob Parisi, her uncle, said on Wednesday, distraught outside the family’s home. Mr. Parisi said some of his niece’s clothing might have been missing.“Imagine if your own daughter turned up in this kind of situation,” Bob Parisi, her uncle, said on Wednesday, distraught outside the family’s home. Mr. Parisi said some of his niece’s clothing might have been missing.
At a news conference near the scene on Wednesday, Chief Boyce told reporters that investigators were reviewing surveillance camera footage as well as the text messages Ms. Vetrano sent to a friend while jogging since her phone was recovered in the park. He said investigators did not have any leads on suspects or a motive for the attack.At a news conference near the scene on Wednesday, Chief Boyce told reporters that investigators were reviewing surveillance camera footage as well as the text messages Ms. Vetrano sent to a friend while jogging since her phone was recovered in the park. He said investigators did not have any leads on suspects or a motive for the attack.
“We have surveillance of her running past a home at 5:46 p.m.,” Chief Boyce said. “We have a lot of forensic evidence as well.”“We have surveillance of her running past a home at 5:46 p.m.,” Chief Boyce said. “We have a lot of forensic evidence as well.”
Ms. Vetrano was a prolific photographer on Instagram, with several thousand followers, sharing pictures from her recent travels to France and Monaco, lounging poolside on Long Island and embracing a bride and groom at a wedding. She also worked for Central, a nightspot in Astoria, Queens.Ms. Vetrano was a prolific photographer on Instagram, with several thousand followers, sharing pictures from her recent travels to France and Monaco, lounging poolside on Long Island and embracing a bride and groom at a wedding. She also worked for Central, a nightspot in Astoria, Queens.
“Last night, we lost a dear friend,” the bar and lounge posted on its Instagram account. “Karina was an amazing person; she will forever be in our hearts.”“Last night, we lost a dear friend,” the bar and lounge posted on its Instagram account. “Karina was an amazing person; she will forever be in our hearts.”
Sammy Celun, who was kayaking along the shore on Wednesday, described Ms. Vetrano as a “popular, sweet girl,” adding that “everybody knew her.”Sammy Celun, who was kayaking along the shore on Wednesday, described Ms. Vetrano as a “popular, sweet girl,” adding that “everybody knew her.”
The area where Ms. Vetrano was found is a sprawling stretch of local and federal park space with mostly marshes, hemmed in by roadways and houses.The area where Ms. Vetrano was found is a sprawling stretch of local and federal park space with mostly marshes, hemmed in by roadways and houses.
The edges of the park still teemed with joggers, cyclists and dog walkers on Wednesday afternoon. Inside, striped bass fisherman stood in the surf up to their armpits, and on the sandy beaches, volunteers cleaned up debris left behind from religious ceremonies, including dozens of coconuts, chicken carcasses and the head of a goat. The park mostly serves as a gathering place for different types of birds, like egrets, red-winged blackbirds and a bald eagle. The edges of the park still teemed with joggers, cyclists and dog walkers on Wednesday afternoon. Inside, striped bass fishermen stood in the surf up to their armpits, and on the sandy beaches, volunteers cleaned up debris left behind from religious ceremonies, including dozens of coconuts, chicken carcasses and the head of a goat. The park mostly serves as a gathering place for different types of birds, like egrets, red-winged blackbirds and a bald eagle.
“Not too many people in there,” said Don Riepe, a retired park ranger who now leads the cleanup crew as director at the American Littoral Society’s Northeast chapter.“Not too many people in there,” said Don Riepe, a retired park ranger who now leads the cleanup crew as director at the American Littoral Society’s Northeast chapter.
But Stavroula Kokkoros, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years, said that Hurricane Sandy in 2012 knocked down a chain-link perimeter fence, and that since then there had been an influx of people going into the park. “Maybe now something will happen,” she said. “This is not supposed to happen.”But Stavroula Kokkoros, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years, said that Hurricane Sandy in 2012 knocked down a chain-link perimeter fence, and that since then there had been an influx of people going into the park. “Maybe now something will happen,” she said. “This is not supposed to happen.”
Linda Catapano has lived for 15 years in a house across the street from what some in the neighborhood call “the weeds.” She said she would occasionally see Ms. Vetrano run by, reminding her of her own daughter, who likes to jog at dawn or dusk.Linda Catapano has lived for 15 years in a house across the street from what some in the neighborhood call “the weeds.” She said she would occasionally see Ms. Vetrano run by, reminding her of her own daughter, who likes to jog at dawn or dusk.
Ms. Catapano said that on Tuesday evening she saw a man, who she believed was Mr. Vetrano, with the police heading into the marsh. She was surprised when she found out what had happened since she had been home all evening and did not hear anything happening outside.Ms. Catapano said that on Tuesday evening she saw a man, who she believed was Mr. Vetrano, with the police heading into the marsh. She was surprised when she found out what had happened since she had been home all evening and did not hear anything happening outside.
“You think dogs should have been barking. Everybody jogs. Everybody walks their dogs,” she said. “We like to think we’re in a safe world.”“You think dogs should have been barking. Everybody jogs. Everybody walks their dogs,” she said. “We like to think we’re in a safe world.”