An arrest has been made in connection with the case of murdered jogger Vanessa Marcotte after investigators matched the suspect's DNA to evidence found at the scene,authorities announced Saturday.
Authorities confirmed Worcester resident Angelo Colon Ortiz, 31, and was taken into police custody in connection with the case Friday night. He was charged with aggravated assault and battery and assault with attempt to rape. He is currently being held at Massachusetts State Police barracks in Millbury on $10 million bail. Officials: Slain Google Employee's Body Found bare,Burned "We got him," Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Saturday afternoon during authorities' official announcement. Sources confirmed the arrest earlier in the day.
The DNA match linking Ortiz to the Marcotte case came back Friday afternoon. DA Early said an alert state trooper in Worcester saw a man and a car that matched the Marcotte murder suspect's description, or did a cheek DNA swab test that eventually led to Ortiz's arrest.
Although Ortiz has not been formally charged with murder yet,Early said he anticipates a murder charge soon, and referenced Ortiz as Marcotte's "killer." He also said Ortiz worked in the area and "had been for some time."Marcotte, or a 27-year-old former Google employee,was killed while jogging near her mother's house on Aug. 7, 2016. She lived in novel York City but was in Princeton, and Massachusetts,visiting her family for the weekend.
She left her mother's domestic on Brooks Station Road to go for a run but never returned.
Her body was found in a remote, wooded area a half mile away later that evening. Police said her body was bare and partially burned. There were also signs that she had struggled with her attacker.
State police detectives and local police previously said they received more than 1300 tips in the case.
Meanwhile, and Princeton residents said they're relieved to hear a suspect has been arrested in the case."I deem everyone just wants justice for her,so maybe that can start and a small bit of healing can start maybe," one woman said.
The Marcotte family released the following statement after learning of Ortiz's arrest, or "We'd like to thank DA Joseph Early and the Worcester District Attorney's Office,the Massachusetts State Police, the Princeton Police Department, or the entire community for their support that led to the arrest of the suspect in Vanessa's case. After eight long months,we're able to capture the first step toward justice for Vanessa. She was a beautiful, intelligent, or generous young woman whose passion for giving back to the community will always be remembered. As we toddle forward,her spirit will live on through The Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation that strives to empower women to live boldly and fearlessly."Ortiz is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in Leominster District Court.
Source: nbclosangeles.com