February 23, 2017
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Connolly 508-368-7236
Or 508-688-5565
PRINCETON – State Police Detectives and the Princeton Police, investigating the murder of Vanessa Marcotte, are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a Hispanic or Latino male person of interest, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Ms. Marcotte’s body was found in the woods not far from her family home off Brooks Station Road on the evening of Aug. 7, 2016. The 27-year-old had been working for Google and living in New York City. She was in Princeton visiting her family. She had been out for a walk that afternoon and was reported missing when she did not return.
“We now have DNA from a person of interest in the murder of Vanessa Marcotte,” Mr. Early said. “This DNA was submitted to the State Police Crime Lab and to Parabon for advanced testing using the latest scientific testing procedures. The results from that testing were recently received and as a result we are asking the public’s help in locating a particular person of interest.”
That person, whose profile was compiled from the DNA testing and from witnesses, has an athletic build, with light-to-medium skin. He is a Hispanic or Latino male, of average height, who had a shaved head or very short hair on Aug. 7. He is approximately 30-years-old.
This person also would have had scratches about the face, neck, arms and/or hands on and after Aug. 7. The person of interest would have been driving a dark-colored SUV that would have been in the vicinity of Brooks Station Road in the early afternoon hours on Aug. 7.
The State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Princeton Police have been investigating the murder with the assistance of several units of the State Police.
More than 1,300 tips have come in through a dedicated telephone tip line. Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line at 508-453-7589. It is an anonymous call.
No other information about the case will be released at this time.