August 8, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Connolly 508-368-7236
Or 508-688-5565
PRINCETON – A 27-year-old woman who went missing while on walk on a country road Sunday afternoon was found dead in the woods not far from her family’s home, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
The body of Vanessa Marcotte, who was living in New York, N.Y., was found by a Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit at about 8:20 last night. The body was found about a 1/2 mile from her mother’s home in a wooded area off Brooks Station Road. Ms. Marcotte previously lived in Leominster.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has accepted the case and an autopsy has will determine the cause and manner of death. A preliminary review of the body leads detectives to believe this is a homicide investigation.
Princeton Police contacted the State Police shortly after Ms. Marcotte was reported missing at 3:50 p.m. yesterday.
State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Princeton Police are investigating. At this point it has not been determined if this was a random act. The District Attorney is asking the residents of Princeton and the surrounding area to use an abundance of caution.
“We are asking the public to be careful and vigilant,” Mr. Early said at press conference today. “If you have seen anything that you consider suspicious, please report it to the Massachusetts State Police Tipline 508-453-7589; State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office 508-832-9124 or the Princeton Police at 978-464-2928.”
The State Police Tipline is an anonymous call.