Jogger found dead was n***d, burned, state police sources say

Vanessa Marcotte Google account manager from New York City was found murdered in the Woods

A woman out for an afternoon jog was found dead in Princeton on Sunday night after her family reported her missing. A state police source told NewsCenter 5 that the woman"s body was found n***d and burned.

Vanessa Marcotte, 27, who lived in New York, was found dead in a wooded area near Brooks Station Road, about a half-mile from her mother"s Princeton home.

A preliminary review of the body has led detectives to believe this is a homicide investigation, District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said. "We do not know if this is a random act.

A state police source at the scene told NewsCenter 5 that it was not immediately clear if Marcotte was assaulted, but she was n***d. The woman"s hands, feet and part of head were burned, the source said.

Early said Marcotte went out for a walk at about 1 p.m., and when she did not return, her family reported her missing. Her body was found about seven hours later.

"We are asking (residents) to be very careful. Right now we have an active homicide investigation going on. You can"t be too careful," Early said.

Marcotte, who grew up in Leominster, was working as an account manager for Google, Early said.

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," a Google spokesperson said. "We are deeply shocked and saddened, and our thoughts are with her family and friends.

Anyone with information is urged to call Massachusetts State Police at 508-453-7589.

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Source: http://www.wcvb.com/news/police-search-for-missing-jogger/41096848