Reward For Information On Death Of Queens Jogger Raised To $300,000
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Mayor's office has added an additional $10,000 to the $25,000 reward offered by the NYPD for information leading to an arrest and conviction of a suspect in connection to the death of a jogger in Queens.
Karina Vetrano, 30, of Howard Beach, was strangled and possibly sexually assaulted three weeks ago after she left for a run in the Spring Creek federal park land near the Belt Parkway, police said.
Vetrano's father, Philip, along with authorities, found her body hours later. Police said Vetrano put up a ferocious fight against her attacker.
Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce said there's no video of the perpetrator entering or leaving the Howard Beach side, declaring they've done a pivot to the west.
A GoFundMe account set up by the victim's family has raised nearly $264,000 over a two week span, bringing the total reward for information up to $300,000 when combined with the $35,000 NYPD reward.
Police have said they are desperate for tips from the public that could help them find a suspect. Boyce said that authorities believe Vetrano's murder was random, adding "we believe there's a severe community threat."
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
