Jogger Killings in Mass. and NY Don't Appear to Be Related, Police Say
— -- Authorities in New York and Massachusetts do not believe the murders of two young women in the past week are related, but police in both states are working together to solve the mysteries surrounding their deaths.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said this afternoon "we haven't ruled anything out" in regards to the similarities in the two cases.
The first killing happened in the New York City borough of Queens on Aug. 2, when Karina Vetrano, 30, was strangled to death while out for a jog along a path she often ran with her father.
On Aug. 7, Vanessa Marcotte, 27, a New York City resident, was killed near her mother's home in Princeton, Massachusetts, a town about 60 miles west of Boston.
No arrests have been made in either case.
At a community meeting in Queens on Monday night, the New York Police Department told residents that no suspects have been identified in Vetrano's murder. Detectives have chased about two dozen leads, police said.
Vetrano's funeral was held Saturday. On Sunday her parents vowed that justice would be served.
A combined $20,000 reward has been offered in Vetrano's case.
In Massachusetts, police say they have received hundreds of tips in Marcotte's case after her body was found Sunday night, hours after she went missing while on a jog. It was not clear whether her murder was a random act, Early said today.
Marcotte was an account manager at Google in New York City and was planning to return to New York on Sunday. A Google representative told ABC News, "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. We are deeply shocked and saddened, and our thoughts are with her family and friends."
Her alma mater, Boston University, paid tribute to her as well. "We're so terribly sad for her family and friends," said Colin Riley, the executive director of media relations at Boston University. "They're in our thoughts and prayers."
A candlelight vigil will be held for Marcotte this evening.
ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.
