Massachusetts Cops Follow Hundreds of Tips in Murder of Google Employee Vanessa Marcotte
— -- Massachusetts cops have received hundreds of tips in the murder investigation of a 27-year-old jogger who was found dead near her mother's home Sunday.
Vanessa Marcotte went for a jog Sunday in Princeton, Mass., a town about 60 miles west of Boston, and never returned. Her body was found that night in a wooded area about half a mile from her mother’s home.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Marcotte's family was "devastated" after meeting with them.
He said Marcotte, an account manager at Google in New York, frequently came to Massachusetts for visits. She was planning to return to New York City Sunday.
The investigation remains in its early stages and authorities are approaching the case from every angle, Early said this afternoon.
Police sources told ABC News there were signs Marcotte was sexually assaulted and that there were burns on parts of her body.
Early said police still do not know if the killing was a random act and he urged residents to use caution. An autopsy was conducted this morning, Early said.
While police have said Marcotte's murder and the murder of a Queens, New York, jogger several days prior did not appear to be related, Early said today, "we haven't ruled anything out" in regard to the similarities in the two cases.
Early said the hundreds of tips have provided a lot of information and he encouraged anyone who was in the area from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday to call the police tip line at 508-453-7589.
A Google representative described Marcotte as "a much loved member of the Google team" who was "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," Colin Riley, the executive director of media relations at Boston University, told ABC News. "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.
