FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com AUGUST 18, 2016 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Big reward now offered as hunt for Howard Beach woman’s killer continues BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz They came in amounts large and small — donations of as little as $10 to as much as $1,000 from neighbors, relatives, complete strangers and anonymous donors. The contributors to the Karina Vetrano Memorial Reward Fund poured out their wallets and their hearts in a little more than a week, kicking in more than $244,000 in an effort to fi nd the person who viciously raped and murdered the 30-year-old Howard Beach resident on Aug. 2. Members of the Howard Beach community and the Vetrano family had launched the GoFundMe campaign to supplement the $25,000 reward already offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Vetrano’s killer. Initially, the Karina Vetrano Memorial Reward Fund set a goal of raising over $100,000, but the organizers doubled that fi gure after receiving an overwhelming response within a day. As of 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, approximately 3,596 people had contributed to the online fundraising drive. Many of them left messages of support for the Vetrano family in their time of trial. “I wish I can give more but like your daughter I’m a cat lover and most of my money goes to their rescue,” wrote Lauren Dauro, who donated $20 to the fund. “My heart is with you — may your beautiful daughter rest in peace in God’s loving hands. My deepest condolences.” “We hope with all our hearts that the killer is found. Prayers for you and your wife and daughter,” said Ellen Sullivan, who contributed $50. “I am heart broken though I never met her or the Vetrano family,” wrote donor Eliot Green, who contributed $25. “I see, hear and read about bad s–-t happening to people every day. This senseless and brutal act against this bright star of a human being and her family has moved me to donate.” In a message left on the GoFundMe site, Phil Vetrano — Karina’s father — said that every dollar will bring the community closer to fi nding the killer and bringing that person to justice. “These funds are the only thing that we feel we can do to encourage anyone with information to come forward with something that will led to an arrest. We hope and pray that you will read this and recognize Photo: Anthony Giudice/THE COURIER, with inset via Instagram White ribbons around Howard Beach are not the only way residents are memorializing Karina Vetrano. that an event like this is universal. It could happen to your daughter, your sister, your mother,” he wrote. “At a time like this we know that our fellow human beings will be happy to join in this quest to bring the only sense of peace possible to a family ripped apart by this horrendous act.” The case itself is proving diffi cult to crack. Detectives from both the NYPD and FBI combed the marshy area of the Gateway National Recreational Area where Karina Vetrano’s body was found searching for evidence. DNA was found on a sneaker and a set of earphones there, but tests revealed no match to anyone as of yet listed in the state’s DNA databank. The NYPD received a number of tips through its Crime Stoppers hotline, but police offi cials said those calls did not provide any substantial leads. Anyone with information about the Vetrano case that can prove helpful is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800- 577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confi dential. Great rates like ours are always in season. 1.25% 18-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit To qualify you must open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking Plus account. Get the complete access and control you desire with a competitive interest rate and banking on-the-go with our Flushing Bank Mobile2 app. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New money only. APY effective July 5, 2016. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. A new Complete Checking Plus account with a $5,000 minimum initial deposit is required to receive the CD with the advertised rate. Certain fees and restrictions may apply. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. A new checking account is not required for IRA accounts. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details. 2 Flushing Bank Mobile Banking is available to all Flushing Bank online banking users. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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