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4 THE COURIER SUN • SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com SKETCH SPARKS SOME LEADS IN KARINA VETRANO KILLING BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz The NYPD released last a sketch of an individual sought for questioning in connection with the murder of Howard Beach resident Karina Vetrano. Nearly a week later, as of the Sun’s press time, that individual has yet to be found. Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce held up the sketch at a press conference on Aug. 31 in Brooklyn and pointed out that the mystery man was not a suspect. According to Boyce, a utility worker had spotted the man in the area near Spring Creek Park where the 30-year-old Vetrano was last seen alive on the afternoon of Aug. 2. It is believed that this man may have seen the suspect(s) responsible for raping and fatally strangling Vetrano, whose body was found in the park close to the intersection of 161st Avenue and 78th Street in Howard Beach. “We have to speak to this person,” Boyce said, as quoted in a WNBCTV report. “That’s the only reason we’re putting this out.” Boyce said at a Sept. 6 press conference that the sketch did generate a vast increase in the number of tips related to the Vetrano case. However, the mystery man has yet to come forward. “We are still trying to fi nd that person and that’s where we are with the case right now,” Boyce said. “We’ve then moved into East New York, Brooklyn and South Ozone Park and that’s where we are right now because we don’t see anybody leading through the Howard Beach 106 (Precinct) area. So we are still at that location.” On Aug. 30, police announced it had been able to create a DNA profi le of Vetrano’s unidentifi ed killer from genetic material recovered from the crime scene. Boyce indicated that this profi le did not match any others currently listed in the state or national DNA criminal databanks. Howard Beach residents, and others across the world moved by the tragedy, contributed to an online campaign that raised more than $269,000 for a reward to the tipster who helps police arrest the murder suspect. An additional reward of $35,000 is being offered by the NYPD and other organizations affiliated with the city. Anyone with information regarding the mystery man’s whereabouts or the Karina Vetrano murder 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 confidential. Sketch courtesy of NYPD/Photo via Instagram Cops want to talk to the man in the sketch at left as they try to solve the murder of Howard Beach resident Karina Vetrano (right). Here for you with top-rated health insurance plans for you and your family • Get access to doctors, specialists, hospitals, and urgent care centers close to home • Find a quality health insurance plan that fits your needs and your budget • Enjoy benefits, programs, and services that treat you like a person, not a number When it’s time to think about getting a quality health insurance plan, think of us first. Healthfirst. INA16_85(h) Call 1-855-779-1020 or visit HFisHere.org Ratings are based on indicators chosen by the New York State Department of Health and published in its 2014 and 2015 publication A Consumer’s Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in NYC and on Long Island. Plans are offered by affiliates of Healthfirst, Inc. Plans contain exclusions and limitations. ©2016 HF Management Services, LLC. FOR MORE NEWS VISIT QNS.COM


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