FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE COURIER SUN 3 Naked, drugged man found in Howard Beach park By Robert Pozarycki [email protected]/@robbpoz Police made a bizarre discovery on Sept. 27 in the same Howard Beach park where a jogger was found raped and fatally strangled last month. A naked and disoriented man was found waist deep in the marshy area of Spring Creek Park at about 10 p.m. on Sept. 27. That’s the same park where Karina Vetrano, a 30-year-old resident of 84th Street who went out for a jog and never came home, was found murdered on the night of Aug. 2. Officers at a special command post set up following the murder heard cries for help coming from the park on Tuesday night and found the naked man, according to WABCTV. He was hospitalized, apparently for overdosing on the drug Molly; police also took a DNA sample from him as part of its investigation into Vetrano’s murder. Officers at a special command post set up following the murder heard cries for help coming from the park on tuesday night and found the naked man, according to wabc-tv Police found the man shortly after they provided an update about the case to residents at a meeting of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic Association. The NYPD was able to create a DNA profile of Vetrano’s killer from genetic evidence recovered from the crime scene. However, that profile did not match others in the state’s DNA databank. The search continues, and rewards of more than $300,000 are available to the person who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer. Anyone with information regarding the Vetrano case is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential. WHO KILLED KARINA VETRANO? Cops struggle to solve gruesome Howard Beach murder By Domenic k Rafter [email protected]/@QNS Nearly two months after her murder, police still do not know who killed Karina Vetrano. The 30-year-old Howard Beach woman was raped and strangled to death on Aug. 2 while on a jog just about a mile from her house in Spring Creek Park. Despite rewards and public pleas from the victim’s family, it’s anyone’s guess as to the identity of her killer. The NYPD’s Queens South commander, Assistant Chief David Barrere, told attendees at the Sept. 27 Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association meeting at St. Helen’s Catholic Academy that they have DNA from a suspect. However, after running the profile through multiple databases — including criminal databases in other cities — there have been no matches. Barrere only stated that they know her killer was a man. “That’s all I can say at this time,” he said. Barrere, who was joined at the meeting by the 106th Precinct’s commanding officer, Captain James Fey, thanked the community for their support during the investigation. He said residents and Howard Beach businesses have brought food and water to investigators on the scene since the Aug. 2 murder. While the search for Vetrano’s killer continues, Howard Beach residents did get good news last month when eight security cameras were installed at the entrances to Spring Creek Park only a few weeks after Vetrano’s murder. “The cameras are awesome,” Barrere said. He noted that the cameras can record close up and can zoom in as far as half a mile away. The footage is stored for 30 days at Barrere’s office at the 107th Precinct or at 1 Police Plaza. The footage is also stored on the camera for 72 hours. The cameras were funded by Borough President Melinda Katz, who attended the Sept. 27 meeting. “I wanted to do something,” she said. “Everyone wants to do something to help when tragedies like this happen. Now when you walk into the park and you walk our of the park, you will be on camera.” Working with Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association President Joann Ariola, Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton, the NYPD and local elected officials, Katz decided to fund security cameras when they were suggested by the community as the biggest immediate need. Katz also noted that the cameras were funded and installed in about a week, which is exceptionally fast. “Much to our surprise, within days, the cameras were on the poles and they were active and they were recording,” Ariola said. “We know how the government works; it usually takes a long time,” she sad. “But now that I know how fast it can be done, I asked for even more cameras around the borough.” Katz said she has been able to get 20 cameras installed around Queens. To thank the borough president for her funding the cameras, the civic association presented her with an oversized thank you card signed by neighborhood residents. Photo via Google Maps/Inset via Instagram Howard Beach’s Karina Vetrano (inset) was found dead inside Gateway National Recreational Park after being reported missing. Photo by Domenick Rafter Queens South Commander Assistant Chief David Barrere speaks at the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic Association Meeting on Sept. 27 flanked by 106th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain James Fey.
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