Community Mourns Woman Found Murdered In Princeton

PRINCETON (CBS) --  Friends and colleagues of Vanessa Marcotte are remembering the slain 27-year-old as a "caring and giving person" who enjoyed sports and helping others.

Marcotte was found murdered in a wooded area in Princeton Sunday evening after she left her mother's house to go jogging.

Princeton resident Bunny Bullock organized a candlelight vigil for Tuesday evening at First Congregational Church in Princeton.

"With singing, with love, with joy, to show that we're a strong town and we pull together when things get tough," Bullock said.

The victim's family did not attend the vigil. Those who did were still stunned by the crime.

"You're in Princeton, in the middle of the day, and usually your biggest concern is a dog's going to chase you," said resident Marcia Sands.

Police say they have received hundreds of leads, and asked residents to remain vigilant.

"Just knowing that it can happen to anybody at any time is really just upsetting," said high school friend Justine Popik.

Few attending the vigil could make any sense of the nightmare. "This girl lived in New York and she came to Princeton and this happened? It just doesn't happen in Princeton," said resident Terri Bennett.

Many openly wondered if the killer at large was an evil opportunist just passing through or someone who lives among them. "It feels like someone who thought it out," said Sands.

Marcotte, a Leominster native, was a 2011 graduate of Boston University and was working for Google in New York City.

Steven Quigley, a public relations professor at Boston University, called Marcotte an "incredibly sweet, gentle and bright student."

"She was kind, very bright and unfailingly gracious," Quigley said in a written statement. "My heart is broken and my thoughts are with her family."

While an undergraduate student, Marcotte worked as a tutor with Tutoring Plus of Cambridge.

"Vanessa was an incredibly caring and giving person who was passionate about getting involved in her community," a spokeswoman for Tutoring Plus of Cambridge said in a written statement. "During her three semesters volunteering with us, Vanessa always went above and beyond to support her student."

Authorities continued their search Tuesday for any evidence that would connect them to a suspect.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Massachusetts State Police Anonymous Tip Line at 508-453-7589.