As the money donated to a reward fund soars above $250,000, the parents of a woman who was killed while jogging in Queens Aug. 2 said if the murderer confesses to the crime, the killerโs own family could receive the money.
โTurn yourself in. I will make sure the reward money goes to the person of your choice. Your sister, your brother, your mother. Itโs a life changer,โ said Phil Vetrano Tuesday at a walk in honor of Karina Vetrano, who was sexually assaulted and strangled to death.
โYou will be caught, so take advantage of that (offer),โ Phil Vetrano said. A GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign launched by Phil Vetrano has raised more than $250,000 since it was started on Aug. 10.
Hundreds turned out Tuesday for the walk, which retraced Karina Vetranoโs final steps, reports CBS New York. They held balloons and chanted โjustice for Karinaโ as they walked in the Howard Beach neighborhood.
โWe gather here to pray for her soul, and for her parents who are hurting so much,โ said Breeda Connolly of Howard Beach.
The pain was apparent as Vetranoโs mother spoke of the murderer.
โHeโs a weak, evil piece of s**t, and thatโs too good to call him,โ said Cathy Vetrano.
Karina Vetrano, 30, was murdered Aug. 2 as she jogged through a marshy area near her home. Hours later her father found her body while searching with investigators, according to police.
Vetrano was face down with her teeth broken, scrapes on her legs and her sports bra and shorts pulled down, according to sources who spoke with CBS New York.
On Tuesday, Phil Vetrano was among those releasing balloons into the sky as a tribute to his daughter.
He said he hoped his message reached the right person.
โTurn yourself in,โ he said. โTurn yourself in.โ
