Social media users slammed for suggesting woman murdered while jogging brought attack on herself for wearing ‘tight clothing’
Fitness fanatic Karina Vetrano, 30, was found dead with her pants pulled down to her knees after not returning from her 5pm run in the Queens borough of New York
Social media users have been blasted for suggesting a murdered female jogger should not have worn 'tight clothing' while on her evening run.
Karina Vetrano, 30, was found dead with her jogging pants pulled down to her knees after being reported missing by her retired-firefighter father when she didn't return from her regular 5pm run in the Queens borough of New York.
Police found the body of the fitness fanatic in the high-weeded area of the Howard Beach area of the neighbourhood at around 10:30pm.
Sources said a cause of death has not been determined, but she appeared to have been strangled and her jogging pants were pulled halfway down.
Vetrano’s father, who neighbours say retired from the FDNY on disability, was called to the crime scene as sobbing neighbours gathered outside his home.
One neighbour, who would identify himself only as John, said Vetrano went jogging with her father nearly every night before he suffered an injury.
He asked her, ‘Don’t go in there,’ ” John said, referring to the weeded area.
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John said, adding that “all girls know not to walk along these weeds.”
Another neighbour said that “hobos and bums” typically lurk in the weeded area.
News of the tragic crime has sparked debates on social media with some Facebook users criticising Vetrano for her choice of clothing.
One user said: "...is it your responsibility to be aware...stop jogging or going to the dam gym half naked go back to where people wore sweat pants to sweat."
Another said: " I always see attractive women running with their headphones on in secluded areas! How stupid can they be? It's unbelievable".
Others users appeared 'to blame the victim' for running in an area which her father told her was dangerous.
Some Facebookers said woman need to be more 'aware' while others said females should not go running alone late at night.
One user commented: "Why would a woman go running alone in the evening?"
Vetrano’s Instagram account is filled with photos of her enjoying her summer sipping cocktails, travelling and soaking up the sun with friends.
In a recent photo with her dad on his 60th birthday, Vetrano called him her “hero” and said, “I’m so blessed to have a father I can call my best friend.”
Vetrano, who was an avid runner, posted an image online that showed her wearing a medal from the Spartan Race at Citi Field 15 weeks ago.
Sources said police were investigating whether the victim had been sexually assaulted.
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