New York City detectives are exploring the theory that a fisherman may have used a bait knife to stab jogger Katie Suarez in an apparent random attack last week, law enforcement sources told the New York Post.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that the case bears an "eerie" resemblance to the 2016 murder of Karina Vetrano, who was also attacked while jogging. "I ran that case as well. I actually went back and read that case to see if there’s anything jogs my memory that might assist in this," Kenny said.
The area where Suarez was attacked is a popular spot for fishing, making the presence of individuals with knives a possibility, according to sources. Investigators currently have no motive and no suspect in what they believe to be a random act of violence.
Suarez, 28, was found with stab wounds to both sides of her neck on the Shore Parkway Greenway promenade around 8 p.m. on Friday. She had left her job as a bank teller and was jogging to meet her father, a routine they shared. Her father discovered her after she did not meet him at their usual spot. She reportedly tried to continue running for about 150 feet before collapsing under a tree.
She remains on life support, with her family hesitant to remove her from it, a relative told The Post. Her family has stated that she had no known enemies or recent romantic involvements, prompting detectives to examine her phone and computer records for any unknown details.
Police are canvassing the area for potential witnesses and evidence, including seeking dashcam footage from vehicles that passed by and any security footage from a nearby food truck. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest. K-9 units, scuba teams, and drones have also been deployed in the search for leads.