BREAKING NEWS: Man 'in his twenties' is in custody in connection with murder of Queens jogger Karina Vetrano - six months after she was found raped and strangled 

  • Detectives are interrogating a man in the killing, police sources said Saturday
  • Karina Vetrano was murdered in Spring Creek Park, New York, on August 2 
  • The 30-year-old's body was found in marshland at the park at 9pm
  • Police have retrieved DNA from her body but the sample had no match

Police sources said Saturday that investigators were interrogating a man in the killing of Karina Vetrano (pictured)

Detectives are interrogating a man in the killing of slain Queens jogger Karina Vetrano, a report said Saturday.

Police sources told the New York Daily News they were grilling a suspect, six months after the 30-year-old was beaten, raped and strangled.

Vetrano's father found her body in Spring Creek Park near her home in Howard Beach, New York, at 9 pm on August 2.

Investigators have recovered DNA from Vetrano's remains, but the sample didn't match any convicted criminal in New York or around the country. 

It wasn't immediately clear how investigators had approached the suspect. The man being questioned is said to be in his 20s, Pix11 reported.

Vetrano's father Phil confirmed to the station that the NYPD had told him they had a suspect in custody.

Another report by CBS New York described him as being from East New York, Brooklyn, and said he had been taking into custody around 6 pm on Saturday.

No charges have been filed so far. 

Vetrano's family has advocated for familial DNA testing, which would allow them to potentially find a suspect's relative.

'My baby girl Karina went into these weeds right here and never came out,' Phil said during a news conference Thursday.

'The scum that murdered Karina is still at-large,' he added according to NY1.

The father of the murdered Queens jogger previously said he had a 'bad feeling' just 25 minutes after his daughter left home for her run.

Phil was meant to go running with his daughter but couldn't because of a back injury.

Investigators have recovered DNA from Vetrano's remains, but the sample didn't match that of any convicted criminal in New York or around the country

He warned her not to run in the park alone but couldn't stop her from leaving. 

Within 25 minutes of her departure, he knew instinctively something was wrong and phoned police. 

His daughter was last seen on surveillance footage at around 5:45 pm. Phil found her body in marshland at the park just over three hours later.

'She asked me to go for a run and I said I couldn't go. 

'And about 25 minutes later I got a bad feeling. I knew something was wrong. Like something was wrong,' Phil told Dr Oz in an appearance that will be aired on Tuesday evening. 

Vetrano was still alive when her father phoned a police chief he knew personally to raise his concerns.

The jogger's body was found in Spring Creek Park near her home in Howard Beach, New York, at 9 pm on August 2. The crime scene is pictured at the time

Phil Vetrano, Vetrano's father (pictured with her), said he knew something was 'wrong' instinctively just 25 minutes after his daughter left their home to go running on August 2

She was captured on a surveillance camera at 5:46 pm. Police said it is likely those were some of her final moments alive.

Phil found his daughter's lifeless body after a frantic search with detectives that evening.

They were led to it by her phone which lay discarded on the ground nearby. 

Forensic investigators found traces of DNA in beneath Vetrano's fingernails, on her neck and on her phone.

They believe it likely belongs to her killer but have not been able to find a match on convicted criminal databases. 

Familial testing compares the crime scene DNA with others on file that are a close enough match to be family. 

It has led to the arrests and convictions of other dangerous criminals but is not common practice in New York.

Vetrano's death was just five days before that of a jogger in Princeton, Massachusetts, who was taken while running near her mother's home.

Vanessa Marcotte, 27, was found dead in bushes having been sexually assaulted, strangled and set on fire. 

DNA at the scene was found but could not be matched to anyone already in police databases.  

Vetrano was seen on surveillance footage jogging towards the park at 5.46pm, moments before her death

Her father offered a large reward to anyone with information about his daughter's death

Vetrano's family and friends are campaigning for information about her death. Above, mourners at the young woman's funeral

DNA at the scene was found but could not be matched to anyone already in police databases

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now