Accused Marcotte Murderer Pleads Not Guilty, Held Without Bail

WORCESTER COUNTY—The man charged with the August 2016 slaying of 27-year-old Vanessa Marcotte entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment on Wednesday, and was held without bail, in Worcester Superior Court, according to reports.

Angelo Colon-Ortiz, 31, was indicted June 23on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Marcotte, who went missing while visiting her family in Princeton on Aug. 7. He reportedly would not show his face during the Wednesday arraignment, rather hiding behind a doorand listening to a Spanish translator.

Colon-Ortiz had been arrested in April after his DNA matched the profile that came from samples found on the hands of Marcotte. He had been charged with aggravated assault and battery, and assault with attempt to rape. He was originally arraigned in Leominster District Court, according to a release from the Worcester County DA, but it was dismissed.

Marcotte's body was found in the woods in Princeton not far from her family's home off Brooks Station Road on the evening of Aug. 7 after Marcotte had gone for a jog while home for a visit. The 27-year-old Boston University grad had been working for Google and living in New York City.

In December of 2016, the family of Marcotte spoke publicly for the first time in public, announcing they had launched a website to serve as a portal for tips and also to learn more about Marcotte and causes close to her heart.

Thousands of tips came in to authorities after a tipline was launched.

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