Homicide investigators returned to the home of murdered doctor Melissa Ketunuti with her boyfriend and two close friends Tuesday.
They were looking for something that would help them unlock the mystery behind her brutal death.
"Her hands and feet had been bound behind her with some type of rope," Capt. James Clark of the Homicide Unit said. "There was some type of rope around her neck. Right now it appears the cause of death was strangulation and her body was set on fire."
Crime scene investigators also returned to the home on the 1700 block of Naudain Street, a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square. They arrived as the victim's friends left the house.
"Do you guys want to say anything about Melissa?" FOX 29's Dave Schratwieser asked as they left the scene.
"Not yet, please," her boyfriend said.
Capt. Clark says they are interviewing the 35-year-old's boyfriend, a doctor from New York, but he is not a suspect.
Detectives say Ketunuti ran several errands around Center City Monday morning before she was found dead. Her body was on fire when her dog walker came to the home.
"We don't know if she walked in on individuals inside her property, we don't know if individuals forced her inside of her property. We don't know if it's a known doer or an unknown doer," Clark explained.
"It's pretty shocking to have a violent crime happen right next door to you," neighbor Andrew Cattaneo told FOX 29.
Many here said Ketunuti's death came as a real shocker in this upscale neighborhood. No one could figure it out.
"She was very pleasant really very nice, it's shocking," one said "It's upsetting. I hope they find out what happened."
"Sounded real personal to me because if it was just a robbery, there would be no reason to do that," another added.
Police are not sure if robbery is a motive. Children's Hospital issued a statement saying Ketunuti was warm, caring, earnest, a bright young woman who had her whole future ahead of her. She was admired and loved by everyone she worked with.
An arson dog was brought to the scene Tuesday afternoon as detectives searched for more clues.
No arrests have been made.
Police say they do not have any suspects or persons of interest. They are checking surveillance video from the area to determine if anyone was following the victim Monday while she was running errands.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:04 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:04:25 GMT
Veteran narcotics officer Jeff Walker was part of some of Philadelphia's most celebrated drug raids including a huge marijuana bust that netted $1.5 million dollars in pot. Now Walker finds himself on
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Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
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Friday, May 17 2013 6:26 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:26:23 GMT
When SEPTA trains roll into stations in Radnor Township, Main Line passengers aren't the only ones getting on and off. Police say criminals are now using the rails to pull off home burglaries.
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Wednesday, May 15 2013 7:13 PM EDT2013-05-15 23:13:23 GMT
These Crime Scene Investigators have processed thousands of gruesome crime scenes over their careers, but what they saw inside Doctor Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic back in 2010 was a nightmare.
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Wednesday, May 15 2013 4:54 PM EDT2013-05-15 20:54:35 GMT
"Kermit Gosnell at some point became a monster." District Attorney Seth Williams shot straight from the hip as he spoke for the first time since abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell was found guilty this
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Thursday, May 23 2013 12:03 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:03:40 GMT
In the aftermath of the tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma on Monday, residents are starting to sort through their belongings that were scattered about as a result.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-05-23 15:43:34 GMT
A small street in the city's Fern Rock section is closed off to traffic - for a good reason!Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Philadelphia and the Sears Heroes At Home program have gathered at the Reed
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Thursday, May 23 2013 10:35 AM EDT2013-05-23 14:35:48 GMT
To the everyday on-looker, Lacey Barchart is just your average young girl.She likes playing with her stuffed animals and her friends. But, she sees the world just a bit differently than one might guess.
Brave little Lacey lives a normal life, but there is more to her than what meets the eye.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:36 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:36:20 GMT
Rapper-producer Sean "Diddy" Combs has paid a marketing visit to Pennsylvania's capital city. Combs visited with Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board officials on Wednesday to promote a
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:19 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:19:45 GMT
Firefighters are at the scene of an apartment building fire in Allentown where authorities say one person has been found dead, but his death is believed to be unrelated to the blaze.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 7:06 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:06:41 GMT
You ordered Grey Goose but got Popov? An undercover sting busts dozens of bars accused of serving you bottom shelf booze at top shelf prices, and one major chain was caught up in the bar boondoggle.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 5:55 AM EDT2013-05-23 09:55:21 GMT
Today's weather? Cloudy, muggy, and eventually, stormy. If you get a strong to severe storm, it would probably be lat afternoon and evening. Highs in the upper 70s. Some of the storms will produce locally heavy rain and gusty winds.
This system is from the same cold front that caused the midwest tornadoes. It will also usher in cooler air for the holiday weekend.
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A Philadelphia Police Department crime scene unit van sits outside of the home where a woman's body was found burning Monday.
Melissa Ketunuti's body was found burning inside of her Center City home Monday.
