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Read the press release here.

Karina Vetrano's Accused Killer Indicted by Grand Jury

By Katie Honan | April 5, 2017 4:33pm
 Chanel Lewis was arrested in February for the murder of Karina Vetrano in Spring Creek Park.
Chanel Lewis was arrested in February for the murder of Karina Vetrano in Spring Creek Park.
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DNAinfo/Katie Honan

HOWARD BEACH — A grand jury has indicted Chanel Lewis for the murder of Karina Vetrano, who he allegedly attacked as she was running alone in a park near her house last summer.

The 13-count indictment was returned Wednesday by a grand jury in Queens, who accused the 20-year-old Lewis of raping and strangling Vetrano after dragging her off of a running trail in Spring Creek Park at around 6 p.m. on August 2, 2016. 

The body of the 30-year-old jogger was found hours later by a search team that included her father, Phil, as well as friends and neighbors. 

Lewis, from East New York, was arrested Feb. 4, when police say he confessed — admitting he punched her in the face to knock her down and drag her into the weeds, according to police sources.

He denied sexually assaulting her, saying that her clothes were pulled off as he dragged her.

Sources also said a neighbor playing loud music set Lewis off, and he went to the park to calm down.

A crowd taunted Chanel Lewis after he was walked out of the 107th Precinct stationhouse on Feb. 4, 2017 following his arrest for the murder of Karina Vetrano. (DNAinfo/Katie Honan)

Lt. John Russo, who went through complaints and old 911 calls, helped lead investigators to Lewis, who had received three summonses around the park in 2013, police said. 

The DNA evidence from the scene — which police say was obtained while Vetrano fought Lewis — was also instrumental in finding her killer, according to the NYPD.

"Karina helped us identify this person," Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said during a press conference at the 106th Precinct stationhouse after he was arrested. 

Lewis has been held without bail on Rikers Island since his arrest and will be arraigned at a later date in Supreme Court at Kew Gardens. 

His lawyer, Robert Moeller, did not respond to a request for comment.