Police Search for New Clues in Evesham

EVESHAM TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Police looked for new clues Thursday night in the murder of Krista DiFrancesco in a lake near the scene of the crime, NBC 10's Beth McDonough reported.

DiFrancesco, 24, was brutally stabbed near her home and left to die after coming home from a night out with friends. She died two days later in the hospital.

Police have questioned several people, but said that they still have not identified a suspect in the murder. They said her husband and family have cooperated fully in the investigation.

Authorities first thought that DiFrancesco might have been sexually assaulted in addition to the stab wounds. However, autopsy results found no evidence of sexual contact.

On Wednesday, DiFrancesco's friends and neighbors remembered her with a vigil.

Neighbors said they were angry at whoever could have committed such a vicious attack and frightened that there could be a murderer in their midst.

They also were upset that nobody called 911 when they heard screams on the night of the attack, dismissing it as somebody just trying to cause trouble. DiFrancesco allegedly lay there for hours before her nearly lifeless body was discovered.

A crowd gathered Wednesday night around the place where DiFrancesco was found, just two houses down from her own home. They uttered prayers and held candles in remembrance of the well-liked young mother of a 9-month-old baby. They also vowed to be more aware and alert to any hint of trouble.

As he was being comforted, one young man cried bitter tears that DiFrancesco's child will now have to grow up with a mother.

Some residents told NBC 10 that they were afraid for the first time in their lives. They talked about creating a town watch group. DiFrancesco's death was the second murder in the community in a year.

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