Recovered; Jun 11, 2008

Police in Orange County, Fla. found missing UCF graduate student Nicole Ganguzza dead near a local park on June 11, 2008. Her car and purse were found in the parking lot of Orlando's Blanchard Park, where she had gone to jog on Tuesday evening.

According to Orange County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Carlos Padilla, Nicole had been murdered, and the case is, "a real whoduit."

Her body was found behind a post office about two miles from the park where she went missing, and police sources said it appeared that someone had tried to conceal her body.

Cops in Orange County say they are now investigating the case as both a homicide and a kidnapping.

Cops tell AMW they believe the person who killed Nicole Ganguzza lives close by and is familiar with Orlando's Blanchard Park. They may be acting strangely, and cops believe the murderer now has scratches on arms, legs and face, due to the heavy brier in the area.

Police sources say they think the killer staked out the park, waiting for a potential victim to enter the wooded park. They say it was a perfect opportunity for the abductor: the area had experienced heavy weather during the day, and the park was nearly empty at the time.

Police said they are confident that Nicole was abducted during her run, but they are working to fill in the timeline of events after 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.

In 2006 and 2007, police say there were two attempted rape cases in the area near where Nicole Ganguzza was abducted, and police sources say they are investigating the possibility that Nicole's killer may be responsible for those attempted assaults as well. They have developed composite sketches in those incidents -- and contacted the prior victims -- but have not yet developed any conclusive leads.