Search Warrant Reveals New Details On Doctor's Alleged Killer - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Search Warrant Reveals New Details On Doctor's Alleged Killer

No one at the home of accused killer Jason Smith would talk to reporters Friday, a day after the 36-year-old was charged with the murder of Dr. Melissa Ketunuti.

But a warrant to search of the plumber's Levittown home, reviewed by FOX 29, said plenty. It showed how homicide detectives quickly connected the suspect to the doctor's death.

"I'm just glad we have him off the street before he can hurt anybody else," said Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, following an afternoon press conference.

The search warrant say detectives found three phone calls between Smith and Ketunuti in the days before the murder to set up an appointment for this past Monday.

The warrant says he came to the house with tools and a plumber's torch to fix a low water pressure problem. Minutes later, Ketunuti was dead, tied up and set on fire.

"Even tracing back some of her contacts and so forth we were able to make connections," Ramsey explained.

Police found a work order with Ketunuti's name on it at Smith's home. Surveillance video showed Smith parked his work truck at 18th and South streets at 10:44 a.m. Monday. Four minutes later Ketunuti walked by, headed home to wait for Smith's 11 a.m. appointment. Smith left his truck a minute later and followed her to the house at 1728 Naudain. It's all on tape.

"That just made the case even that more solid," Ramsey added.

Police recovered the Northface jacket Smith was wearing during a search of his home and his truck. They also seized nylon rope similar to the rope used to tie up the doctor.

"It was just good police work, very good police work," Ramsey said.

The thought that a repairman could turn killer in a matter of minutes has women in Ketunuti's neighborhood thinking twice.

"My husband would never allow anyone to come in without him being there," one neighbor said.

Ramsey also confirmed that police took DNA samples from Smith and are trying to determine if he can be linked to any other unsolved cases across the city.

The commissioner says that includes the attacks on three women in Pennypack Park dating back to 2010.

A sketch of that suspect was released by police last summer. The women were driven to the park in a white work truck with ladders. Each of the women were beaten and sexually assaulted.

Captain John Darby of the Special Victim's Unit says his investigators are working with homicide detectives looking at other cases.

The search warrant affidavit also says surveillance video showed no one else entered or left the victim's block after Smith was seen leaving on tape. Video also caught him circling the block twice in his truck.

Police also seized his computer,  his clothes and other items that might contain DNA.