NY & CT police collaborate on burning body investigation

North Stonington — State police and police in Suffolk County, N.Y., are conducting a joint investigation to determine where and how a New York woman whose remains were found burning off Jeremy Hill Road Friday night died.

Connecticut State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said today that state troopers are in New York exchanging facts and evidence with investigators there.

Vance would not say if the woman, 24-year-old Rebecca Koster of Medford, died in Connecticut.

"We are all working together to find out what happened to Rebecca," said Vance.

Suffolk County police said Koster was last seen Friday at about 3:30 a.m. in Medford, a town of about 22,000 in central Long Island, and Suffolk County Police put out a missing persons report.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy Saturday and ruled Koster's death a homicide.

Koster's body was found near the intersection of Jeremy Hill Road and Route 201 just before 7:30 p.m. Friday not far from the roadway after a caller reported a possible brush fire. State police, including the Eastern District Major Crime Squad and forensic investigators, remained at the scene and questioned neighbors and passersby late into the night.

Police continue to solicit the public's assistance, asking that anyone with any information in the case contact state police at (860) 848-6500. All calls will be kept confidential.