DC jogger stabbed to death in seemingly "random" attack says police

A desperate search is underway in the nation's capital after a woman was stabbed to death while running in a trendy neighborhood a few miles from the White House.

35-year-old Wendy Karina Martinez stumbled upon a Chinese restaurant in Washington DC's Logan Circle on Tuesday night, suffering multiple stab wounds to her neck, the police said. Martinez attempted to alert clients to his attacker, but the suspect had already fled the scene, according to witnesses.

She was transported to a nearby hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, the police said.

"They tried to provide medical assistance, but unfortunately she was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead," police chief Peter Newsham said on Wednesday. "It's more likely a random act than anything else, but let's look at all the possibilities."

"It's horrible to see something like this happening in the city," he added, describing the area as a "very safe neighborhood."

Martinez was a "passionate runner" and worked for a local software company, according to his family. She and her fiancé, Daniel Hincapie, were engaged last week.

"We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy, Wendy Karina Martinez was the light of our lives," wrote her mother, Cora Martinez, in a statement. "Not only was she a passionate runner, but she was a dedicated Christian, a great friend and a motivated professional – everything you hope for from a girl and a friend could be."

FiscalNote, where Wendy Martinez was chief of staff, sent her condolences to her family on Wednesday.

"The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to hear that Wendy Martinez, our chief of staff, was killed last night," the company writes. "Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a dynamic member of the community, and our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy's family and friends."

The Metropolitan Police Service released surveillance footage of a suspect who was showing a man wearing a mustard-colored long-sleeved shirt, flip-flops, and white socks.

It offers up to $ 25,000 for information leading to an arrest.

"We ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn the death of his beautiful soul and inform his friends and family of this terrible news," said the mother of the victim in his statement. "We also want to encourage the community to contact the police with any information that could lead to justice for Wendy."