Neither Cambridge police nor the D.A.'s office would release a description of the suspects or of their vehicle because they said it might interfere with the investigation.

No Motive

Centrella added that his department has not been able to come up with a motive for killing Zona.

Reilly and Centrella could not say where the death occurred. Hori, however, said that numerous cuts on the victim's body suggested he was dragged for some distance.

Cambridge and State police have been trying to trace Zona's last hours in an attempt to find clues to the reasons for his death.

Centrella is asking that "anyone who saw what happened or who can contribute anything" call the Cambridge Police at 498-9300.

Reilly said he had learned that Zona often frequented the Central Square area.

A driver who flees the scene of a fatal accident may be charged with vehicular homicide. The maximum penalty for that crime is a two-and-a-half-year prison term, Cambridge police officials said.

If Zona was killed intentionally, officials said, the suspect could be charged with murder. Depending on the circumstances, that crime could result in a penalty as serious as the death sentence.