Suspect arrested days after Morgan Hill teen found dead

(KRON) — A man who Morgan Hill police identified as a suspect in the killing of 18-year-old Marissa DiNapoli has been found and arrested, authorities announced Monday morning.

Martin Mendoza, who officials said was DiNapoli’s boyfriend, was arrested for suspicion of murder following a missing person investigation, which ended when DiNapoli’s body was found on July 2. Mendoza was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service at the California-Mexico border crossing while attempting to return to the United States from Mexico, according to authorities.

“As Mayor of Morgan Hill, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit and capture of Martin Mendoza, who is suspected in the tragic murder of Marissa DiNapoli,” Morgan Hill Mayor Mark Turner wrote on Facebook. Officials did not say when the arrest was made.

DiNapoli was last seen alive on the morning of June 29 with Mendoza, according to Morgan Hill Police Department detectives. The two were leaving a residence on Trail Drive near Morgan Hill. DiNapoli’s Ford Mustang was found parked in the same area.

Dinapoli’s family last heard from the teen through text messages that were received on June 28 at 9:16 p.m. In the messages, she communicated that she was planning to stay with a friend for the evening and would return home the next day.

After DiNapoli did not return home or respond to calls from family members, she was reported missing to police on June 30, Morgan Hill PD said.

The teenager’s cause of death has not been released by the Santa Clara County coroner’s office.

Mendoza had refused to cooperate with the missing person investigation and vanished after the discovery of DiNapoli’s body, according to Morgan Hill police.

“Since Marissa was reported missing on June 30, our department has worked around the clock, pursuing every lead and leveraging all available resources to develop probable cause for an arrest warrant, track suspect movements, and coordinate the apprehension and return of Mendoza,” MHPD said. According to the department, more than 30 investigators were assigned to the case, and 15 agencies worked in partnership with Morgan Hill PD.

The family of DiNapoli released a statement on June 3: “The loss of our beloved Marissa deeply saddens us, and at this time, our family kindly asks for privacy as we grieve and navigate this difficult journey. We appreciate the love and support from those who have reached out to us. In honor of Marissa’s memory, we kindly ask that no GoFundMe accounts or donation pages be created. If you wish to show support, please do so through your prayers, kind words, and cherished memories. Thank you for understanding and respecting our wishes during this deeply personal time.”