A young woman in Northern California was found dead after going missing. Marissa DiNapoli allegedly told her family that she was spending time with a friend. However, her family never heard from her again. Pretty soon after her disappearance, police talked to her ex-boyfriend to see if he knew anything about where DiNapoli was. After questioning, they let him go. Sadly, the woman was later found dead. Now, the ex-boyfriend has been arrested for her murder.
DiNapoli, 18, last communicated with her family via text on June 28, 2025, at 9:16 p.m., the Morgan Hill Police Department said in a press release. She told her family she was staying with a friend for the night, and would come home the next day. When she didn’t come home or answer her family’s phone calls, they reported her missing.
On June 30, DiNapoli was reported missing to the Morgan Hill Police. Detectives began the investigation and learned she was last seen on June 29 around 9:45 a.m. At the time, she was with Martin Mendoza, her ex-boyfriend. DiNapoli’s car was found in the area of Mendoza’s home.
“Martin Mendoza was not cooperative with our initial investigation and is now considered a person of interest in Marissa’s disappearance,” the release reads.
Law enforcement sources told NBC Bay Area that DiNapoli’s family found a body under a bridge near Anderson Lake County Park on Wednesday, July 2. Her friends and family had been searching for her around the city most of that day. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a body had been found, but they were unable to identify it.
Jaslyn Gutierrez, a friend of Marissa DiNapoli, told NBC Bay Area she was concerned about Mendoza. “Marissa has told me, firsthand in the car with my friends outside of my house, that he would kill her, that he would not stop, that he’s obsessed with her, that he’s crazy and that he’s willing to go to that extent,” she said.
Morgan Hill Police announced on July 7 that they had arrested Martin Mendoza in connection to Marissa DiNapoli’s death. He was arrested at the California-Mexico border as he tried to enter California from Mexico. “This arrest marks a significant step toward justice in a case that has devastated Marissa’s loved ones and shaken our entire community,” police said.
In the statement, they announced that it took a “collaborative effort involving over 30 investigators” to find Mendoza. “While Mendoza’s arrest may bring a measure of relief, it does not ease the heartbreak we all continue to feel,” they said. “Our deepest condolences remain with Marissa’s family. We will continue to stand with you, not just as law enforcement, but as neighbors, friends, and fellow members of our grieving community.”
Marissa DiNapoli’s family released a statement of their own, NBC Bay Area reported.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Marissa, and at this time, our family kindly asks for privacy as we grieve and navigate this difficult journey,” the statement reads. “We appreciate the love and support from those who have reached out. In honoring 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.”
