The ex-boyfriend of 18-year-old Morgan Hill high school graduate Marissa DiNapoli was arrested Sunday while attempting to re-enter the United States from Mexico. Martin Mendoza, 20, was taken into custody at the southern border and is currently held in El Centro, California.
Mendoza is a person of interest in the death of DiNapoli, whose body was discovered on July 2 near the Anderson River reservoir after she had been missing for several days. She was last seen alive on June 29 with Mendoza, who had been in a romantic relationship with her.
A friend of DiNapoli told NBC Bay Area that she believed Mendoza was the likely killer. She recalled DiNapoli had confided fears that Mendoza was obsessed and capable of murder.
Morgan Hill police quickly named Mendoza a person of interest after DiNapoli was reported missing. Initially uncooperative, Mendoza vanished after the first interview, prompting an extensive search. The FBI later joined Morgan Hill police, with around 30 investigators working the case.
No motive or cause of death has been officially disclosed. DiNapoli’s family last spoke with her on June 28. The investigation remains ongoing.
