Body found after teen last seen with ‘obsessive' ex-boyfriend vanished
Authorities confirmed a body was found near Anderson Lake County Park in Morgan Hill, California on Wednesday — however, it could not immediately be identified as 18-year-old Marissa DiNapoli, who was last seen on Sunday.
Captain Mario Ramirez of the Morgan Hill Police Department told The Post that they couldn't confirm the identification due to the condition of the body and it has been sent to the county medical examiner's office.
The county park is a place where DiNapoli's ex-boyfriend, Martin Mendoza — whom she had told friends would 'kill her' — used to take her when they dated, the missing teen's friends told NBC Bay Area.
DiNapoli last spoke with family members via text message the night of June 18 when she said she planned to stay with a friend for the night and would be home the following day, but she never returned, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department.
She was seen on camera around 9:45 a.m. Sunday with Mendoza leaving a residence on Trail Drive — not far from the park — where DiNapoli's car was later located, according to police.
4 Marissa DiNapoli was last seen on Sunday morning leaving a residence with her ex-boyfriend.
Instagram / @moniice__
4 DiNapoli's ex, Martin Mendoza, is wanted by police as a person of interest in her disappearance.
Morgan Hill Police Department
Mendoza has been 'not cooperative' with investigators and has been named a person of interest, cops said. Police have asked the public to help locate Mendoza, who is believed to be driving a white Toyota Camry.
Friends and family members gathered around the scene at the park Wednesday night after mounting searches in other local areas earlier in the day, NBC Bay Area reported.
Jaslyn Gutierrez, who described DiNapoli as her best friend, said DiNapoli had expressed her concerns that Mendoza would harm her.
'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,' Gutierrez, who graduated high school with DiNapoli just weeks ago, said.
4 The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office confirmed a body was found near Anderson Lake County Park on Wednesday
KNTV
4 The 18-year-old had just graduated high school weeks ago, her friends said.
Instagram / @moniice__
DiNapoli's friend Serina Soque said the missing teen's family got in contact with Martin, who at first denied who he was, then said he hadn't spoken to her in weeks.
The pair were not dating at the time she disappeared, DiNapoli's friends said. After breaking up, they reconnected with each other as friends in May.
A person who was flying a drone near one of Anderson Lake Park's picnic areas identified a 'possible body' and called police on Wednesday, who later confirmed that a deceased person had been found, KRON4 reported.
The remains will be sent to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's office to be identified, which could take several days with the long holiday weekend, Ramirez said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-boyfriend arrested at Mexico border after Morgan Hill 18-year-old's death
The Brief Martin Mendoza, 20, was arrested at the Mexico border for the death of ex-girlfriend, Marissa DiNapoli of Morgan Hill. Mendoza was "uncooperative" with the police investigation. It's not clear how DiNapoli was killed or what the motive was. MORGAN HILL, Calif. - Law enforcement on Monday announced the arrest of an ex-boyfriend at the California-Mexico border following the death of an 18-year-old Morgan Hill woman, whose body was found last week near the Anderson River. Morgan Hill police said they took Martin Mendoza, 20, in connection with Marissa DiNapoli's death. The two had dated for a time, police and co-workers said. Police said he will be charged with murder, and that he was arrested while trying to come back to the United States 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 a statement. "While Mendoza's arrest may bring a measure of relief, it does not ease the heartbreak we all continue to feel. Marissa was a radiant, compassionate young woman with a future full of promise. Her loss is profound, and our grief is shared." DiNapoli's family shared a brief statement, asking for privacy. They specifically said they did not want to raise money through any GoFundMe. Instead, they asked, if people want to show support, "please do so through your prayers, kind words, and cherished memories." Efforts to reach Mendoza were not immediately successful on Monday. DiNapoli was last seen on June 29 and reported missing the following day. She said she was staying with a friend and would return home the next day. Her body was found on July 2, by a drone. During the search for her, police said the man last seen with DeNapoli, Martin Mendoza, was considered a "person of interest" in the case. It's unclear just how DiNapoli died, or what the motive was for her death. Police also said Mendoza had been uncooperative with the investigation. After one conversation with him, police said, they were unable to find him until his arrest. Morgan Hill police said 30 investigators, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, worked on this case. There will also be three community events to mark DiNapoli's death, including on Monday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central High School, as well as on Tuesday and Wednesday, both at 6 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community Cultural Center.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Ted Cruz cuts short European vacation due to deadly Texas flooding
Sen. Ted Cruz was exploring ancient Greek ruins with his family when deadly flash flooding was ravaging central Texas. The Texas Republican was touring the Parthenon with his wife Heidi just over 24 hours after the Guadeloupe River overflowed its banks early on the morning of July 4, a witness told The Daily Beast. 'The Senator was already in the middle of preplanned family vacation travel overseas when the flooding occurred on July 4,' Cruz's office told The Post. 3 Ted Cruz flew back from Athens on Sunday morning after the deadly flash floods struck Texas, according to his office. Fox News 3 Rescue workers are seen on land and on a boat as they search for missing people near Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. AP 'Within hours, he spoke by phone with Governor [Greg] Abbott, Lt. Governor [Dan] Patrick, Texas Emergency Management Director Nim Kidd, and President Trump, working to ensure that the maximum federal assets were available for search and rescue.' Cruz, 54, flew back from 'Athens on Sunday morning and was back in Texas that night,' his office added. The unidentified witness told The Daily Beast that Cruz 'was with his family and a lone security guard' at the world-famous site. 'As he walked past us, I simply said, '20 kids dead in Texas and you take a vacation?' 'He sort of grunted and walked on. His wife shot me a dirty look. Then they continued on with their tour guide.' Cruz spokesperson, Macarena Martinez, blasted the Daily Beast story as 'A bulls— piece published by a bulls— rag outlet with no credibility, and with no regard for the tragedy in Texas. 'The Senator is on the ground in Texas and arrived as fast as humanly possible.' At least 95 people have been killed by the flooding and at least 41 are believed to be missing. 3 Items lie scattered inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 5, 2025. REUTERS Critics said the Cruz's European vacation evoked memories of his vacation in Cancun during the February 2021 power crisis in Texas following three severe winter storms — which left an estimated 4.5 million homes and businesses shivering in the dark.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
‘16 and Pregnant' star Whitney Purvis arrested for involuntary manslaughter
'16 and Pregnant' star Whitney Purvis has been arrested for suspicion of involuntary manslaughter following a fatal overdose. The Post can confirm that Purvis, 33, was booked in Floyd County, Georgia, on Monday, July 7. Purvis was charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter, distribution of a controlled substance, and use of a communication device to commit a felony involving controlled substances, according to documents obtained by The Post. Advertisement 6 '16 and Pregnant' star Whitney Purvis was arrested for involuntary manslaughter on Monday. Floyd County Sheriff's Office 6 The Post can confirm that Purvis was booked in Floyd County, Georgia, and charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter. nurvispurvis/Instagram The involuntary manslaughter charge is related to Purvis' alleged distribution of a drug called Tranq, which is a mix of fentanyl and xylazine, reported TMZ. Advertisement Law enforcement sources told the outlet that Purvis allegedly supplied the victim, John Mark Harris, with the Tranq that led to his overdose death on February 17. The Statement of Criminal Charges connected to Purvis' arrest and obtained by The Post alleged that the former reality star committed the offenses on February 16. 6 Law enforcement sources allege that Purvis supplied the victim, John Mark Harris, with the drugs that led to his overdose death on Feb. 17. It was also revealed that the '16 and Pregnant' alum left a lengthy comment on Harris' obituary page days after his death. Advertisement She thanked Harris for 'being such a great friend' and 'always making me feel beautiful.' 'John mark, I hate that I found out what happened today and missed your funeral,' Purvis wrote on March 3. 'I wish I could've found out sooner and attended your celebration of life. thank you for being such a great friend to me and always making me feel beautiful and cared for.' 6 The former reality star left a lengthy comment on Harris' obituary page following his overdose death. nurvispurvis/Instagram 'Rest in peace and my condolences to your family and friends,' she later concluded. 'I pray they are able to find some kind of comfort during this tragic time. I love you forever, John Mark.' Advertisement Purvis' arrest and charges come just weeks after her 16-year-old son, Weston, suddenly passed away. The former MTV star announced the shocking news on June 2. 6 Purvis' arrest on involuntary manslaughter charges comes weeks after her 16-year-old son, Weston, suddenly passed away. nurvispurvis/Instagram 'This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don't understand,' she wrote on Facebook at the time. 'Oh my baby is gone and I don't know what to do with myself,' Purvis continued. 'He was so perfect. This is really my worst nightmare come true. How do you go on in life after losing a child?' She welcomed Weston with her ex, Weston Gosa, in April 2009. The pair welcomed another son, River, in 2014, but split shortly after. 6 The former MTV star announced her son's sudden passing on June 2. nurvispurvis/Instagram Meanwhile, Purvis was allegedly denied entry to her son's funeral last month after she reportedly arrived late to the service. Advertisement She took to Facebook shortly after to blame her ex for their son's death, saying that it 'could've been prevented.' 'My son had diabetes, Addison's disease, and alpha one anti-trypsin deficiency, and he had no medical insurance,' she wrote on June 18. 'But he had a life insurance policy taken out on him. His dad bought five cars in the last six months but couldn't pay for medical insurance.' 'He brags about how much money he has and has the nerve to make a GoFundMe to help bury him when he was just going to cremate him anyway because it was the cheapest, plus he had the life insurance policy,' she added. 'His death could've been prevented.'
