An urgent search erupted across Morgan Hill when eighteen-year-old Marissa DiNapoli failed to return home after texting her family late on June 28, promising she’d be staying with a friend. As calls went unanswered and the days passed, her loved ones’ anxiety deepened until, on July 2, a grim discovery beneath a bridge near Anderson Lake County Park shattered their worst fears. Hikers came upon a body in an advanced state of decomposition, and it wasn’t until the next day that the Santa Clara County Coroner confirmed the remains belonged to Marissa, who had been reported missing just days earlier.
Investigators quickly turned their focus to Martin Mendoza, her twenty-one-year-old boyfriend and the last person known to be with her. Surveillance footage captured the couple departing a home on June 29—the same spot where Marissa’s car was later abandoned—and showed Martin returning alone behind the wheel. In muffled audio from the camera, he can be heard chiding her, “Why would you text your ex?” just moments before they left together. Friends recall Marissa voicing fears that his jealousy might one day turn dangerous, and those worries now weigh heavily on everyone who knew her.
State and local law enforcement teams have intensified their manhunt, treating Mendoza as a person of interest and urging anyone with information to come forward. Authorities believe he may be driving a white Toyota Camry bearing plates CW87W00 or 9PTM351. Though the Morgan Hill Police Department has reached out repeatedly—to Martin’s phone, to his family—they report he has remained silent.
On social media and in media interviews, Marissa’s family has both mourned and demanded justice. Her sister, Monice Ramirez, described the haunting footage of Martin leaving alone, and a family statement thanked the community for its support while pleading for prayers and privacy. Marissa’s stepmother openly vowed retribution, declaring she would circulate Mendoza’s image until he was found.
As the investigation continues, detectives emphasize the importance of any tip that could lead to Martin’s arrest. “Bringing him in is vital,” said Captain Mario Rodriguez of the Morgan Hill Police Department. “We owe it to Marissa’s family to find the truth and hold him accountable.” In towns up and down California’s coast, residents remain on alert, hoping that the next call will finally bring closure and ensure that Marissa’s story is not forgotten.