Morgan Hill woman found dead after being reported missing
- Marissa DiNapoli, 18, was last seen on June 28 around 9:45 a.m. after communicating with her family that she would stay with a friend.
- Authorities have confirmed her body was found days after she was reported missing, and she was positively identified shortly thereafter.
- Martin Mendoza, identified as a person of interest, has not been cooperative in the investigation as the community mourns DiNapoli's loss.
In California, authorities have delivered tragic news regarding an 18-year-old woman named Marissa DiNapoli who had been reported missing just days earlier. DiNapoli had last been in contact with her family via text on the evening of Saturday, June 28, indicating that she would stay the night with a friend and return home the following day. However, when she did not return or respond to calls, her family filed a missing person report on Monday. Following their report, detectives began an investigation into her disappearance and learned she had been seen leaving a residence in the company of a person named Martin Mendoza around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday. Investigators also recovered DiNapoli's vehicle in the vicinity of where she was last seen. Mendoza was subsequently identified as a person of interest but was not cooperative during the police investigation, prompting law enforcement to actively seek information about his whereabouts, which included a description of a white Toyota Camry he was believed to be driving. As days passed, the search for Marissa led to the unsettling discovery of a body, which was found amid the ongoing search effort. By Thursday, authorities confirmed that the deceased individual was indeed Marissa DiNapoli. The Morgan Hill community expressed immense sorrow over the loss, labeling her a vibrant young woman with a promising future. DiNapoli's family released a heartfelt statement requesting privacy as they navigated through their grief, and they specifically asked that no fundraising pages be created in her memory, urging support through prayers and cherished memories instead. The involvement of the FBI's San Francisco office underlines the seriousness of the case. Police continued to gather evidence and information to piece together the circumstances surrounding DiNapoli's death and the role Mendoza played. As the investigation pursues leads, the family and community grapple with the tragic loss, highlighting both the personal impact on loved ones and the urgent need for safety measures within the community.