Martin Mendoza Arraigned in Connection with Marissa DiNapoli Homicide
A man has been formally charged in the death of Marissa DiNapoli, sparking a complex investigation and raising questions about the initial police response.
Martin Mendoza, 20, was arraigned today in the San Jose Hall of Justice on charges related to the murder of Marissa DiNapoli, of Morgan Hill. He is currently held without bail at the Santa Clara County Jail, having been brought back to California on Monday from Imperial County, where he was apprehended Sunday while attempting to cross the U.S./Mexico border. The case has drawn significant attention, not only due to the tragic loss of life but also due to concerns raised by the victim’s family regarding the handling of the investigation.
Disappearance and Discovery
DiNapoli was initially reported missing on June 30. Her body was discovered on July 2 near Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill. According to authorities, Mendoza was identified early on as a person of interest in her disappearance. The arrest of Mendoza, who was DiNapoli’s boyfriend at the time, followed a multi-agency effort to locate him after he fled authorities.
Border Apprehension and Multi-Agency Investigation
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Mendoza while he was attempting to enter the U.S. at the Calexico port of entry, as confirmed by U.S. Marshals Deputy Michael Soto. The subsequent investigation involved a coordinated effort between 15 law enforcement agencies, including the Santa Clara County District Attorney and Sheriff’s Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshals Office, and the police departments of Gilroy and San Jose.
“Investigators have been working tirelessly to follow leads, dig up evidence and develop probable cause,” stated a senior official during a press conference on July 7. The goal, according to authorities, was to bring Mendoza back to Santa Clara County to face homicide charges. By July 6, that objective had been achieved.
Limited Details and Ongoing Investigation
Despite Mendoza’s arrest, authorities remain tight-lipped about specific details of the case. At a July 7 press conference, officials declined to disclose when or how Mendoza crossed the border into Mexico, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. Mendoza has not yet made a statement, and investigators have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects.
“This investigation is not done just because Mr. Mendoza is taken into custody,” a law enforcement spokesperson emphasized. “We will continue to investigate, we will continue to look to uncover evidence…so they can prosecute Mr. Mendoza and anyone else who may have been involved.”
The medical examiner’s office has not yet determined the cause of death or an exact time of death, which is estimated to have occurred sometime between June 29 and July 2. Investigators had obtained multiple search warrants and an arrest warrant in the early stages of the investigation, but were unable to locate Mendoza through conventional means. He was only apprehended while attempting to re-enter the United States.
Community Response and Allegations of Bias
The case has also sparked a community-wide response, fueled in part by home security camera footage showing DiNapoli with Mendoza on June 29 at a residence on Trail Drive. This footage prompted a widespread effort to locate both individuals.
However, the family of Marissa DiNapoli has expressed serious concerns about the Morgan Hill Police Department’s handling of the case, launching a petition on change.org that has garnered over 3,100 signatures as of Tuesday morning. The petition alleges that the department failed to act with sufficient urgency in the initial hours following DiNapoli’s disappearance.
According to the petition, Monicia Ramirez, Marissa’s sister, provided police with Martin Mendoza Jr.’s location the day after her sister was reported missing. Despite this information, officers confronted Mendoza but did not arrest or detain him. He subsequently fled, and DiNapoli’s body was discovered days later by a community member, not the police. Mendoza was ultimately apprehended “by accident” while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border a week after DiNapoli’s death.
“We believe this inaction was not only unacceptable — it was dangerous,” the petition reads. “We believe that racial and systemic bias played a role in the failure to act.”
The investigation remains active, and authorities have pledged to pursue all leads to ensure justice for Marissa DiNapoli and hold all responsible parties accountable.
