Boyfriend arrested for murder of missing Morgan Hill teen Marissa DiNapoli, police say
MORGAN HILL, Calif. (KGO) -- Marissa DiNapoli's boyfriend has been arrested and is facing murder charges following her disappearance and death last week in Morgan Hill.
Police say a multi-agency operation, including Homeland Security and the FBI, led to Martin Mendoza's arrest in El Centro, Calif.
After Mendoza was seen with DiNapoli in a surveillance video, he went to Mexico.
Morgan Hill police built their case and secured an arrest warrant. Law enforcement was on the lookout for him before he was arrested Sunday in Imperial County at the border by U.S. Marshalls. He is on his way back to the Bay Area.
Despite the arrest, there's still need for healing and the community is coming together in this tragic time.
VIDEO: Family and friends hold vigil for Marissa DiNapoli
"We have the individual responsible for the death of Marissa in custody and now our community can start healing," MHPD Capt. Mario Ramirez said.
While the Morgan Hill community mourns 18-year-old Marissa DiNapoli, investigators are making progress.
Mendoza, 20, is in custody at the Imperial County Jail after being arrested at a California-Mexico Border crossing.
He is now facing murder charges, after DiNapoli went missing and her body was found at Anderson Reservoir days later.
"Once that arrest warrant was obtained, we worked with our federal partners in the offshoot that he did go to Mexico and come back, we would be ready to apprehend Mr. Mendoza," Capt. Ramirez said.
Tragedy does not happen often in this small community and the arrest does not ease the heartbreak many feel.
RELATED: Body found in Anderson Reservoir ID'd as missing teen Marissa DiNapoli: Morgan Hill police
So, the city is coming together for three community healing events for those in need.
"We wanted to make sure that we had professionals there to support them, we wanted to make sure they had safe spaces - if that was all they needed to have is a place to be and feel that they're there and be in that moment and also, a place to connect," Morgan Hill Unified School District director of Student Services, Enrollment & Wellness Jessie Swift said.
Specialized support services will be offered at Central High School for students, staff and families throughout the week from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A community grief and healing circle session will be hosted at the Morgan Hill Community Cultural Center on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
And Wednesday at 6 p.m., a conversation will focus on early signs of domestic violence and promoting safe, healthy relationships.
Police said there was no known history of domestic violence between Mendoza and DiNapoli, but it's subject that DiNapoli's sister told us last week is close to home.
"We're not strangers to domestic violence," DiNapoli's sister Monice Ramirez said. "Unfortunately, we're reliving a pattern right now because a couple years ago - I went through the same thing. I wanted better for her."
Community Solutions says domestic violence is one of the highest crimes committed per capita in South County, and one in two people know someone involved in some way.
Everyone plays a role, and there's hope through healing can come progress.
"Being a small community also means there's a lot of love," Community Solutions' Erica Elliott said. "You can see that through people showing up for each other, you can see that for people supporting one another. And I think that's important that we as a community heal together, come together and use each other to help in that healing process."
Community Solutions offers free services at their Morgan Hill location, as well as others throughout the Bay Area.
They accept walk-in appointments or you can call their 24/7 crisis line at 877-363-7238.
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