Police confirmed the identity of a body found in a remote park area as a missing 18-year-old. They are now investigating the person she was last with.
Authorities have confirmed the death of Marissa DiNapoli, whose body was found on July 2, 2025, near Anderson Lake. Investigators have identified her companion as a person of interest and are working to determine the circumstances of her death.
A family member found DiNapoli’s body during a drone-assisted search in the Woodchoppers Flat Picnic Area, as reported by KSBW News Action 8. Her remains were discovered under a bridge, face down in brush. The Santa Clara County Coroner confirmed her identity on July 3.
DiNapoli last communicated with her family on June 28, saying she would stay with a friend overnight. When she didn’t return the next day or respond to calls, her family reported her missing on June 30.
Detectives learned that DiNapoli was last seen on June 29 around 9:45 a.m., leaving a residence on Trail Drive with a man named Martin Mendoza. Surveillance footage captured the pair together, and officers later recovered her vehicle in the same area.
Mendoza has since been identified as a person of interest. Police say he has refused to cooperate with the investigation and may be driving a white Toyota Camry with California plates CW87W00 or 9PTM351.
More than 30 investigators from multiple agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office, have joined efforts to resolve the case.
In a message to the community, Morgan Hill police described DiNapoli as a bright, promising young woman and assured the public that they will pursue justice in her name.
Her family, in a separate statement, expressed gratitude for the support received and asked for privacy. They requested that no fundraising campaigns be launched and encouraged people to honor DiNapoli through prayers and shared memories.
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