NEED TO KNOW
- Marissa DiNapoli was last seen on June 29
- Police have since arrested her boyfriend Martin Mendoza on a murder charge
- Ring camera footage has surfaced, showing the former couple together before DiNapoli disappeared
In her final known moments, a California teen was seen on surveillance footage leaving a home with her ex-boyfriend, who is now charged with murder in connection with her death.
Marissa DiNapoli, 18, was reported missing on June 30, the Morgan Hill Police Department said in a statement.
Police promptly named Martin Mendoza a person of interest in her disappearance. He was identified by The Morgan Hill Times and ABC 7 as DiNapoli’s boyfriend at the time she went missing.
During the search for her, DiNapoli’s body was found on July 2, the Morgan Hill Police Department announced last week.
Mendoza, 21, was arrested while allegedly trying to re-enter the U.S. through the Mexican border, the Morgan Hill police announced on Monday, July 8.
Now, Ring camera footage obtained and shared by KSBW shows DiNapoli in her final known moments.
In the video — which according to the outlet, is from Mendoza’s home outside Morgan Hill — DiNapoli is seen walking down the stairs, carrying clothes in her arms, with Mendoza next to her as he talks to her.
The nature of the conversation is unclear but the two look serious as they speak. At one point, as the two walk towards the door, DiNapoli briefly glances up at Mendoza before he opens the door to let her out.
The video is timestamped at 9:45 a.m. on June 29 — the day before the teen was reported missing.
In another piece of Ring footage KSBW reports was taken the following day, Mendoza is seen running down the same staircase in a white hoodie, carrying a teal plastic bag in his hand.
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When she was found dead, DiNapoli had been stabbed five times in the back, The Morgan Hill Times and KTVU reported, citing court documents and prosecutors, respectively.
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Mendoza has been charged with first-degree murder and the use of a knife to commit murder, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced, per The Morgan Hill Times, NBC Bay Area and KSBW.
He was arraigned in court on Tuesday, per the outlets, and was denied bail. DiNapoli’s family showed up to express their support for the deceased teen.
Her sister, Monice Ramirez, told The Morgan Hill Times that DiNapoli was “a good girl” and “loving, funny and a woman of God.”
Mendoza’s plea hearing has been set for September, NBC Bay Area reported. Attorney information for him was not immediately available.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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