Thousands of people have signed an online petition seeking an independent investigation into how Morgan Hill police handled the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Marissa DiNapoli.
The petition on Change.org is addressed to the City of Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County officials, and the California Department of Justice, asking for an investigation and audit of the Morgan Hill Police Department’s response. It had more than 8,500 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.
The 18-year-old DiNapoli was found dead on July 2 under a bridge near Anderson Lake after she had gone missing the previous weekend. At that time, she was seen on a surveillance camera with 20-year-old Martin Mendoza, with whom family members said she had a turbulent and abusive relationship.
Mendoza was arrested on July 6 at the California-Mexico border crossing in Calexico after entering the U.S. from Mexicali and was charged with her murder. At his arraignment on Tuesday, prosecutors said DiNapoli had been stabbed multiple times in the back…