O.C. murder suspect arrested while trying to re-enter the US. at the Mexican border

Detectives from the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) Major Crimes Unit have made an arrest in connection with the homicide that occurred on the 1100 block of England Street on May 31, 2024.

Following extensive collaboration with several law enforcement agencies near the United States-Mexico border, HBPD detectives detained 35-year-old Christopher Mendez of Diamond Bar on Friday, June 7, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Thanks to the assistance of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the U.S. Consulate General Tijuana, Mendez was apprehended while attempting to re-enter the United States from Mexico. Initially a person of interest, Mendez has now been arrested for the homicide of 35-year-old Nicole Marquisee of Walnut.

Mendez is currently in custody with a bail set at $2,000,000. His arraignment is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details will be released at this time.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call Detective R. Chen at (714) 536-5653. To remain anonymous, please contact the OC Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227).

Marquisee was a dedicated RN who stepped away from aesthetic nursing to go back to the bedside as a frontline travel nurse when COVID hit. 

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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