Pacifica Man Arrested for Murder and Live Streaming Victim’s Final Moments on Facebook
A 39-year-old man from Pacifica, identified as Mark Mechikoff, has been apprehended by authorities in San Jose after allegedly killing a woman in San Mateo and live streaming the horrific incident on Facebook. San Mateo police reported that Mechikoff was arrested within two hours of the victim being found dead in an apartment on the 200 block of 36th Avenue in San Mateo.
The investigation was triggered when authorities in Nye County, Nevada, informed San Mateo police that a person had witnessed a “stabbing” on Facebook. The witness provided authorities with the name and phone number of the individual responsible for posting the video. By “pinging” the phone number, Nye County authorities were able to trace it back to a large apartment complex on the 200 block of 37th Avenue in San Mateo.
San Mateo police quickly mobilized and conducted a thorough search of the area, going door to door in search of the victim and potential suspect. After nearly three hours, the victim was discovered dead in an apartment within the complex. Although Mechikoff was not present at the scene, authorities were able to locate and apprehend him in San Jose without incident. Shockingly, he was still in possession of the suspected murder weapon.
Neighbors residing in the vicinity of the crime scene expressed their shock and horror at the tragic event. Zeena Amer, a neighbor, spoke of the chilling experience, stating, “It was frightening because if you think about it 24 hours ago, this woman was alive. She had a life, she had friends, she had family, and now she is gone.”
While Mechikoff and the victim were known to each other, the exact nature of their relationship and the motive behind the stabbing remain unclear. However, NBC Bay Area has uncovered Mechikoff’s criminal history, including a 2019 arrest in Florida for allegedly assaulting a woman and threatening her with a knife. Investigators are now relying on video surveillance footage and Mechikoff’s own disturbing video posted online to aid in their ongoing investigation.
Jerami Surratt, the public information officer for the San Mateo Police Department, expressed the department’s shock and disgust at the content of the video, stating, “It’s pretty hideous what that video contained…for him to take it a step further and post a video about it is pretty disturbing.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information or security footage related to the case to come forward and assist in the investigation. Detective Sgt. Dave Manion can be contacted at 650-522-7660 or via email at dmanion@cityofsanmateo.org. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online or by phone at 650-522-7676.
This shocking crime highlights the dark consequences of social media misuse and serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers lurking in the digital realm. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a life tragically cut short, and authorities work tirelessly to bring justice to the victim and her grieving loved ones.
Original Story at www.nbcbayarea.com – 2023-07-28 04:14:50