Above: Stock Image
Authorities in San Mateo have arrested an individual on suspicion of murder after receiving an alert that someone in Nevada had witnessed the crime on Facebook.
According to a press release by the San Mateo Police Department, the department received a report from the Nye County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada about a possible stabbing witnessed on Facebook on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 26. The reporting individual provided the name and phone number of the person who posted the story, police said.
Given the severity of the crime, the Nye County authorities conducted a phone “ping” and traced it to the area of the 200 block of 37th Avenue in San Mateo, a large apartment complex.
Due to the limitations of the ping accuracy and the absence of an apartment number, the San Mateo police officers conducted a thorough search of the complex, including a door-to-door canvass to locate any potential victims or suspects. Nearly three hours into the search, officers discovered a deceased individual in one of the apartments the next street over, which was part of the same complex.
Within two hours of finding the victim, police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Mark Mechikoff of Pacifica, who was not present at the apartment complex at the time.
Mechikoff was later apprehended without incident in San Jose. He has since been booked on suspicion of murder.
Investigators say that Mechikoff was acquainted with the female victim, whose identity has not yet been released. The motive behind the stabbing remains unclear. Police say that Mechikoff had recorded the victim’s final moments and posted the video on Facebook before fleeing the area.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information or security footage related to this homicide to contact Detective Sergeant Dave Manion at (650) 522-7660 or dmanion@cityofsanmateo.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted here or by calling (650) 522-7676.
It was unclear at press time whether Mechikoff had retained an attorney.
