Huntington Beach homicide victim ID’d as 35-year-old nurse, possible suspect named

Huntington Beach police have identified a person of interest in the reported homicide of a 35-year-old woman whose body was found Friday inside a house on the 1100 block of England Street.

Officers responded to the residence after receiving a call at around 2:30 p.m. regarding a possibly suspicious death and discovered the victim’s body at the scene, Huntington Beach public affairs manager Jennifer Carey said Tuesday.

Orange County sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Matthew Parrish confirmed the decedent had been identified by the county coroner’s office as Nicole Karin Marquisee, 35, of Walnut.

The case is being handled by detectives from the department’s Major Crimes Unit who, according to a news release Wednesday, have identified a possible suspect in the case — Christopher Mendez, 35, of Diamond Bar.

It is believed Mendez was in a dating relationship with Marquisee at the time of her death. Carey said Wednesday morning that while Mendez has been identified as a person of interest, no arrests had yet been made.

Marquisee — known as Coco by her family and friends — reportedly worked in the healthcare industry and had become a traveler nurse when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, according to a crowdfunding page started by a family member to raise money for her memorial services.

“She always made time for the ones she cared about,” read a statement on the page. “She was a loving daughter, sister, auntie, friend, cousin and so much more. Everyone who knew her LOVED her.”

It is unclear whether Marquisee had been living at the England Street home or elsewhere in Huntington Beach at the time of her death. Carey said further details were not being released to the public due to the ongoing investigation.

“Detectives have been working around the clock on this one, but I can confirm an arrest has not yet been made,” she said Tuesday. “Given the type of circumstances involved in this, we’re being really careful to make sure we don’t do anything to impact that investigation.”

Anyone who might have information on the incident is asked to contact Huntington Beach Police Det. Richard Chen at (714) 536-5653.