A shocking murder case in Arizona has left many people stunned after police say a woman intentionally ran over a man she had met through a dating app, killing him before fleeing the scene.
The accused, 30-year-old Mikela Antresa Bahe, is now in police custody and faces several serious criminal charges, including second-degree murder, vehicle theft, and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.
Arizona Woman Arrested in Deadly Dating App Murder Case
According to the Phoenix Police Department, the deadly incident happened on May 3 at around 4 p.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex near 16th Street and Maryland Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona.
A 911 caller reported that a man had been struck by a dark-colored SUV. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and found 52-year-old Norris L. Taft suffering from severe injuries.
Taft was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.
By the time officers arrived, the driver had already fled the scene.
Surveillance Video Captured Horrifying Moments
Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage from the apartment complex, and what they found was disturbing.
According to police, the video showed a woman leaving an apartment building and getting into an SUV. Around the same time, Taft was seen walking through the parking lot before standing in front of the vehicle with his hands raised, seemingly trying to stop the driver.
Instead of stopping, police say the SUV accelerated directly toward him.
The footage reportedly shows Taft being hit, knocked to the ground, dragged underneath the vehicle, and then run over as the SUV drove away from the complex.
Investigators later identified the driver as Mikela Antresa Bahe.
Victim and Suspect Met Through Dating App
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Taft and Bahe had met online through the social networking and dating platform MokoSpace.
Police say the two met in person earlier that same day at a donut shop in Phoenix.
However, the meeting reportedly did not go well.
According to court documents, Taft later sent a message to his nephew saying he had been “catfished,” claiming the woman he met did not look like the profile photos he had seen online.
Taft reportedly told his nephew that he was planning to drop Bahe off at her residence and end the date.
Police Tracked Suspect Across Arizona
Investigators discovered that the Cadillac Escalade involved in the incident was normally driven only by Taft.
Using surveillance footage, social media activity, and other digital evidence, police tracked Bahe’s movements after the deadly incident.
Authorities say she visited multiple businesses across the Phoenix area before eventually traveling to Flagstaff, roughly 150 miles north of Phoenix.
Bahe was arrested there by local officers and later transported back to Phoenix.
Suspect Allegedly Admitted She ‘Messed Up’
During police questioning, Bahe reportedly admitted she had spent part of the weekend with Taft.
She allegedly told detectives that she could not remember what happened after Taft took her to a dispensary.
Investigators say she later stopped answering questions.
Police also revealed that Bahe allegedly called a family member and admitted she had “messed up” and would likely be going to prison.
Serious Charges Filed Against Bahe
Mikela Antresa Bahe now faces multiple charges, including:
- Second-degree murder
- Theft of means of transportation
- Failure to remain at the scene of a fatal accident
She is currently being held in the Maricopa County Jail as the investigation continues.
