A shocking Arizona homicide case involving a man who allegedly believed he had been “Catfished” during a dating app meetup has led to second-degree murder charges. A 30-year-old woman is accused of running him over with his own SUV.

Authorities say the deadly encounter unfolded after the victim reportedly realized the woman he met online did not resemble her dating profile.

According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers responded around 4 p.m. on May 3 to reports of a man being struck by an SUV in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Maryland Avenue in Phoenix.

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Police found 52-year-old Norris Taft suffering from critical injuries after allegedly being run over and dragged beneath the vehicle. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Authorities say the driver fled the scene immediately after the incident.

Dating Meetup Catfished Allegedly Ended in Violence

Investigators later arrested Mikela Bahe in connection with the case. Bahe now faces charges including second-degree murder, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and theft of means of transportation.

According to reports from ABC15 Arizona and Fox 10 Phoenix, Taft’s nephew told investigators that the victim had been communicating with a woman he met through the social networking and dating platform MocoSpace.

Court documents cited by local media indicate Taft called his nephew shortly before the incident and explained he was on his way to meet the woman in person.

The nephew later reportedly received a text message from Taft stating he believed he had been “catfished” because the woman did not look like the person featured in her online profile.

Despite the apparent disappointment, Taft allegedly planned to drive the woman back to her home.

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Police Say Argument Escalated

Investigators believe the pair spent time together after meeting, including a stop at a dispensary before returning to Taft’s apartment complex.

According to court documents reviewed by local outlets, police suspect an argument erupted between the two shortly afterward.

Surveillance footage reportedly captured key moments leading up to the deadly incident. Authorities say the video showed a woman leaving the apartment complex and entering a dark-colored SUV. A man later stepped in front of the moving vehicle before being struck, dragged underneath the SUV, and left behind as the vehicle drove away.

The SUV involved in the incident was reportedly owned by Taft and remains missing, according to investigators.

Suspect Who Catfished Arrested at Airport Shuttle

Police later identified Bahe as a suspect after obtaining security footage showing her boarding a shuttle headed toward Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the day of the incident.

Authorities tracked her movements and arrested her several days later.

During questioning, Bahe reportedly acknowledged being with Taft in Phoenix around the time of the incident but claimed she could not remember what happened after the pair left the dispensary.

Even after investigators showed her surveillance footage, she allegedly continued to insist she had no memory of the fatal encounter.

Bahe is currently being held at Maricopa County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.

Growing Concerns Over Dating App Safety

The case has renewed concerns about safety risks tied to online dating and social media meetup platforms. Law enforcement agencies frequently advise users to meet in public places, inform family or friends about plans, and avoid sharing transportation or personal information too quickly with strangers met online.

Investigators continue searching for Taft’s missing SUV while prosecutors prepare the case against Bahe.

The Maricopa County Superior Court is expected to handle upcoming proceedings related to the charges.