A woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a man she allegedly met on a dating app, after he was run over in a hit-and-run incident in Phoenix, Arizona.
Incident Details
On Sunday, May 3, 2026, at around 4 p.m. local time, Phoenix Police responded to reports of a man being run over by an SUV in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Maryland Avenue. The driver of the SUV fled the scene. Officers arrived to find 52-year-old Norris Taft critically injured. He was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Background and Arrest
Taft’s nephew told investigators that around 12:56 p.m. on the day of the incident, Taft had called him to say he was on his way to meet a woman he had met on Mocospace, a dating app. Shortly afterward, Taft texted his nephew claiming that he had been “catfished” by the woman, as she did not look like her online photos. Taft also mentioned that he planned to return the woman to her home.
According to police, the pair went to a dispensary before returning to Taft’s apartment. Authorities believe that during their time together, an argument occurred, which led to Taft being run over by the SUV.
Surveillance Footage and Investigation
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex shows a woman entering a dark-colored SUV. Moments later, a man steps into the parking lot and is struck by the vehicle, which then drags him underneath before fleeing the scene. Police identified the woman as Mikela Bahe, 30, after reviewing security video of her boarding a shuttle at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, heading to Flagstaff.
Bahe was arrested on May 6 and charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident, and theft of means of transportation. Taft’s SUV has not yet been located.
Bahe’s Statement
During questioning, Bahe acknowledged being with Taft in Phoenix but claimed to have no memory of the events after leaving the dispensary. When shown the surveillance footage, she continued to insist that she couldn’t remember what happened.
Bahe is being held at Maricopa County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Phoenix Police Department has not yet commented further.
