Police say the man had told family he believed he was being catfished before he was struck.
PHOENIX, AZ — A Phoenix woman is accused of stealing an SUV from a man she met on a dating app and fatally striking him when he tried to stop her from leaving, police said.
The case centers on a meeting that investigators say began online and ended with a deadly collision. Phoenix police said the woman took the man’s vehicle after they met in person. The man was struck as he tried to stop the SUV from leaving, and the investigation is now being handled as a homicide.
Police said the man and woman had connected through a dating app before the encounter. Investigators said the woman got into the man’s SUV and tried to drive away. The man attempted to stop her, but he was hit by the vehicle. Officers and medical crews responded after the crash, but the man did not survive. Police have not released every step of the encounter, including how long the two had been together before the SUV was taken.
Family members told investigators the victim had sent messages before he was killed saying he believed he had been “catfished,” police said. The term is commonly used when someone uses a false or misleading identity online, but investigators have not said whether they believe a fake profile was used in this case. Police have not publicly detailed what was in the dating profile, what app was used or whether the woman knew the man before the online contact.
The killing adds a theft case to a homicide investigation. Police said the SUV belonged to the victim and was taken as the woman tried to leave. Detectives are reviewing messages, the dating app contact and the events leading up to the crash. The vehicle is a key piece of evidence because police say it was both the stolen property and the weapon that caused the fatal injuries.
The suspect faces accusations tied to the death and the theft of the vehicle. Police did not immediately release all booking details in the available public report, including a full list of charges, court dates or whether the woman had an attorney. Those records are expected to shape the next phase of the case as prosecutors decide what counts to pursue.
Investigators have not said whether the collision was recorded by surveillance cameras or witnessed by neighbors. They also have not released the victim’s name in the available report. The unanswered questions include what happened during the meeting, when the victim realized the SUV was being taken and whether the woman made statements to police after her arrest.
The case remains under investigation by Phoenix police. Detectives are expected to continue reviewing digital messages, vehicle evidence and witness accounts as the case moves toward a charging decision and court proceedings.
Author note: Last updated May 8, 2026.