Couple arrested on suspicion of murder in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa police have arrested a couple in connection with a suspected murder of a man outside of a local motel, officials said Friday.

Nick Ryan Lavey, 34, and his girlfriend Kaley Joanne Lippmann, 28, both of Costa Mesa, were taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to commit a crime, authorities said.

At about 5:15 a.m. on Nov. 7, Costa Mesa police and paramedics responded to a call that reported a male with a wound to the head outside a motel located in the 2000 block of Harbor Boulevard.

Dakota Hansen, 24, was found unconscious at the scene. It was determined at a hospital that Hansen had sustained a gunshot wound to the head, authorities added. Hansen was pronounced dead at the hospital on Friday.

Police did not find suspects upon their arrival, but surveillance video showed two possible suspects and a vehicle at the location.

Detectives identified Lavey as the owner of the vehicle during an investigation, police said. After acquiring a search warrant, detectives found items suspected to be connected to the crime at the couple’s residence, officials said.

Lavey is being held in custody on $1 million bail, and Lippmann’s bail is set at $500,000, jail records show. They are to appear in court on Monday.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.