Niagara garage

4918 Del Mar Ave.

Homicide detectives and SWAT officers swooped into Ocean Beach Wednesday, May 1, after a woman’s body was found inside the garage of a rental property and a 36-year-old man, Daniel Chase McKibben, was seen running from the scene.

The incident began at 5045 Niagara Avenue around 1am when San Diego Police received a check-the-welfare call.

"The caller said a family member had received a message from his mother, which caused them to be concerned," SDPD Lt. Matt Dobbs said. "They attempted to call her back but could not reach her. The family believed she (had been) checking on a property in the ... neighborhood."

A short time later, police discovered the body of the woman, covered in a blanket, inside the garage behind the complex Daniel McKibben’s brother saw him running from.

Authorities then shifted their attention to a second location where they believed Daniel McKibben might have been hiding, 4918 Del Mar Ave. After several hours of searching the area, McKibben had not been located.

Authorities did not release the connection between the suspect and the two properties.

The victim’s body was found in the garage belonging to 5045 Niagara Ave #4. There are two top floor units-#3 and #4.

Public records name Heidi McKibben, the suspect’s mother, as the property owner, as well as her son Daniel Chase McKibben.

Both 2-bedroom, 2-bath units have been listed on the home-sharing platforms, Vacation Rental By Owner, and Home Away, naming Dan McKibben as the host/owner.

The last review on VRBO was posted April 2, 2019:

‘We just enjoyed a fantastic stay at Dan and Heidi’s place. From our first communication to check in to check out, they were very responsive. The condo is just 2 houses and steps away from the beach and pier. It was very convenient to walk to the nearby restaurants, bars and even a yoga studio. The condo itself was immaculate…wonderful place that we would definitely stay at again!’

The last response from Dan was March 4, 2019: "We are so glad that your stay at our property exceeded your expectations. We look forward to you returning for another visit very soon! Dan"

Kristina Thomas, who vacationed at McGibben’s rental in December, was shocked and concerned. She told me: “My interaction with him (Daniel McKibben) was via texting through the Home Away app. He was responsive and very pleasant. He offered suggestions of places to see/eat, etc. I told him I was from OB and that I used to live just a few blocks up on Niagara, behind Ranchos/across from Rite Aid. That was about it… although, I do have to say, my boyfriend and I now fear if we were perhaps being spied on via hidden camera or something, if this guy is capable of what it’s alleged he may have done, I fear the worst as far as our privacy was concerned.”

The listings have since become "inactive" on the website; the latest activity occurred on April 3 and 7, 2019.

Further records indicate that Ms. McKibben purchased the Niagara properties at different times; unit 3 in 2007 for $510,000, and unit 4 on June 27, 2018 for $686,000.

In December of 2018, Heidi McKibben added her son Daniel Chase McKibben to the deed of those rental properties on Niagara.

The property on Del Mar Avenue, where police initially believed the suspect to be hiding, was purchased in March 2018 for $857,000, granted to Heidi McKibben Green.

On May 2 (last week) Daniel McKibben was taken into custody after trespassing in a La Mesa. He had refused to leave a home, brandished a knife and was shot three times by SDPD, two shots struck McKibben, one on his hand and one on his shoulder. He is expected to survive.