LA police appeal for help after two models are found dead in a week

Families fear serial killer possibilities as LA police find models Maleesa Mooney and Nichole Coats found dead within a week

• On September 10, family members discovered model Nichole ‘Nikki’ Coats’ body in her apartment two days after they’d last heard from her via text 
• Her death is still being ruled as ‘suspicious’ pending a Los Angeles County Coroner’s report 
• Just two days later and three miles away, Maleesa Mooney, 31, was found dead inside her luxurious Los Angeles high-rise apartment 

Family members are worried about a serial killer on the loose after the reveal that two Los Angeles-area models have died within three miles of one another in the span of days. 

On September 10, family members discovered model Nichole ‘Nikki’ Coats’ body in her apartment two days after they’d last heard from her via text, when she’d told them she was headed on a date. 

Her death is still being ruled as ‘suspicious’ pending a Los Angeles County Coroner’s report.

Just two days later and three miles away, Maleesa Mooney, 31, was found dead inside her luxurious Los Angeles high-rise apartment after her family called for a wellness check because their blue text message conversations with her turned green. 

Coats’ aunt, May Stevens, who discovered her body, suggested in a press conference that ‘there is a predator on the loose,’ though only Mooney’s death has been officially deemed a homicide.

On September 10, family members discovered model Nichole ‘Nikki’ Coats’ body in her apartment two days after they’d last heard from her via text, when she’d told them she was headed on a date

‘This is senseless and I want some answers because my daughter is gone,’ added the victim’s mother, Sharon Coats. 

‘And it’s not fair. I want everybody to find out who did this to her. She shouldn’t be gone.’ 

Stevens said when she and other concerned family member’s discovered her body, they could barely tell it was her.

‘I couldn’t recognize her,’ she said. ‘I believe it was murder, I really do.’ 

Coats’ mother told KTLA her daughter ‘didn’t have any enemies’ and was ‘loved by friends and the community.’ 

Another family member expressed similar sentiments about Coats in a GoFundMe meant to help with funeral costs.

‘She is known as an amazing daughter, friend and soul,’ wrote John Clark. ‘Her untimely passing has left us shocked.’

‘There’s no way we could have imagined or prepared for this difficult time.’ 

Coats’ mother Sharon said her daughter ‘didn’t have any enemies’ and was ‘loved by friends and the community.’

Coats’ aunt, May Stevens (pictured right), who discovered her body, suggested in a press conference that ‘there is a predator on the loose,’ though only Mooney’s death has been officially deemed a homicide

Coats’ downtown Los Angeles apartment was just three miles from where Mooney was found two days later

Coats’ death is still being ruled as ‘suspicious’ pending a Los Angeles County Coroner’s report

Coats’ downtown Los Angeles apartment was just three miles from where Mooney was found two days later.

Mooney worked as a real estate agent at Beverly Hills-based agency Nest Seekers and had only moved into her new home a month ago, her family said. 

Cops entered her apartment Skye at Bunker Hill on September 12 just before 4pm and found the woman murdered. They did not say how long she had been dead for.  

Her family knew something was wrong when their iPhone text conversations with Mooney changed from blue to green – signaling a change in WiFi and data services.  

Bailey Babb, Mooney’s cousin, told KTLA that the family asked for a wellness check when she stopped answering her calls: ‘When a week went by, we just knew something was off.

‘Her messages weren’t delivering and we knew something was up because we all have a special relationship with Maleesa.’

Jourdin Pauline, her popstar sister who has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, said: ‘Maleesa has always been someone who is a peacemaker in our family, someone that’s always been the backbone, and making sure everyone’s getting together, loving on each other.

Tributes poured in for aspiring model Mooney, 31, as LA police launched a murder investigation after finding her dead inside her apartment

Mooney (right) worked as a real estate agent at Beverly Hills-based agency Nest Seekers and had only moved into her new home a month ago, her family said

‘So this is a really big piece of us that’s gone now.’ 

She wrote in a heartfelt tribute on social media: ‘Never in a million years did I think I’d have to make this post and get justice for my one & only sister my heart is crushed.

‘I can’t believe you won’t be here with us anymore you were so loving and so kind to everyone you made sure if you ate everyone around you was too you opened your arms to people who didn’t deserve you as a friend you’re the best thing to happen to almost everyone’s lives you touched!’ 

She added: ‘This feels so surreal I keep waking up crying thinking I’m in a bad dream we will get justice for you my sister I promise you won’t be gone in vain!’ 

Pauline said that her sister’s iCloud had an alert that she was still online, which made her believe that her murderer was trying to steal and sell her iPhone and MacBook.  

Her family knew something was wrong when their iPhone text conversations with Mooney changed from blue to green – signaling a change in WiFi and data services

The building has a resort-style pool and sundeck and central courtyard – as well as communal BBQ grills, tennis courts, and a dog park

Jourdin Pauline, her popstar sister who has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, said: ‘Maleesa has always been someone who is a peacemaker in our family, someone that’s always been the backbone, and making sure everyone’s getting together, loving on each other’

Residents living in the 450-unit high-rise have allegedly been ‘raising the alarm’ about weird, suspicious activity in the building over the last few weeks.

Rent for studio and one-bed apartments at the complex start at $2,019 a month. 

The building also has a resort-style pool and sundeck and central courtyard – as well as communal BBQ grills, tennis courts, and a dog park.

The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement: ‘(LAPD) Central Bureau Homicide investigators are requesting the public’s help for any information in a murder investigation.

‘On September 12, 2023, approximately 3:54 p.m., LAPD Central Area uniformed patrol officers responded to a radio call for a Welfare Check at the 200 block of South Figueroa Street.

‘Officers found a victim (later identified as Maleesa Mooney) deceased inside of an apartment unit. 

‘Officers contacted Central Bureau Homicide, who responded and assumed investigative responsibility for the case. 

‘The investigation revealed that Maleesa Mooney had been murdered inside of her apartment. 

‘Maleesa Mooney’s exact cause of death is unknown, pending a post-mortem examination, which will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

‘The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting the public’s help in identifying any and all persons responsible for Maleesa Mooney’s death.’

Source: Read Full Article