2 Models Found Dead in Their Apartments as Families Search for Answers
Two Los Angeles-based models have been found dead in their respective homes from suspected foul play.
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the LAPD found 31-year-old model and real estate agent Maleesa Mooney, who is the sister of Guyanese pop star Jourdin Pauline, dead in her South Figueroa Street apartment. Her family had asked for a wellness check after Mooney wasn't answering texts and calls for a week.
"Her messages weren't delivering and we knew something was up because we all have a special relationship with Maleesa," said her cousin Bailey Babb to KTLA. Details of her alleged injuries have not been shared yet.
Within the same week, 32-year-old model Nichole "Nikki" Coats was found dead by her family inside her downtown LA apartment, less than three miles away from Mooney.
Coats' father and aunt had decided to visit after not hearing from her over the weekend. She last told friends that she was going on a date on Friday, Sept. 8.
In KTLA's reports, Coats' mother Sharon described the apparent murder scene as "gruesome" and confirmed her daughter's bed was covered in blood.
"I couldn't recognize her," the mother said, noting, "I believe it was murder, I really do."
Her cousin, Sheniya Mason, noted, "We just want to know what happened... It just doesn't seem right... Is there a correlation between these two females? Is there a correlation? They were both almost in the same area... we need to make sure that this isn't something else because it just didn't seem right."
LAPD spokesperson Tony Im confirmed to NBC News that the LAPD is investigating Mooney's death as a homicide, but is still waiting for a medical examiner's report on Coats' death to determine whether it should be investigated as such.
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