Los Angeles police say the gruesome deaths of two models in luxury downtown apartments are “unrelated” after some suggested a serial killer may be on the loose.
An LAPD representative said that despite the similarities between the deaths of Nichole Coats and Maleesa Mooney, the incidents are believed to be unrelated.
Coats, 32, was found dead in a bloody scene in her South Grand Avenue apartment on September 10, while Mooney, 31, was found dead two days later.
Mooney’s apartment on South Figueroa Street is a mile away from Coats and police are currently investigating her death as a homicide.
As police investigate, relatives of both women have come forward and expressed concerns that someone is killing women in the area.
Nichole Coats (left) was found dead in her South Grand Avenue apartment on September 10. Mooney (right) was found dead in her South Figueroa Street apartment two days later
Coats was found dead in her apartment on Grand Street, while Mooney was discovered just a mile away in the 200 block of South Figueroa Street.
In their statement Tuesday, the LAPD clarified that while the women’s ages, races, occupations and manners of death are similar, they are investigating separately.
“To date, there is no evidence to suggest that the deaths of Ms. Coats and Ms. Mooney are related,” a rep told KTLA.
Police declined to provide additional details, stating that the killings are still considered “actively investigated.”
The clarification comes just one day after Coats’ family spoke to KTLA and told the outlet they found her in an unrecognizable state after her death.
“I couldn’t recognize her,” said Coats’ aunt, May Stevens.
‘I believe it was murder, I really do. One of her legs was hanging in the air in a kicking position. That’s not someone who just lay in bed and died,” she said.
Police have called Mooney’s death a homicide, but have yet to officially declare Coats’ death a homicide. Details about their causes of death have not been shared.
The model’s father and aunt discovered her at the home two days after she was last heard from and told friends she had a date on September 8.
“I don’t know who she dated or what happened there,” said Sharon Coats, Nikki’s mother. “I have no idea, but I’ll find out.”
“If you’re out there, you’re going to get caught. You are arguing with the wrong person,” said the angry and grieving mother.
Coats’ death remains classified as ‘suspicious’ pending a Los Angeles County coroner’s report
Coats’ apartment in downtown LA is a mile from where Mooney was found two days later
Coats’ aunt, May Stevens (right), discovered her body. She is seen here with Sharon Coats, Nikki’s mother
Money – the sister of Guyanese pop star Jourdin Pauline – was found dead on September 12 after a series of calls and text messages went unanswered.
Her phone messages had gone from blue texts to green, the family said.
During a welfare check, police found the model’s body.
It is unclear how long she was dead or in the apartment.
Mooney worked as a real estate agent at the Beverly Hills-based agency Nest Seekers and had only moved into her new home a month ago, her family said.
Bailey Babb, Mooney’s cousin, told KTLA that the family requested a welfare check when she stopped answering her calls.
“When a week went by, we just knew something was wrong.”
“Her messages weren’t getting through and we knew something was going on because we all have a special relationship with Maleesa,” Babb said.
Pauline, who has 1.3 million Instagram followers, posted about her sister and said Mooney was a “peacemaker” in their family.
“Malesa has always been someone who is a peacemaker in our family, someone who has always been the backbone and made everyone come together and love each other,” she wrote.
Mooney in a photo from her sister’s Instagram account
Jourdin Pauline, Mooney’s sister who has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, said: ‘Maleesa has always been someone who is a peacemaker in our family, someone who has always been the backbone and makes everyone come together and love each other holds.
Residents of Mooney’s 450-unit high-rise are said to have ‘raised the alarm’ in recent weeks about strange, suspicious activity in the building
Residents of Mooney’s 450-unit high-rise are said to have ‘raised the alarm’ about strange, suspicious activity in the building in recent weeks.
Rent for studios and one-bed apartments in the complex starts at $2,019 per month.
The building also has a resort-style pool and sundeck and a central courtyard, as well as community barbecue grills, tennis courts and a dog park.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement: “(LAPD) Central Homicide Bureau investigators are asking for the public’s assistance with any information in a homicide investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detectives Pierce or Marcinek at 213-996-4150 or contact 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
