The family of an LA model is seeking answers after her cause of death was announced.
Los Angeles has been rocked by the shocking news of two models found dead in their apartments within days of each other.
Per the New York Post, one of the deceased - 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney - not only died of "homicidal violence", but was also pregnant at the time of her tragic death, according to the LA County Medical Examiner's Office.
The circumstances of Mooney's death, reported by KTLA, have left her loved ones with more questions than answers. Initially, her cause of death was listed as "deferred." However, recent updates suggest the nature of her death was far more sinister, with "homicidal violence" now recorded as "Cause A".
"Other significant conditions" also were cited in the official report into Mooney's death.
Jourdin Pauline, Mooney's sister, believes the cause of death was initially deferred due to the extensive injuries Mooney suffered, making it challenging to pinpoint the exact cause. Adding to the heartbreak, Pauline disclosed that Mooney, who was two months pregnant, had always dreamt of motherhood.
"I can’t imagine what my sister went through," she shared with KTLA.
Mooney's loved ones have since set up a GoFundMe in an effort to raise money to cover any legal fees that arise as they fight for justice.
"We ask that you continue to fight alongside of us as well by sharing her story, reporting any information you may know, and keeping #JUSTICEFORMALEESA going," the GoFundMe description reads.
The family also has voiced plans to "start a fund and foundation in Maleesa's name and memory".
Nichole Coats, a 32-year-old model, was also found dead in her South Grand Avenue apartment just two days before Mooney's body was discovered.
Though Coats' death isn't currently investigated as a homicide, the parallels between the two cases - given their professions and locations - have sparked concerns about a potential serial killer, the Daily Mail reports. However, the LAPD has shut down this claim and is yet to find concrete evidence linking the two deaths.
Mooney's family has since expressed frustration over the apparent lack of urgency from the police. Pauline says: "It’s honestly so stressful [...] I have thousands and thousands of scenarios in my head of what could have happened because we don’t know."
"This person is still out there and the police are not telling us anything," Pauline continued to KTLA. "What is the holdup? What did the guys see? Can you share it with us? Suspects? Surveillance video that you do have? Show us something, tell us something so we can look out for it."
Equally aggrieved, Coats' family feels left in the dark.
Sharon Coats, Nichole's mother, challenges the police's decision not to treat her daughter's death as a homicide, telling the LA Times that the Medical Examiner’s Office claimed Nichole had been deceased for three to five days before being discovered. Yet, Sharon had seen her just two days before the tragic discovery.
But LAPD Officer Tony Im previously told The LA Times Coats’ death raised no suspicions "that would make it a homicide, so we need the coroner to do an examination of the body to see what caused the death".
"I’m not going to let this be a cold case. I will keep voicing my opinion regarding what happened," the doting mother told the paper.
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