Further disturbing details have been released regarding the death of Los Angeles model Maleesa Mooney.
The 31-year-old was found dead in her downtown LA apartment on September 8, leaving her family desperate for answers.
Now, The New York Post has shared further grizzly details from Mooney's autopsy report after the LA County Medical Examiner's Office had classified her death as a result of "homicidal violence" earlier this month
According to the public report by the Los Angeles Department of the Medical Examiner, released Friday, Mooney was found dead inside her refrigerator, with her wrists and ankles bound and her mouth gagged "with miscellaneous electronic cords and clothing items".
The autopsy also detailed a series of blunt force injuries on Mooney’s face, head, back, and upper left arm, with the report stating: "The blunt force traumatic injuries observed at autopsy are generally not considered acutely life-threatening on their own."
Additional toxicological findings highlighted the presence of benzoylecgonine - a cocaine metabolite - in her bloodstream. A combination of cocaethylene and ethanol was also detected.
The report stated: "However, based on the circumstances of how Ms. Mooney was found, these injuries suggest she was likely involved in a violent physical altercation prior to her death. The role that drugs and/or alcohol may have played in Ms. Mooney’s death, if any, is uncertain."
According to CBS News, Mooney was last seen alive on security footage from her apartment complex on September 6.
On September 12, Mooney's mother prompted the police to carry out a welfare check after becoming concerned about her daughter's well-being. Officers later found Mooney's body in a pool of blood and "wedged in the refrigerator," as per the report's description.
Strangulation marks and the evident blunt force injuries led coroner officials to conclude the manner of her death as a homicide.
Further compounding the family's agony, there was an alert on Mooney's iCloud indicating unauthorized usage of her devices. This alarming detail suggests that somebody was attempting to sell Mooney's iPhone and MacBook after her death, the family shared with ABC 7.
Jourdin Pauline, Mooney’s sister and also a model, shared a heart-wrenching revelation with local TV station KTLA, stating that Mooney was two months pregnant at the time of her demise. "I can't imagine what my sister went through and it pains me to even think about it," she said.
Mooney's loved ones set up a GoFundMe in an effort to raise money to cover any legal fees that arise as they fight for answers.
"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 shared plans to "start a fund and foundation in Maleesa's name and memory". As of this writing, more than $7,000 has been raised.
LA police have launched a murder investigation but no arrests have been made at this time, Anybody with any information regarding the case is urged to contact the police at (213) 996-4150.
Mooney's death came just days after the death of another LA model, Nichole "Nikki" Coats, who was found dead in her downtown LA apartment just two days prior.
While initially, fears were that Coats too had been murdered, an autopsy disclosed her death was due to an accidental overdose of cocaine and alcohol.
LAPD officials are firm in their assertion that there's no evidence suggesting a connection between the models' deaths.
Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of both Mooney and Coats at this time.
