The murder of 31-year-old model and real estate agent, Maleesa Mooney, based in Los Angeles, California, has gripped the nation with its chilling details that resemble a crime thriller.
Mooney’s lifeless body was found on September 12, 2023, unnervingly stowed inside her refrigerator at her upscale apartment in downtown Los Angeles.
The case reached a significant turning point on February 21, 2024, with the arrest of Magnus Daniel Humphrey, a 41-year-old Minnesota resident with a multi-state criminal record.
Mooney had only recently moved to her Skye at Bunker Hill apartment and was found bound with electric cords and gagged when the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) performed a welfare check after her parents raised concerns about unreturned messages. Officers used a key obtained from the building management to access her apartment and first discovered blood beneath the refrigerator.
An autopsy showed that Mooney had sustained multiple blunt force injuries to her face, head, back, and upper left arm and had a fractured rib. These wounds were not initially deemed lethal, suggesting a severe altercation preceded her death. Toxicology tests also found traces of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine derivative, and a combination of cocaethylene and ethanol.
Adding to the tragedy, Jourdin Pauline, Mooney’s sister and a prominent Guyanese pop star, revealed to KTLA that Mooney was two months pregnant and had always dreamed of motherhood.
The suspect, Humphrey, was arrested at his home in Hopkins, Minnesota, on an unrelated warrant. His criminal record, including convictions for gun charges, assaults, sexual assaults, and false imprisonment in Minnesota and Illinois, paints a troubling portrait. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has charged Humphrey with murder, including a special allegation of murder during torture. At the time of his arrest, Humphrey was on probation for federal narcotics offenses and has agreed to extradition to face charges in Los Angeles.
The murder has not only shocked the community but also raised security concerns in the city’s wealthy neighborhoods. The discovery of Mooney’s body came just days after another model, Nichole “Nikki” Coats, was found dead in her LA apartment, prompting initial fears of a serial killer. However, Coats’ death was later determined to be accidental, due to “cocaine and ethanol toxicity.”
As the case against Humphrey progresses, many are left pondering the brutal circumstances surrounding Mooney’s death. Described by acquaintances as a vibrant and ambitious woman, her loss has left a void. The LAPD and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office continue their investigation, aiming to deliver justice for Mooney and her unborn child and offer some solace to her grieving family and friends.
