LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Homicide detectives are currently probing the death of a budding model and real estate agent whose body was discovered inside her Los Angeles apartment on Tuesday, September 12.
Malessa Mooney, 31, was found unresponsive at Bunker Hill luxury apartments in the 200 block of South Figueroa Street at around 4 pm on Tuesday.
Officers reportedly made the tragic discovery after they responded to a radio call for a welfare check.
In a news release, police confirmed they are investigating but did not release details about how she died.
According to the reports of KTLA, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is in charge of investigating her cause of death. Police requested public help for any information in the case.
Family members seek answers after Malessa Mooney's tragic demise
“When a week went by, we just knew something was off,” Bailey Babb, Mooney’s cousin, told the outlet.
“Her messages weren’t delivering, and we knew something was up because we all have a special relationship with Maleesa,” she said.
Maleesa’s sister, Jourdin Pauline, told the station she was “a peacemaker in our family, someone that’s always been the backbone, and making sure everyone’s getting together, loving on each other. So this is a really big piece of us that’s gone now.”
Pauline told local station KABC that whoever killed her also stole her belongings. “They’re trying to sell her iPhone and her MacBook,” Pauline told the station.
“Her iCloud had an alert like she was on. To have someone do what they did to my sister, to that caliber, is sick. It’s demented,” she said.
The victim's sister said her heart is crushed on Instagram. “Never in a million years did I think I’d have to make this post,” she said.
“I can’t believe you won’t be here with us anymore. You were so loving and so kind to everyone. This is so sick. I can’t believe my baby big sister is gone!!!!! The reason I’m me is because of you!!!” she continued.
“This feels so surreal. I keep waking up crying, thinking I’m in a bad dream,” she concluded.
Residents in the apartment have been on high alert since the incident
Mooney’s family wants justice and for the person or people responsible to be held accountable. The killing left residents at the apartment on high alert.
“It is scary,” one woman said, adding “It does scare me because I’m just right down the hall.”