Maleesa Mooney, a 31-year-old mannequin and actual property agent whose body was found stuffed inside a refrigerator in her downtown L.A. apartment final fall, allowed the suspect in her slaying to remain in her dwelling solely to be “repaid with torture and homicide,” in line with prosecutors.
Mooney was found dead Sept. 12 in her residence within the 200 block of South Figueroa Avenue after her household requested a welfare test, authorities stated. Mooney’s physique was discovered inside a fridge, with wrists and ankles sure and her mouth gagged, in line with an post-mortem report by the L.A. County medical expert.
She died by “homicidal violence” inflicted by others, the medical expert dominated. Her household confirmed that Mooney was two months pregnant on the time of her demise. She is believed to have been killed on Sept. 7, 5 days earlier than her physique was discovered, in line with courtroom information.
Suspect Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, of Hopkins, Minn., was arrested on Nov. 3, 2023, in Minneapolis and was extradited to Los Angeles, in line with a press release from the Los Angeles County district legal professional’s workplace. Humphrey was on federal probation on the time and was arrested at his dwelling on an unrelated federal warrant, in line with the Los Angeles Police Department.
L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascón stated in a press release that Humphrey had been staying with Mooney earlier than her brutal killing however didn’t specify their relationship or how lengthy Humphrey had lived along with her.
“Ms. Mooney opened her dwelling to this particular person with belief, however was repaid with torture and homicide,” Gascón stated. “The heinous disregard for Ms. Mooney’s life won’t go unpunished. Justice is being sought, and he will probably be held accountable.”
Humphrey was charged with one depend of homicide and one depend of torture; he pleaded not responsible to each expenses Thursday and is being held with out bail, in line with the district legal professional’s workplace. If convicted, Humphrey might face a most sentence of life in jail with out parole.
Humphrey’s preliminary listening to is scheduled for March 7.
“We’re very happy that an arrest was made,” Heather Hammock, Mooney’s aunt, advised TV station ABC7 exterior the courthouse Thursday. “We’re stuffed with so many alternative feelings. We’re very grateful and grateful that he was caught. Please proceed to hope for our household. We simply need justice for my niece.”
Humphrey has an in depth felony historical past spanning throughout a number of states. In Illinois, Humphrey was charged in September 1999 with felony battery and aggravated assault however the case was dropped, in line with courtroom information. He was arrested once more in 1999 and 2002 on a number of drug-related expenses, together with possession with intent to ship hashish.
In Minnesota, Humphrey was convicted in August 2009 of felony second-degree assault and in Might 2013 of felony third-degree assault, in line with courtroom information. He was barred from possessing firearms and ammunition.
He was additionally charged in 2009 with false imprisonment and first-degree aggravated theft, however these expenses have been dismissed, in line with courtroom information. He was convicted in 2009 of illegally possessing a firearm, a felony offense.
Mooney was final seen on video surveillance at her residence advanced on Sept. 6, in line with her post-mortem report. Her mom requested a welfare test six days later and police entered the residence utilizing a key from property administration.
Jourdin Pauline, Mooney’s sister, advised The Occasions in October that Mooney’s laptop computer and telephone had been stolen, together with a designer purse. She stated that whoever killed her sister most likely knew her telephone passcode, as a result of they have been sending her household “obscure” texts. Pauline didn’t specify what the textual content messages stated.
Mooney had gone out with mates to a bar in Santa Monica on Sept. 6 and frolicked with them in her residence till 3 or 4 a.m., Pauline stated. She additionally FaceTimed their cousin that very same day. Her household by no means heard from her once more after that.
Mooney labored for Nester Seekers, a Beverly Hills actual property company, for almost two years and likewise modeled part-time, Pauline stated.
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