Maleesa Mooney, a 31-year-old model and real estate agent whose body was found stuffed inside a refrigerator in her downtown Los Angeles apartment last year, allowed the suspect in her murder to remain in her home only to be “ compensated with torture and murder.” ”according to prosecutors.
Mooney was found dead Sept. 12 in her apartment in the 200 block of South Figueroa Street after her family requested a welfare check, authorities said. Mooney's body was found inside a refrigerator, with her wrists and ankles bound and her mouth gagged, according to an autopsy report by the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
He died from “homicidal violence” inflicted by others, the medical examiner ruled. Her family confirmed that Mooney was two months pregnant at the time of her death. She is believed to have been murdered on Sept. 7, five days before her body was found, according to court records.
Suspect Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, of Hopkins, Minnesota, was arrested on Nov. 3, 2023, in Minneapolis and extradited to Los Angeles, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Humphrey was on federal probation at the time and was arrested at his home on an unrelated federal warrant, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, of Hopkins, Minnesota, was arrested on an “unrelated federal warrant” before being extradited to Los Angeles and charged with the death of Maleesa Mooney.
(KTLA)
Los Angeles County District. Lawyer. George Gascón said in a statement that Humphrey had been staying with Mooney before her brutal murder, but he did not specify their relationship or how long Humphrey had lived with her.
“MS. Mooney opened her home to this individual with trust, but was rewarded with torture and murder,” Gascón said. “The atrocious disregard for Ms. Mooney's life will not go unpunished. Justice is sought and he will have to answer accounts.”
Humphrey was charged with one count of murder and one count of torture; He pleaded not guilty to both charges Thursday and is being held without bail, according to the district attorney's office. If he is convicted, Humphrey could face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
Humphrey's preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 7.
“We are very happy that an arrest was made,” Heather Hammock, Mooney's aunt, told television station ABC7 outside the courthouse Thursday. “We are filled with so many different emotions. We are very grateful and grateful that they caught him. Please continue to pray for our family. “We just want justice for my niece.”
Humphrey has an extensive criminal record that spans several states. In Illinois, Humphrey was charged in September 1999 with felony assault and aggravated battery, but the case was dismissed, according to court records. He was arrested again in 1999 and 2002 on various drug charges, including possession with intent to deliver cannabis.
In Minnesota, Humphrey was convicted in August 2009 of felony second-degree assault and in May 2013 of felony third-degree assault, according to court records. He was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
He was also charged in 2009 with false imprisonment and first-degree aggravated robbery, but those charges were dismissed, according to court records. He was convicted in 2009 of unlawful possession of a firearm, a felony.
Mooney was last seen on video surveillance at her apartment complex on Sept. 6, according to her autopsy report. Her mother requested a welfare check six days later and police entered the apartment using a key provided by property management.
Jourdin Pauline, Mooney's sister, told The Times in October that Mooney's laptop and phone had been stolen, along with a designer handbag. She said whoever killed her sister probably knew the password to her phone, because they sent “vague” text messages to her family. Pauline did not specify what the text messages said.
Mooney had gone out with friends to a bar in Santa Monica on Sept. 6 and was with them at his apartment until 3 or 4 a.m., Pauline said. She also FaceTimed her cousin that same day. Her family never heard from her again after that.
Mooney worked for Nester Seekers, a Beverly Hills real estate agency, for nearly two years and also modeled part-time, Pauline said.
