Nichole Coats’ family last heard from her as she prepared for a date on Friday, Sept. 8. However, the following morning, the Los Angeles-based model could not be reached by family or friends and was found dead at her downtown apartment on Sunday.
The 32-year-old model was found by her relatives in a bloodied state, with her leg kicked up in an unnatural position, as reported by KTLA 5.
“I couldn’t recognize her,” stated her aunt, who was at the scene. “I believe it was murder, I really do. One of her legs was up in the air in a kicking position. That’s not somebody who just laid in their bed and died.”
Her family seeks answers into what led to her mysterious death, saying she was well-loved and had no clue who would commit such an egregious act. As they grieve the loss of their loved one, they also expressed how they are frustrated by law enforcement’s lack of progress in the matter.
“This is senseless, and I want some answers because my daughter is gone,” stated her mother, Sharon Coats.
However, police investigating the case are also trying to unveil a possible correlation between her and another model’s death.
On Sept.12, model and real estate agent Maleesa Mooney was also found dead in her apartment, less than three miles from Coats’ residence. The 31-year-old woman’s body was discovered after concerned relatives asked local police to perform a wellness check after failing to contact the model.
Unlike Coat’s cause of death, which is still being determined, Mooney’s death was classified as a homicide. The women’s deaths are eerily similar, and Los Angeles police are possibly considering a potential serial killer on the loose within the area.
As both families await investigators to catch the potential predator that may be involved in the deaths, Coat’s loved ones have released a GoFundMe to crowdsource funding for her funeral arrangements, with over $14k raised so far.
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Source: Black Enterprise
