A Minnesota man was arrested Wednesday in connection to the murder of Los Angeles model Maleesa Mooney, who was found stuffed inside her apartment refrigerator, authorities confirmed.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) released a press statement regarding the arrest of Minnesota resident Magnus Daniel Humphrey, 41, as a suspect within Mooney’s murder case. Authorities stated that Humphrey had been arrested at his home in Hopkins, Minnesota, on an “unrelated federal warrant” as he was facing probation for “narcotics offenses.” (RELATED: Former Meta Engineer Allegedly Murders Family And Commits Suicide, Sources Say: REPORT)
“The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Humphrey. Humphrey waived extradition and will be transported back to Los Angeles to face charges,” the LAPD’s statement read.
LAPD responded to a welfare check call on Sept. 12, 2023, around 3:54 p.m. at the 200 block of South Figueroa Street, officials stated. Authorities claimed they found a body inside the apartment, which was later identified as the 31-year-old Mooney. A Los Angeles County coroner’s report was released in October 2023 revealing that Mooney had been stuffed in a refrigerator with her wrists and ankles tied, as well as her mouth gagged, according to ABC7.
#BREAKING: A man has been arrested months after a model was found slain in downtown Los Angeles.https://t.co/L4Qfctq0am pic.twitter.com/Gm25vSgcId
— KTLA (@KTLA) February 22, 2024
The report described that a pool of blood was found under the fridge, with her body stuffed inside and bound by electric cords and clothing, the outlet reported. Mooney allegedly suffered from blunt force injuries, including lacerations, abrasion and contusions which were found on her face, head, back and upper left arm, with one of her ribs also broken, according to the coroner’s report.
While a toxicology report found traces of cocaine within Mooney’s system, the cause of her death was ruled as “homicidal violence,” according to ABC7. The report continued to claim that “she was likely involved in violent physical altercation prior to her death,” however, it stated that the blunt force traumas were not severe enough on their own to have caused the death.
Mooney was last seen on her building’s surveillance cameras during the afternoon of Sept. 6, 2023, according to ABC7. However, the next day a man was caught on video using Mooney’s key fob as he headed up the elevator to her apartment while carrying plastic bags, nearly three days before her sister contacted authorities on Sept. 10, 2023.
No further details regarding a motive or how Humphrey was connected to the model have been released, and the investigation is ongoing.