Magnus Daniel Humphrey, a resident of Minnesota, has been arrested and charged in the murder of Maleesa Mooney, a model and real estate agent from Los Angeles.
According to a Wednesday press release from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers responded to a welfare check call on Sept. 12, 2023. Upon searching the residence specified, the officers found the body of Maleesa Mooney. She was found tied up and stuffed in a refrigerator.
Humphrey was arrested in Hopkins, Minn., on an “unrelated federal warrant” and transported to Los Angeles, LAPD said. According to the Los Angeles Times, which said Mooney was two months pregnant at the time of her death, Humphrey was convicted of assault in Minnesota in both 2009 and 2013. He also has been convicted of illegally possessing firearms.
Furthermore, the convicted felon is “on federal probation for narcotics offenses,” LAPD said.
After charging Humphrey with one count of torture and one count of murder, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office released a statement Thursday saying Humphrey’s murder of Mooney “was intentional and involved the infliction of torture.”
“Ms. Mooney opened her home to this individual with trust, but was repaid with torture and murder,” said Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon. “The heinous disregard for Ms. Mooney’s life will not go unpunished. Justice is being sought, and he will be held accountable.”
The officers who performed the welfare check discovered Mooney’s body after they saw blood pooling beneath the refrigerator, a local ABC affiliate reported. A medical examiner’s report said she was likely involved in a “violent physical altercation” before her death.
Humphrey pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Thursday. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison without parole.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
