Downtown, Los Angeles—The death of two Black models, Nichole “Nikki” Coats and Maleesa Mooney, within a week in downtown Los Angeles have left their families seeking answers and raise concerns about a serial predator.
Sharon Coats, the grieving mother of 32-year-old Nikki Coats, discovered her daughters lifeless body in her high-rise apartment Sep. 10, leaving her family shattered. Nikki’s aunt says the disturbing condition of the apartment, which included a bloodied bed, leads her to suspect foul play.
Read More: Deaths of two models in downtown Los Angeles days apart are ‘not related’, say police
Just two days later, 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney, a model and real estate agent, was also found dead in her DTLA luxury apartment . While details about Mooney’s cause of death remain unclear, the Los Angeles Department has confirmed that her case is being investigated as a homicide.
Despite the gravity of these cases and the widespread public attention, authorities have not disclosed information about the cause and manner of death of the two models .The lack of updates has fueled concerns and sparked discussions about law enforcements lack of concern when Black women are victims of crime in L.A.
Sharon Coats, determined to seek justice for her daughter, encourages others who may have faced similar situations to come forward.
Tina Sampay, known as Slauson Girl, is a journalist, author and media founder from South Central Los Angeles. Her Bachelor of Arts in Critical Race and Gender Studies informs how she examines race, gender and power in her journalism. She founded Slauson Girl Media Group, a Black woman-owned news and media organization. Her reporting, podcast conversations and video interviews center local news, community voices, culture and the issues shaping Los Angeles.