MINNEAPOLIS — The killing of 31-year-old real estate agent and model Maleesa Mooney in Los Angeles made national headlines last September, after police discovered her body inside of her downtown high-rise apartment unit.
Now, five months later, prosecutors have announced charges in the case against Magnus Daniel Humphrey, a 41-year-old resident of Hopkins, Minn. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has accused Humphrey of committing both "murder" and "torture," which are separate felony counts that carry the possibility of life in prison without parole.
An autopsy report, obtained by KARE 11 through the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, reveal gruesome details about Mooney's murder. According to the report, police found Mooney's body tied up and "wedged inside the refrigerator" with injuries to suggest a "violent physical altercation prior to her death." Police said Mooney was last seen on her apartment building's surveillance video on Sept. 6, and that one day later, an unidentified male was "seen using the decedent's key FOB to use the elevator, and then carrying plastic bags to the decedent's residence."
After a few days passed, Mooney's family grew concerned for her welfare and called LAPD. Her body was found Sept. 12.
"Ms. Mooney opened her home to this individual with trust, but was repaid with torture and murder," District Attorney Gascón said. "The heinous disregard for Ms. Mooney's life will not go unpunished. Justice is being sought, and he will be held accountable."
It's still not clear what connection Humphrey had to Mooney, nor is it clear why the Twin Cities native was in Los Angeles, given the fact that his address is listed in Hopkins.
However, court documents and police records are shedding new light on the crime, as well as the process in which authorities first took Humphrey into custody last fall.
According to a Hopkins Police Department incident report, officers stopped Humphrey on Nov. 3, 2023 at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Excelsior for an equipment violation. Police detected the odor of marijuana and quickly discovered that Humphrey had a federal narcotics warrant out for his arrest related to drug trafficking. At that point, Hopkins Police alerted the U.S. Marshals Service, which was "advised of arrest." A department spokesperson said officers then took Humphrey to the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center.
One month later, on Dec. 6, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Humphrey on one count of murder and another count of torture. Under the torture charge, prosecutors are attempting to prove that Humphrey had the "intent to cause cruel and extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion and for a sadistic purpose."
Despite filing the charges in December, District Attorney Gascón did not announce them publicly until this Thursday. After his extradition to Los Angeles, Humphrey pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charges connected to Mooney's death.
In addition to being on probation for federal drug offenses, Humphrey also has a long criminal record in Minnesota. Court records show he has spent time in prison on at least three separate occasions dating back to 2007, involving various assault and weapons charges.
Mooney's aunt, Heather Hammock, told reporters in Los Angeles that they had never met the suspect and could not speculate about any motive.
"No. Why would anyone ever want to do something like that?" Hammock said.
Mooney's sister, Jourdin Pauline, described her as an "amazing and beautiful princess and we miss her very much."
"Justice looks like everyone involved [being] persecuted," Pauline said, "and we want to bring light to my sister so she can finally rest."
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