Cops address serial killer fears after models found dead in LA

Los Angeles police deny there is a connection between the deaths of two models whose bodies were found in luxury apartments just days apart — despite the women’s similar professions and the proximity of their homes.

Police said there’s been no evidence to suggest there’s any link between the deaths of Maleesa Mooney, 31, who was found dead in her apartment on Sept. 8, and Nichole “Nikki” Coats, 32, whose body was discovered two days later in her residence just three miles away.

“Since their discovery, LAPD, Central Bureau Homicide has been investigating the deaths of both Ms. Coats and Ms. Mooney,” the department said in an email to the San Francisco Gate.

“Since both cases remain active investigations, details about either case will not be released; however, based on the investigation thus far, there is no evidence to suggest that the deaths of Ms. Coats and Ms. Mooney are related to one another.”

The similarities of the women’s careers and their proximity rocked the community, which feared a serial killer may be on the loose.

Officials with the LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office have “deferred” the manner and cause of death pending further tests on the two women, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Mooney’s death is being investigated as a homicide, but Coats’ death is only being probed as a “death investigation” — despite her family claiming her bed was left bloody.

They have said they have questions about the case, and fear she may have been murdered by the same assailant as the one who killed Mooney.

Speaking to The Post, Coats’ father told how he found his daughter on her bed.

“She was only wearing her panties and one of her arms was outstretched,” Guy said. 

“I couldn’t look too long and had to turn away, but I saw her fingers were starting to blacken on the tips.”

The 5-foot-8 model also had large bruises on her forehead, Guy said, and her lower lip “looked busted.”

He said his daughter’s face was so bruised and swollen that the family could only identify her by her tattoos.

Coats’ aunt, May Stevens, also told KTLA: “I believe it was murder, I really do.” 

“One of her legs was up in the air in a kicking position,” she said. “That’s not somebody who just laid in their bed and died.”