Mirjana Puhar Dead: 'America's Next Top Model' Contestant, 19, Found Murdered at Boyfriend's Home
Former "America's Next Top Model" contestant, 19-year-old Mirjana Puhar was found murdered along with two others at her boyfriend's home in Charlotte, N.C.
Police said the killings appeared to be drug-related.
A friend found Puhar and her boyfriend Jonathan Cosme Alvarado dead in their house. Police subsequently found another victim, Jusmar Isiah Gonzaga-Garcia.
Th police arrested a suspect, identified as Emmanuel Jesus Rangel, who was immediately charged with the triple murders. After a preliminary investigation, police sources indicated that the attacker appeared to be known to the victims. Cash money was found strewn inside the house, which the police said could indicate that the crime was drug-related.
As news of Puhar's murder broke, Tyra Banks, host of "America's Next Top Model," took to Twitter and posted a message that read: "The Top Model family is deeply saddened by the tragic news of Mirjana Puhar. We love you, Mirjana."
Ken Mok, who works as an executive producer of the show, described how they were "deeply saddened to learn of the tragic news about Mirjana Puhar. She was a vivacious and promising young woman."
Puhar appeared on the 21st season of "America's Next Top Model" last year. She was eliminated from the show during its 10th episode. When she appeared on the show, Puhar was the youngest contestant of the season at 18. She started dabbling in modeling at 12 and had dropped out from school by 16.
Speaking to the Charlotte Observer last year, Puhar described her "wild" phase growing up, saying that she planned to take the General Education Development, or G.E.D., test soon to be able to resume her studies.
Puhar, who emigrated from Serbia to escape war, first arrived in New York City along with her family when she was five. Her family later moved to North Carolina.
Puhar started dating Alvarado a few months ago and recently moved into his house which he shared with his friend Gonzaga-Garcia.