Mirjana Puhar, who appeared in the show last
year, was found dead on Tuesday afternoon with
her boyfriend, 23, and a friend, 21, at their home
Emmanuel Jesus Rangel, 19, has been arrested
in connection with the deaths and in another
murder, which took place on Sunday
Police say they believe the murders were drug-
related and that the killer knew his victims
Puhar, who moved to the U.S. from Serbia as a
child, was just 18 when she appeared in the
reality TV series but was eliminated on the 10th
show
A contestant on the last year's season of American's
Next Top Model has been found killed in a triple
homicide in North Carolina.
Mirjana Puhar, 19, her boyfriend, Jonathan Cosme
Alvarado, 23, and a friend, Jusmar Isiah Gonzaga-
Garcia, 21, were found shot inside a home in Charlotte,
North Carolina on Tuesday.
Puhar, who moved to the U.S. from Serbia with her
family to escape the Kosovo War when she was five,
appeared on the 21st cycle of the reality TV show but
was eliminated in the 10th episode.
Emmanuel Jesus Rangel, 19, has been arrested and
charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the
deaths, which police say were drug related,
the Charlotte Observer reported.
Police say the victims and their killer knew each other.
Puhar had just moved in with Alvarado and Gonzaga-
Garcia, TMZ reported.
Authorities said they found the bodies after a tip from
a 'source'. They have not said how the victims died
but TMZ reported that the bodies were found after
gunshots were heard.
On Wednesday, a friend confirmed the news on
Puhar's Instagram page.
'It has been confirmed,' the friend, Chelsea, wrote just
before 11am. 'Everyone keep family and friends in
prayer. Everything is still under investigation. Thank
you.'
The message was later removed from the page.
Rangel has also been charged in a separate murder
that occurred on Sunday morning. He is one of three
people charged in connection with a homicide at a
motel in Matthews, police said.
Authorities responded to reports of a shooting at 1am
at the Microtel Hotel and found two men with gun
wounds inside a car.
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Neighbours speak of home where triple homicide took
place
One man, Rosool Jaleel Harrell, 22, was dead and the
other had suffered life-threatening injuries.
'We don't know for sure' if the two cases are related,
Matthews police Officer Tim Aycock told the Observer.
'It's very suspicious that the same guy is charged.'
He was arrested without incident on Wednesday
morning, police said.
Rangel was charged with first-degree murder in that
case, along with Edward Sanchez, 19.
Another teenager, Emily Ann Isaacs, 18, was charged
with accessory after fact.
Mirjana was 18 when she appeared on the reality TV
show, which aired last year, and was eliminated from
the show in the 10th episode.
The Serbian native was five when she moved to the
U.S. with her family during the Kosovo War. With about
$50 to their names, her parents ended up in New York
City before moving to North Carolina around 10 years
ago, she told the Charlotte Observer in an interview
last year.
She dropped out of high school and worked different
jobs, including at McDonald's, before becoming a
model.
'I was a wild child,' she told the Observer in the
interview. 'I went out, had fun, partied, whatever – I
didn't really have the best influences around me.'
But she decided to head back to school and completed
her GED at a community college just before starting
on America's Next Top Model. She was the youngest
contestant taking part in last year's show.
While on the show, she became close to a male model
on the series - but he is not the man who was found
killed on Tuesday.
After news of her death, the show's winner, Keith
Carlos, tweeted: 'I Love You @mirjanapuhar #RIP'
'We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic news
about Mirjana Puhar. She was a vivacious and
promising young woman,' Banks and fellow executive
producer Ken Mok said in a statement.
'Our hearts and prayers go out to her loved ones.'
Top Model judge Miss J Alexander also tweeted
following the tragic news, writing; 'Saddened to learn
about #ANTM Cycle 21 contestant Mirjana Puhar's
murder. Remembering her fondly. RIP'
year, was found dead on Tuesday afternoon with
her boyfriend, 23, and a friend, 21, at their home
Emmanuel Jesus Rangel, 19, has been arrested
in connection with the deaths and in another
murder, which took place on Sunday
Police say they believe the murders were drug-
related and that the killer knew his victims
Puhar, who moved to the U.S. from Serbia as a
child, was just 18 when she appeared in the
reality TV series but was eliminated on the 10th
show
A contestant on the last year's season of American's
Next Top Model has been found killed in a triple
homicide in North Carolina.
Mirjana Puhar, 19, her boyfriend, Jonathan Cosme
Alvarado, 23, and a friend, Jusmar Isiah Gonzaga-
Garcia, 21, were found shot inside a home in Charlotte,
North Carolina on Tuesday.
Puhar, who moved to the U.S. from Serbia with her
family to escape the Kosovo War when she was five,
appeared on the 21st cycle of the reality TV show but
was eliminated in the 10th episode.
Emmanuel Jesus Rangel, 19, has been arrested and
charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the
deaths, which police say were drug related,
the Charlotte Observer reported.
Police say the victims and their killer knew each other.
Puhar had just moved in with Alvarado and Gonzaga-
Garcia, TMZ reported.
Authorities said they found the bodies after a tip from
a 'source'. They have not said how the victims died
but TMZ reported that the bodies were found after
gunshots were heard.
On Wednesday, a friend confirmed the news on
Puhar's Instagram page.
'It has been confirmed,' the friend, Chelsea, wrote just
before 11am. 'Everyone keep family and friends in
prayer. Everything is still under investigation. Thank
you.'
The message was later removed from the page.
Rangel has also been charged in a separate murder
that occurred on Sunday morning. He is one of three
people charged in connection with a homicide at a
motel in Matthews, police said.
Authorities responded to reports of a shooting at 1am
at the Microtel Hotel and found two men with gun
wounds inside a car.
MORE...
'You are an American disgrace': Victim's family tell
how they shamed killer of American Sniper in court
after he was found guilty - as jury insist he WASN'T
insane
George Zimmerman will NOT face civil federal rights
charges for killing Trayvon Martin
‘I was conned into smuggling cocaine by a voluptuous
bikini model – then locked up in an Argentinian
hellhole where an inmate was butchered in front of
me’: Incredible tale of ‘naïve’ professor, 71
Neighbours speak of home where triple homicide took
place
One man, Rosool Jaleel Harrell, 22, was dead and the
other had suffered life-threatening injuries.
'We don't know for sure' if the two cases are related,
Matthews police Officer Tim Aycock told the Observer.
'It's very suspicious that the same guy is charged.'
He was arrested without incident on Wednesday
morning, police said.
Rangel was charged with first-degree murder in that
case, along with Edward Sanchez, 19.
Another teenager, Emily Ann Isaacs, 18, was charged
with accessory after fact.
Mirjana was 18 when she appeared on the reality TV
show, which aired last year, and was eliminated from
the show in the 10th episode.
The Serbian native was five when she moved to the
U.S. with her family during the Kosovo War. With about
$50 to their names, her parents ended up in New York
City before moving to North Carolina around 10 years
ago, she told the Charlotte Observer in an interview
last year.
She dropped out of high school and worked different
jobs, including at McDonald's, before becoming a
model.
'I was a wild child,' she told the Observer in the
interview. 'I went out, had fun, partied, whatever – I
didn't really have the best influences around me.'
But she decided to head back to school and completed
her GED at a community college just before starting
on America's Next Top Model. She was the youngest
contestant taking part in last year's show.
While on the show, she became close to a male model
on the series - but he is not the man who was found
killed on Tuesday.
After news of her death, the show's winner, Keith
Carlos, tweeted: 'I Love You @mirjanapuhar #RIP'
'We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic news
about Mirjana Puhar. She was a vivacious and
promising young woman,' Banks and fellow executive
producer Ken Mok said in a statement.
'Our hearts and prayers go out to her loved ones.'
Top Model judge Miss J Alexander also tweeted
following the tragic news, writing; 'Saddened to learn
about #ANTM Cycle 21 contestant Mirjana Puhar's
murder. Remembering her fondly. RIP'
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