L.A. Model Nichole Coats’ Cause of Death Revealed 6 Weeks After Her Body Was Found in Her Apartment

The drug-related death of a Los Angeles model has been ruled accidental after her body was found inside her luxury apartment last month.

Nichole Coats, 32, died on Sept. 10 as a result of "cocaine and ethanol toxicity," according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.

Her body was found by family members when they came to check on her after she failed to return their calls and texts. At the time, the Los Angeles Police Department told PEOPLE her death was not being treated as a homicide.

However, Coats' family was not convinced, especially as another model, 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney, was found dead in her downtown L.A. apartment just two days after Coats on Sept. 12.

Coats' mother, Sharon Coats, told PEOPLE at the time that she suspected "foul play" in her daughter's death.

“The police aren’t doing anything," she said. "They want to make it seem like there was no foul play. I just don’t buy it. I just want to rule it out.”

Nichole's aunt May Stevens — who was one of the family members who discovered her body — agreed. “I believe it was murder, I really do," she told KTLA. "I feel that there’s a predator loose.”

However, the LAPD later stated in a press release that “there is no evidence to suggest” that the deaths of Coats and Mooney are linked.

Still, Sharon said she had unanswered questions and described not knowing what happened to her daughter as "a nightmare."

"I am trying to stay strong. I am hurt. I am heartbroken and I am severely devastated. This was totally unexpected," she told PEOPLE.

“I want to find out what happened to my daughter,” Sharon continued. “It was too soon. She was too young. She was doing well and then this happens. She was healthy. I am still trying to grasp all this. When she came in the room she brightened up the whole room. Her smile was like a diamond. She was like a gem.”

Sharon also shared that Nichole — who also worked as a beauty products sales rep — had been looking forward to an upcoming vacation to Cancun, Mexico, with some friends.

“I had to cancel her flights,” she explained. “She bought bikinis. They still have the tags on them.”

As for Mooney, the LAPD confirmed to PEOPLE that her death was "considered a homicide," though the exact cause of death was pending the results of an autopsy.

Earlier this month, Mooney's sister, Jourdin Pauline, told PEOPLE their family was still searching for answers weeks after her death. She also revealed that Mooney was two months pregnant at the time of her death.

“The police haven't said anything to us yet because of the ongoing investigation, but from what we saw at the coroner and mortuary, my sister was in a struggle and it's devastating,” Pauline said. “It’s a very monstrous act. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.”

“A lot of things just don't make sense to us,” she added. “We're just really trying to get answers. It is horrible."

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Pauline said her sister was looking forward to becoming a mom and welcoming her baby. “She was super excited and I know she really wanted a kid, and it's something that she has always talked about,” she recalled.

Mooney's family became concerned on Sep. 7 when she didn't return calls and texts and they later noticed that her phone appeared to have been turned back on.

“We're like, ‘Okay, maybe she just broke her phone, it's charged now,’ or something like that," Pauline explained. "It started to deliver, and then that gave us hope. We're like, ‘Okay, she's okay.' And then, still nothing. No one was hearing from her.”

After police found Mooney's body and finished processing the crime scene, her family was allowed to enter the residence. Pauline said they were shocked by what they saw.

“It was honestly so chilling,” she said. “Whatever happened that night was very scary and traumatic. I know she was so scared. I just hate to think about it.”

Now, they are determined to find the person who killed Mooney and bring them to justice.

"We can't let this rest," she said. "It could save the next woman's life. If you do it once, I'm sure to this caliber, you have it in you to do it again. So, whoever did it, they need to be prosecuted. We're going to get justice.”