A former Playboy model has been found strangled to death at her home in a Philadelphia suburb, just days after a reported robbery.
Christina Carlin-Kraft's body was discovered in the bedroom of her first-floor apartment in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, by police conducting a wellness check at 9.15pm on Wednesday.
The Montgomery County Coroner's Office has since determined the cause of the 36-year-old's death was homicide by "ligature strangulation" – meaning the killer used a cord-like object such as a rope.
The flat, located in Philadelphia's affluent Main Line suburb, is reportedly owned by her Wall Street banker boyfriend whom she dated for nine years, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
A motive for the killing remains under investigation, but police say there "doesn't appear to be any current concern" for neighbours.
Ms Carlin-Kraft, who grew up in South Jersey, modelled for the likes of Maxim, Vanity Fair and Victoria's Secret, as well as Playboy.
"I really do enjoy photoshoots for swimwear and tasteful lingerie," she said in her profile on a modelling website.
Her credits also include L'Oreal, Smashbox and QVC. She is said to have occasionally worked as an interior designer.
Neighbours said the model had just moved into the apartment last week.
Police had visited the home just days before her death after she reported that items had gone missing.
Investigators were able to track the stolen goods to south west Philadelphia, but no arrests have been made.
Authorities have also not confirmed if the robbery and her death are connected in any way.
Ms Carlin-Kraft's father, Stuart Kraft, declined to speak to reporters on Friday.
Another relative, who chose to remain anonymous, said Ms Carlin-Kraft had "a beautiful heart and made everyone laugh".
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She told her family that she felt safe in her neighbourhood of Ardmore.
"This is just completely unexpected – we never thought this could happen," the relative added.
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