By Daily Press Staff

EASTSIDE A 21-year-old woman was found dead inside her apartment on Centinela Avenue just south of Broadway, the apparent victim of an assault, authorities said on Monday.

The body of Juliana Maureen Redding was discovered at about 6 p.m. Sunday when officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1500 block of Centinela Avenue, SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla said.

Redding, who is believed to have been an aspiring actress and model, was found dead inside the apartment. It is unknown how long Redding had been dead prior to being discovered. The cause of death is yet to be determined.

“We are not ruling anything out at this point,” Padilla said. “There were no obvious signs of forced entry.”

Investigators are still trying to determine if anything was stolen from Redding’s apartment, and if the attacker was someone she knew.

SMPD responded to the apartment after receiving a telephone call from Redding’s mother Sunday night. Her mother was trying to contact Redding by phone, but was unsuccessful. Padilla said friends of Redding called her mother after they were unable to reach her as well.

John Dye, who lived just doors down from the victim, said news of her death, “was very depressing.”

“My fear is that this is a random crime,” Dye said. “I can’t believe this could happen to such a beautiful woman.”

Dye said that Redding had moved to Santa Monica from Arizona in November of last year and had plans on attending Santa Monica College.

The investigation is ongoing.

WE TIP HOTLINE

- Anyone with information is urged to contact the SMPD at (310) 458-8427 or call detectives at (310) 458-845. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).

news@smdp.com

Staff photographer Brandon Wise contributed to this story.