The heartbroken father of the former Playboy model found strangled in her Philadelphia apartment told DailyMail.com that he believed ‘somebody took advantage of his daughter’s happiness and kindness’.
Christina Kraft, 36, was found dead in the bedroom of her ground-floor apartment in Ardmore, Pennsylvania on Wednesday at 9.15pm.
Her father, Stuart Kraft, 65, told DailyMail.com: ‘She was a happy-go-lucky lady, she loved life. She loved to be around people and she liked to enjoy herself with people and that’s what I think occurred. I think that somebody saw her happiness and took advantage of that.’
Lower Merion Township Police were called to Christina Kraft’s residence on Wednesday to perform a wellness check.
Police have not confirmed who initiated the wellness check to DailyMail.com.
Playboy model Christina Kraft, 36, was found dead in the bedroom of her ground-floor apartment in Ardmore, Pennsylvania on Wednesday at 9.15pm.
Christina’s boyfriend of 14 years, Alexander Ciccotelli, is questioned by a detective outside of his Philadelphia home
Kraft is seen in this July 2015 Facebook photo posting with Ciccotelli. in Italy. Her father, Stuart Kraft, said that he was very close with Ciccotelli
Three days prior to murder, Christina Kraft reported to police that jewelry had been stolen from her apartment.
Her father, who lives in Linwood, New Jersey, said that she had gotten in touch via text to tell him about the break-in.
‘A few days before, somebody had broken into the apartment and stole all her jewelry,’ he said.
‘I didn’t speak to her after that. She texted me a little bit. She didn’t want to bother me with her troubles and how I wish she did.
‘She sent a text to her stepmom that same evening, saying we needed to get together.’
Kraft said that he did not believe that his daughter had ever had any problems with stalkers. The model had appeared in Maxim Magazine, Vanity Fair and for brands Victoria’s Secret and Smashbox Cosmetics during her glamorous career, according to her Model Mayhem bio.
She said in the bio: ‘I’ve done runway shows, print work, commercials for jewelry and evening gowns, and I did a tasteful photo shoot for Playboy that was beyond Hollywood glamour!
‘I would like to build my portfolio with some more creative photographers who specialize in glamour and very high fashion!
‘I really do enjoy photo shoots for swim wear and tasteful lingerie. I’m willing to travel and I love to meet new exciting people with high energy and a kind heart.
Christina, left, poses up with Hugh Hefner. The model had appeared in Maxim Magazine, Vanity Fair and for brands Victoria’s Secret and Smashbox Cosmetics during her career
Christina Kraft is shown in this July 2015 Facebook photo catching rays while on an Italian vacation
‘I look forward to working with you and hope to make this a great experience!’
Her father said: ‘We talked all the time, her and I. We just went out to dinner a couple of weeks ago at Somers Point. She had me take her to Margate, so she could enjoy herself a little bit. At 11 o’clock I was ready to go home but she stayed on and partied with her friends.
‘That was the last time I was with her. That was about two weeks ago.’
An autopsy report concluded the model died by ‘ligature strangulation.’ As of Friday afternoon, police had not made any arrests nor named any persons of interest.
A resident who also lives in the building, told Philly.com that Kraft just moved a week ago.
Montgomery Country District Attorney’s Office, which is handling the case, told DailyMail.com on Friday there were ‘no updates’.
Kraft said that he was very close with Christina’s boyfriend, Alexander Ciccotelli.
‘They had been together a long time, 14 years,’ he said. ‘He’s devastated. He got that apartment for her. They have a house in Margate on the beach and they would come down on little vacations.’
‘When she came we would always get together and hang out on the beach, go out to dinner. She was a delight. She was my everything.’
The model just moved into this Philly condo, the Cambridge Square Condominiums, a week ago
Scene where Christina Carlin-Kraft, a former Playboy model, was found dead in her Pennsylvania home with signs of strangulation
Her boyfriend, Alexander Ciccotelli, was seen speaking with police at his family home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania on Friday.
He was unavailable for comment but an unidentified woman at his family home told DailyMail.com: ‘This is a tragedy. No comment.’
Mr Kraft said that his wife of 27 years, Casey, 50, was too upset to speak. She is stepmother to Christina and her brother Brian, 35. The couple also have two younger children, aged 24 and 18.
Christina Kraft’s mother, Dawn Ann Carlin passed away in 1990 at the age of 30.
‘I lost Christina’s mom in 1990. I was devastated. She was a very healthy young lady, she just liked to go out and be seen and enjoy herself. I wish I could take it all back now and make sure somebody was with her at every moment.’
Kraft added: ‘You always think of a way you can make it better, later, after the fact.’
The father said that his son was speaking with detectives on the investigation.
‘My son is working with the detectives right now. I pray that they find who did this. To take her life, it’s unimaginable. She was such a nice person. I don’t know what occurred, I don’t know what was said, but I’m sure it will unfold.’
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Lower Merion Township Police Superintendent Michael McGrath said on Thursday there was no threat to other residents
In 2016, Kraft was slapped with temporary assault charges after she drunkenly attacked a restaurant manager while dining with a male friend in New York in March of that year.
The incident happened at The Smith, an American Brasserie on the Upper West Side.
The assaulted manager, Sergey Anokhin, said he was left with ‘redness and substantial pain’ after Kraft struck him in the back and kicked him in the groin.
‘The guy didn’t want to pay… the manager interceded,’ a source told the New York Post about the violent incident at the time.
‘She was intoxicated, and she claimed that the manager pushed her – but there was video of the incident that showed she was lying.’
Prosecutors in September 2016 offered to drop charges against Kraft – so long as she stayed out of trouble for the following six months.
Kraft was initially charged with misdemeanor assault, attempted assault and harassment.
A photo from the scene is shown above. Police discovered Kraft’s strangled body late Wednesday during a wellness check
The model posted this photo to her Facebook page in March 2015 with the caption: ‘Beach house’