A 31-year-old aspiring actress’s death remains a mystery after her body was discovered last week in a hot running shower in her Manhattan apartment – the same day she was set to start a new job with the Tribeca Film Festival, DailyMail.com has learned.
Maryanne Johnson, who lived in a modest one bedroom walk-up in the Flatiron district, was last seen on February 16 when she met up with friends to watch the NBA all-star game on TV.
Her parents, who spent the prior week with her in Florida, had trouble reaching her after she returned to New York that weekend. They called police to do a wellness check and last Tuesday morning the superintendent unlocked the door for cops.
Inside, the entire apartment was soaking wet, with water dripping from the walls and ceiling, generated from the shower that was still running. The windows were closed.
Johnson’s beloved dog, a Dalmatian named Brooke, was sopping wet in the living room, property manager Charles Ard exclusively told DailyMail.com. They discovered her body face up in the tub.
Maryanne Johnson, 31, was found dead at her New York City apartment last Tuesday – the same day she was set to start a new job with Tribeca Film Festival. Her body was face up in the tub with the hot water still running
Inside, the entire apartment was soaking wet, with water dripping from the walls and ceiling, generated from the shower that was still running. The windows were closed
Johnson’s beloved dog, a Dalmatian named Brooke, was found sopping wet in the living room
‘She had been taking a hot shower when she died,’ Ard said. ‘The shower was running when we found her. It must have been running for at least a day.’
‘It’s such a sad situation,’ he continued. ‘She was such a young, beautiful, nice lady.’
Police suspect she may have committed suicide, based on handwritten notes they found, in which she shared dark thoughts about her life and troubles.
Johnson’s death has been kept under tight wraps by the NYPD, presumably out of respect for her father, a cop in Florida. Other cases like this would be put out as an ‘investigate DOA.’
Johnson loved theater, but struggled to make it as an actress, trying for years to land acting gigs, and had several relationships that didn’t work out.
‘She really wanted to be an actress. She had that kind of eq [emotional quotient] to be a good actress, but she could never really cut a break,’ said one former co-worker.
Johnson was fired in December from a part-time job at Blade, an urban aviation company that flies executives and wealthy socialites to and from Manhattan’s helipads.
But with no obvious signs of trauma to her body, and no drugs or alcohol found at the scene, the New York City medical examiner’s office has yet to rule on her cause of death. Autopsy results were still pending as of Thursday morning.
Friends and former co-workers met up for a memorial event last week hosted by Blade. The funeral, pictured here, was on Thursday at St. Pius X Church in Fairfield, Connecticut
‘She was with us the prior week and she was fine,’ her father David Johnson (pictured) said. ‘She had a ball. She was out with her mom. She went to the beach. She had dinner with us. I’m a pretty savvy dude. There was nothing to pick up on’
Johnson had just returned from a trip to Florida to visit her parents. She posted pictures from her trip home on Instagram, with beach shots including a close-up of a seagull on the sand. In Florida, on February 14, Johnson wished her followers a ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’
In the aftermath of Johnson’s death, her close friend Courtney Cavanaugh set up a GoFundMe page that, as of Thursday, had raised over $27,000 for her friend’s funeral and to fly Johnson’s pet dog Brooke (pictured) to Florida. Pictured: Johnson’s dog at her funeral on Thursday
As of recently, Johnston’s dog was staying with a neighbor in Johnson’s building, according to the property manager. Pictured: Johnston’s dog with a friend at her funeral
People close to Johnson, known as MJ, doubt it was suicide and speculate she may have collapsed in the shower from excessive drinking and gone into cardiac arrest. She weighed just 90lbs, and according to one friend, consumed several glasses of wine the last time she was seen alive.
Family and friends said she seemed excited about her life and new job.
‘She was with us the prior week and she was fine,’ her father David Johnson, a police officer in Florida, told DailyMail.com. ‘She had a ball. She was out with her mom. She went to the beach. She had dinner with us. I’m a pretty savvy dude. There was nothing to pick up on.’
Johnson posted pictures from her trip home on Instagram, with beach shots including a close-up of a seagull on the sand. In Florida, on February 14, Johnson wished her followers a ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’
Adding: ‘For the first time in my life I have realized that I do not need to rely on the companionship of others in order to achieve self fulfillment or validation. Strength and happiness truly do come from within.
‘Today is a day that should be celebrated by all. Not just couples but anyone that has grown to love the person they have become. Sending and spreading love in 2020.’
Johnson had worked at Blade’s West Side location for five years helping customers with flights. It was a part-time position that allowed her to pursue acting and modeling jobs, just like several co-workers she had befriended.
Johnson was also fired in December from a part-time job at Blade, an urban aviation company that flies business executives and wealthy socialites to and from Manhattan’s helipads. Johnson starred in commercials for Blade, wearing a blue flight attendant outfit aboard a retrofitted Bombardier jet (pictured)
Johnson had worked at Blade’s West Side location for five years helping customers with flights. It was a part-time position that allowed her to pursue acting and modeling jobs. She was fired from Blade for missing work too many times
Johnson starred in commercials for Blade. In one, she donned a blue flight attendant outfit aboard a retrofitted Bombardier jet and showed off the luxuries, including organic meals, specialty drinks, stereo headphones and a laptop equipped with first-run movies.
Johnson was fired from Blade for missing work too many times. She accepted a severance package that helped her pay bills while looking for new work.
Her building’s property manager, Charles Ard, said that while she struggled at the time with a couple late rent payments, she eventually caught up.
Just before her Florida trip, she stopped by his office on the Upper East Side asking if she could upgrade to a nicer apartment in her building.
Returning from Florida over the weekend, she was due to meet up on the afternoon of Sunday, February 16 with two close friends she used to work with at Blade, Courtney Cavanaugh and Tori Maisey.
They all had VIP seats reserved at Madison Square Garden to watch the Rangers-Bruins game, thanks to a connection Maisey has through Tao Group, a nightlife company owned by James Dolan, who is also CEO of the Garden.
Johnson didn’t make it to the game, but hung out with Cavanaugh and Maisey afterward. They were among the last to see her alive, friends said.
Police have reached out to several of her buddies, including Jessica Rooney, who was fired from Blade on the same day as Johnson.
Returning from Florida over the weekend, she was due to meet up on the afternoon of Sunday, February 16 with two close friends she used to work with at Blade, Courtney Cavanaugh (left) and Tori Maisey (right)
People close to Johnson, known as MJ, doubt it was suicide and speculate she may have collapsed in the shower from excessive drinking and gone into cardiac arrest. She weighed just 90lbs, and according to one friend, consumed several glasses of wine the last time she was seen alive with her friends Cavanaugh and Maisey
‘She was the best friend you could hope for,’ Rooney told DailyMail.com. ‘She always knew to check in on people. MJ, she was always there for you.’
Friends and former co-workers met up for a memorial event last week hosted by Blade.
The funeral was held on Thursday at St. Pius X Church in Fairfield, Connecticut. Her parents, brother and beloved dog were there to share their grief and outpouring of love from friends.
Johnson’s father has kept in touch with cops in the NYPD’s 13th precinct, which is continuing to investigate the death.
‘I don’t have a complete picture of her last 24 hours,’ the grieving father said. ‘Homicide has been ruled out, I can give you that. The rest of it is, quite honestly, personal.’
‘There are a lot of people who think they know something,’ the father added, alluding to allegations about a high-end party culture involving current and former employees of Blade, and a coverup involving her death. There are indications the rumors are being spread by a disgruntled ex-employee.
‘I’m not going to tolerate anyone spreading rumors about my daughter,’ her father said. ‘All I know is my 31-year-old baby girl is gone and I need to focus on taking care of her mom and her brother.’
In the aftermath of Johnson’s death, her close friend Courtney Cavanaugh set up a GoFundMe page that, as of Thursday, had raised over $27,000 for her friend’s funeral and to fly Johnson’s pet dog Brooke to Florida.
Johnson had just returned from a trip to Florida to visit her parents. She posted pictures from her trip home on Instagram, with beach shots (left) including a close-up of a seagull on the sand. In Florida, on February 14, Johnson wished her followers a ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’
Johnson, in September 2018, posted a picture of Brooke (pictured) on Instagram with the caption, ‘Proof that God exists,’ and even started an Instagram page for the pet
Johnson, in September 2018, posted a picture of Brooke on Instagram with the caption, ‘Proof that God exists,’ and even started an Instagram page for the pet.
As of Monday, her dog was staying with a neighbor in Johnson’s building, according to the property manager.
‘There are no words to describe the magnitude of this loss, as MJ touched the lives of so many people,’ Cavanaugh wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Tori Maisey posted an Instagram message to ‘my friend and sister.’
‘Countless nights dressing up, countless songs sung and often butchered, countless tears and giggles and laughter,’ she wrote. ‘You are in my heart and will forever be.’
The Tribeca Film Festival released a statement to DailyMail.com on Wednesday confirming she was set to start work on February 18 as a seasonal partnerships account manager.
‘We were informed on that day that she had passed away,’ the company noted. ‘We would like to send condolences to her family and friends.’