Christopher Leahy is being held as prosecutors weigh formal charges in the death of 19-year-old Juniper Blessing.
SEATTL, WA — A 31-year-old man accused in the fatal stabbing of a University of Washington student inside an off-campus laundry room is being held on $10 million bail while prosecutors review the homicide case.
Christopher Leahy surrendered to Bellevue police after Seattle detectives released surveillance images tied to the killing of Juniper Blessing, 19. A judge found probable cause for first-degree murder with a deadly weapon during Leahy’s first court appearance. A charging decision was expected Monday evening after Seattle police submitted the case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Blessing, a UW student, was found dead late May 10 inside a laundry room at Nordheim Court Apartments, a student housing complex near the university’s Seattle campus. Police and fire crews were called to the building after a resident found her on the floor. Investigators said she had been stabbed repeatedly, and court records described more than 40 wounds to her head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. University of Washington President Robert Jones said the arrest was important but did not lessen the grief felt by Blessing’s loved ones and the campus community. “Much is still unknown about what caused this tragedy,” Jones said in a message to students.
Detectives said surveillance video showed Blessing arriving at the laundry room carrying bags and a jug of laundry detergent before the attack. Court documents said Leahy and Blessing were seen entering the room shortly before the killing and that Leahy appeared to remain there for several minutes before leaving alone. Investigators also found blood smears on the outside of the laundry room door, records said. Police said a mounted camera inside the room had been unplugged, but a Seattle police video specialist recovered footage from an SD card. The motive remained unknown Monday, and police had not said whether Blessing was targeted because she was transgender or whether the attack was random.
Leahy turned himself in May 13, hours after Seattle police released images of a suspect they described as armed and dangerous. Bellevue police arrested him at 10:42 p.m. and later transferred him to Seattle homicide detectives. Investigators said multiple people contacted police after the images were released, including Leahy’s brother and a former school friend, who identified him as the man shown in the surveillance footage. In court, prosecutors argued that the number and location of Blessing’s wounds supported a first-degree murder allegation. Leahy’s defense attorney argued the case should be treated as second-degree murder, disputing whether prosecutors had shown premeditation.
The killing shook the university’s northeast Seattle community and brought new attention to safety concerns at Nordheim Court, where students said they had worried about locks, building access and earlier reports of a break-in. Some residents said they learned of those concerns only after Blessing’s death. A student who lives near the complex said many classmates spent days afraid while police searched for the suspect. Students also questioned the timing of public updates before Leahy’s arrest. Seattle police have said detectives reviewed surveillance video and released images when they were ready to ask the public for help identifying the suspect.
Blessing’s family said she was from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and had loved weather since early childhood. At UW, she planned to study atmospheric science while continuing voice studies and pursuing minors in music and philosophy. Her family described her as highly intelligent, deeply sensitive and talented. “Juniper was simply the most amazing human being we have ever known,” the family said in a statement released through the Santa Fe Pride and Human Rights Alliance. The family said Blessing had worked during summers as an usher at the Santa Fe Opera and had studied at New Mexico School for the Arts before coming to Seattle.
Memorials grew through the week at UW’s Red Square and outside Nordheim Court, where students left flowers, candles and handwritten notes. UW student Sara Latchman-Sheikh said the arrest brought some relief, but not an end to the pain. “We’re grateful they’re going to be brought to justice, but it won’t bring back that person,” she said. Other students described locking doors and windows while waiting for updates from police. A private campus gathering was held Saturday for grief and healing, drawing students and community members who mourned Blessing and supported the transgender community.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was expected to make a charging decision Monday evening. Leahy remained in custody with bail set at $10 million as detectives continued reviewing evidence, witness statements and recovered video.
Author note: Last updated May 18, 2026.