Trending Now - Murder Charges Filed Against Suspect in UW Student's Stabbing

WHO:

KUOW - Christopher Michael Leahy, a 31-year-old Bellevue man, has been charged with murder.

KUOW - Juniper Blessing, a 19-year-old University of Washington student, was the victim.

KOMO - Blessing was identified as a transgender woman.

WHAT:

KUOW - Leahy has been charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement.

KUOW - Blessing was found stabbed to death with more than 40 stab wounds.

KOMO - Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of between 244-344 months (20.3 - 28.6 years) for Leahy.

KOMO - Leahy is being held in King County Jail on $10 million bail.

WHERE:

KUOW - The murder occurred in the laundry room of the Nordheim Court student housing complex at 5000 25th Avenue NE, Seattle.

KOMO - The Seattle Police Department responded to reports of a stabbing at Nordheim Court.

WHEN:

KUOW - The murder occurred on May 10.

KUOW - Leahy turned himself in to police on May 13 at 10:27 p.m.

KOMO - University of Washington police responded around 10:11 p.m. on May 10.

WHY:

KUOW - Prosecutors allege that there is currently no evidence that the crime was motivated by hate.

KOMO - Investigators believe Blessing was not specifically targeted because of gender identity.

HOW:

KUOW - Leahy allegedly stalked another UW student prior to the murder and was seen in the laundry room shortly before Blessing was found.

KOMO - Security footage and tracking apps placed Leahy at the crime scene and in campus buildings prior to the murder.

KOMO - Fingerprints allegedly recovered from blood smears on the laundry room door connected Leahy to the scene.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 11:55 UTC)

Christopher Michael Leahy, a 31-year-old man from Bellevue, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Juniper Blessing, a 19-year-old University of Washington student who was found with over 40 stab wounds. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of between 244 to 344 months for Leahy, who is currently being held in King County Jail on a $10 million bail. Investigators have linked Leahy to the crime scene through security footage and fingerprints, and they allege he stalked another student prior to the murder, although there is no evidence to suggest the crime was motivated by hate.