Judge Sets $10 Million Bail for Christopher Leahy in 19-Year-Old UW Student's Killing
Updated
Updated · KOMO News · May 14
Judge Sets $10 Million Bail for Christopher Leahy in 19-Year-Old UW Student's Killing
2 articles · Updated · KOMO News · May 14
$10 million bail was imposed on Christopher Leahy after a judge found probable cause to charge him with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the stabbing death of UW student Juniper Blessing.
Court documents say Blessing, 19, suffered more than 40 stab wounds, and prosecutors cited the severity of those injuries to argue the killing was premeditated rather than second-degree murder.
Surveillance video showed Leahy and Blessing entering the Nordheim Court laundry room together, with Leahy later leaving alone; police said he surrendered Tuesday night after images of an armed and dangerous suspect were released.
Multiple tipsters, including Leahy's brother and a former school friend, identified him from the images, while defense lawyers argued his surrender and lack of criminal history warranted lower bail.
Blessing's family and UW described the killing as a devastating loss for the campus and LGBTQIA2S communities; Leahy's next court appearance is set for May 18.
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