Bellevue man charged with murder in stabbing death of UW student

Key Points:

• Christopher Michael Leahy, 31, of Bellevue, has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 19-year-old University of Washington student Juniper Blessing, who was found fatally stabbed more than 40 times in her Seattle apartment laundry room on May 10.
• Prosecutors describe the murder as "horrific" and are seeking a sentence between 20.3 and 28.6 years; Leahy is being held on $10 million bail and is scheduled for arraignment on Thursday.
• Evidence includes witness reports, surveillance footage placing Leahy at the scene, and tracking data showing him inside campus buildings and attempting to enter private homes nearby; police found a disconnected power cord to a security camera before footage cut off.
• There is currently no evidence the crime was motivated by hate, though authorities remain open to additional charges if new information arises; Leahy is not a University of Washington student.
• Leahy turned himself in on May 13 after police released suspect photos, prompting tips; Blessing's family expressed gratitude toward law enforcement and the community for their support during their grief.