A man accused of fatally stabbing a transgender college student from New Jersey more than 40 times in under 10 minutes has been found incompetent to stand trial.
Christopher Leahy, 31, is accused of attacking 19-year-old Juniper Blessing, a University of Washington student, in the laundry room of an off-campus apartment complex in May. Authorities said Blessing was stabbed in the head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands.
During a hearing Monday, a King County Superior Court judge ordered Leahy to be held at a hospital for up to 90 days after determining he is not currently mentally competent to face trial, KOMO News reported.
The ruling followed an evaluation by medical experts, who concluded that Leahy is presently unable to assist in his own defense. His attorney had raised concerns about his mental competency earlier this month.
Leahy will remain hospitalized for treatment while doctors assess whether his competency can be restored so the criminal case may proceed.
He surrendered to police in Bellevue five days after the May 10 killing, after authorities released surveillance images from the night of the attack that showed his face.
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According to investigators, another student entering the laundry area held the door open for Leahy as he left. He allegedly thanked her before she discovered Blessing’s bloodied body on the floor and called 911 to report the stabbing.
Security footage also showed Leahy entering and leaving the laundry room at the Seattle student housing complex before allegedly unplugging the camera once he was alone with Blessing.
No details have been released about his supposed mental health condition, but Leahy’s attorneys have asked the court to seal certain case documents, arguing they reveal defense strategy and could identify potential expert witnesses.
Leahy is due to return to court in September, when a judge will review his competency and, if necessary, order additional restoration treatment.
The competency restoration process can take up to a year, according to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
Several LGBTQ+ advocates were in court for Monday’s hearing, and said they plan to remain involved throughout the legal proceedings to honor Blessing’s legacy.
“The amount of pain that our community has been forced to hold with this atrocity is not OK,” Axton Burton of Pride Across the Bridge told KOMO News.
“We’ve been connected with Juniper’s parent and have been holding space for her through all of this. Being able to bear witness is very important to us,” said Burton.
