Tragic Incident at University of Washington Residence

A shocking security video recently surfaced, depicting a 31-year-old man stalking Juniper Blessing, a transgender student from the University of Washington, in the laundry room of her off-campus housing. This occurred just moments before he allegedly attacked her, stabbing the young woman 40 times.

The footage shows Christopher Leahy, entering and exiting the laundry area of the Nordheim Court student apartments in Seattle on May 10. It was only when he was alone with Blessing, a 19-year-old from New Jersey, that he is said to have unplugged the security camera and subsequently committed the brutal act, as reported by KOMO-TV News.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office also released additional video evidence indicating that Leahy had previously attempted to open doors in the neighborhood, suggesting a pattern of suspicious behavior. Assistant Prosecutor Casey McNersney mentioned that a few days before the murder, Leahy had attempted to enter a residence nearby.

There were even reports that Blessing herself had tried to break into at least one other campus building prior to her death, according to the police.

Leahy, who does not attend the university, surrendered to authorities on May 12, following the release of security photos, and has been charged with first-degree murder.

The newly released video showed Leahy entering the laundry room just after 9:45 PM, only to leave abruptly. When another student returned around 10 PM, she found Blessing sitting on the floor near the dryer, with a male student nearby.

Interestingly, Leahy seemed to be aware of the camera’s location. The prosecutor’s office noted that he appeared to track the power cord from the cameras mounted near the doorway.

Moments later, another student found Blessing on the floor, covered in blood, prompting a 911 call.

Leahy was set to face a court hearing that Thursday, but it was postponed due to his lawyer’s request for additional time to conduct a mental health evaluation.

Juniper Blessing, born Michael Carneiro da Cunha Blessing in Princeton, New Jersey, moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2018 and was a student at the New Mexico School of the Arts until 2024, according to her family. In a statement, they expressed their devastation over the loss, describing her as an exceptional individual—smart, talented, and deeply empathetic.

The family stated, “Our world feels emptied. We will miss her forever.”