A maniac accused of stabbing a transgender college student from New Jersey more than 40 times in less than 10 minutes has been found incompetent to stand trial for the murder.
Christopher Leahy, 31, allegedly unleashed the frenzied attack on 19-year-old Juniper Blessing, a student at the University of Washington, in the off-campus apartment complex laundry room in May, stabbing the student in the head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands.
At a hearing on Monday, Leahy was ordered to spend up to 90 days at a hospital after he was found mentally incompetent to stand trial by a judge at King County Superior Court, KOMO News reported.
A panel of medical experts determined that the suspected killer cannot currently assist in his own defense, after his attorney raised concerns about his mental competency earlier this month.
He will remain at the hospital for treatment while doctors determine whether he can be found fit to stand trial.
Leahy turned himself in to the police in Bellvue five days after the May 10 killing, following the release of surveillance images on the night of the murder showing his face.
Another student was heading into the laundry facility and held the door open for Leahy, who chillingly thanked her as he exited, leaving her to find Blessing’s bloodied body on the laundry room floor. That student called 911 to report the stabbing.
Chilling security footage showed Leahy going in and out of 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.
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