Murder of Iana Kasian

Background

Iana Kasian (born 27 January 1986 in Kyiv, Ukraine) had studied law and worked as a prosecutor for the Ukrainian tax service before immigrating to the United States in 2014, where she worked as a model in California. She became engaged to Blake Leibel, a Canadian former comic book creator and graphic novelist, after he separated from his wife Amanda Braun in 2015. On 3 May 2016, Kasian gave birth to their daughter, Diana.

Disappearance and Discovery

On 24 May 2016, Kasian's mother, Olga, became unable to reach her daughter despite more than ten calls, and went looking for her. Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officers attempted a welfare check at the couple's West Hollywood apartment but left after no one answered the door. Olga later returned alone, stood across the street, and shouted for Leibel to open the door; she testified that she saw him approach the window before closing it and disappearing inside.

On 26 May 2016, following a barricade stand-off with police, officers found Kasian's body lying on the bed in the master bedroom, with Leibel at her side. Prosecutors said there were indications Leibel had been lying beside her cleaned body for some time before police arrived. Kasian had been mutilated and drained of blood. The couple's infant daughter was in the care of Kasian's mother, who was staying in a nearby apartment.

Autopsy Findings

An autopsy report released on 20 September 2017 listed exsanguination and head trauma as causes of death. Deposition testimony from Los Angeles County Coroner Dr. James Ribe, disclosed in a civil lawsuit filed by Olga Kasian, described Kasian's entire scalp as traumatically absent and not recovered, her skull stripped to the bone, and portions of the right side of her face, including the right ear, torn away. Ribe also noted a human bite mark among facial bruises and stated that Kasian had lived for approximately eight hours after sustaining the scalp injury. He characterized the injuries as extremely rare, comparable only to what might be seen in wartime settings.

Trial and Sentencing

Blake Leibel was charged with murder, torture, mayhem, and aggravated mayhem, and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors argued at trial that the killing stemmed from Leibel's jealousy and anger over the baby, as well as a need for power and control over his fiancée. On 20 June 2018, Leibel was convicted of first-degree murder, torture, and aggravated mayhem. On 26 June 2018, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He is reported to be serving his sentence at California's Centinela State Prison.