Case overview
Iana Kasian, a 30-year-old Ukrainian makeup artist, was found dead in her West Hollywood apartment in May 2016, days after giving birth. Her boyfriend, Blake Leibel, was charged with torture and first-degree murder following the discovery of her body in a locked bedroom.
The victim and the relationship
Kasian had moved to Los Angeles from Ukraine in 2015, working as a freelance makeup artist while pursuing creative projects. She met Blake Leibel, a Canadian graphic novelist and the son of a wealthy Toronto real estate developer, through mutual acquaintances in the entertainment industry.
By early 2016, the two were living together in a rented apartment on Woodward Avenue in West Hollywood. Kasian became pregnant later that year. Friends and family described her as focused on preparing for the baby and excited about motherhood, though some later noted she had become increasingly isolated in the final months of her life.
Leibel had published a graphic novel titled “Syndrome” in 2010, a story involving extreme violence. At the time of Kasian’s death, he had limited professional activity and was financially supported by his family in Canada.
The final week
Kasian gave birth to the couple’s daughter on May 20, 2016. She returned to the apartment with the infant days later. On May 23, Kasian’s mother, Olga Kasian, traveled from Ukraine to Los Angeles to help care for the newborn.
Olga Kasian arrived at the apartment on May 24. Leibel met her at the door but did not allow her inside. He told her that Iana was sleeping and could not be disturbed. He handed over the infant but refused entry to the apartment.
Concerned, Olga Kasian contacted building management and requested a welfare check. On May 26, Los Angeles Police Department officers entered the apartment with a key provided by the property manager.
Discovery and arrest
Officers found Kasian’s body in a locked bedroom. The condition of the remains prompted an immediate homicide investigation. Leibel was present in the apartment and was taken into custody without incident.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined that Kasian had been subjected to severe trauma. The official cause of death was listed as exsanguination due to multiple injuries. Investigators noted that much of her blood had been drained from her body.
The coroner’s report documented extensive injuries, including scalping and facial trauma. The findings led prosecutors to file charges of torture and first-degree murder against Leibel in June 2016.
The charges and the defense
Leibel pleaded not guilty. His defense team argued that Kasian had died as a result of complications from childbirth, not homicide. They pointed to her recent delivery and suggested that underlying health issues may have contributed to her death.
Prosecutors presented forensic evidence showing that the injuries were inconsistent with natural causes or accidental trauma. Medical examiners testified that the scalping and blood loss required deliberate action and sustained force.
The defense challenged the timeline presented by the prosecution, questioning when the injuries occurred and whether Leibel had been the only person with access to the apartment during the relevant period. Investigators documented that Leibel had remained inside the locked bedroom with Kasian’s body for multiple days before police arrived.
The trial and verdict
Leibel’s trial began in 2018. The case centered on forensic testimony, autopsy findings, and the testimony of Olga Kasian, who described Leibel’s refusal to let her see her daughter and his evasive behavior in the days following the birth.
The jury heard evidence regarding the locked bedroom, the condition of the body, and the timeline of events between May 23 and May 26. Prosecutors argued that the deliberate nature of the injuries and the confinement of the victim constituted torture under California law.
In June 2018, Leibel was convicted of first-degree murder and torture. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The jury found that the evidence supported the conclusion that Leibel had inflicted the injuries intentionally and that Kasian had suffered prolonged harm before her death.
The disputed evidence
Defense attorneys continued to argue that the forensic evidence did not definitively establish the sequence of events. They pointed to the lack of eyewitness testimony and the absence of recorded statements from Leibel describing what occurred inside the apartment.
Prosecutors maintained that the physical evidence, including the locked door, the condition of the body, and Leibel’s behavior during the welfare check, supported the murder and torture charges. The appellate record reflects ongoing debate over the interpretation of forensic findings and the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence in cases involving confinement and delayed discovery.
The aftermath
Olga Kasian was granted custody of her granddaughter following Leibel’s arrest. She has spoken publicly about the case, advocating for victims of domestic violence and calling attention to warning signs in relationships involving control and isolation.
Leibel’s family has not made public statements regarding the conviction. His legal team filed appeals challenging the sufficiency of evidence and the admissibility of certain forensic testimony, but those appeals have been denied.
The case has been cited in legal discussions about torture statutes in California and the evidentiary standards required to prove prolonged suffering in homicide cases. It remains a reference point in training materials for domestic violence investigators and forensic pathologists.
The unresolved questions
While Leibel was convicted, several aspects of the case remain unresolved in public understanding. The exact sequence of events between May 23 and May 26 has never been fully reconstructed. Leibel did not testify at trial and has not provided a public account of what occurred inside the apartment.
The case also raised questions about how long Kasian may have survived after the initial injuries and whether intervention at an earlier point could have altered the outcome. Medical examiners testified that some injuries were likely inflicted over a period of time, but the precise timeline remains a matter of expert interpretation rather than direct evidence.
The defense’s argument that Kasian died from childbirth complications was rejected by the jury, but it highlighted the challenges prosecutors face in cases where the victim’s body is not discovered immediately and where forensic evidence must be interpreted without corroborating witness testimony.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “Torture and Murder: The Blake Leibel Story” (Investigation Discovery)
- Podcast: “True Crime Garage” (Stitcher)
- Podcast: “Sword and Scale” (Wondery)
