Graphic Novelist Charged with Girlfriend's Murder: All 'Her Blood Was Drained from Her Body'

Leibel is accused of murdering his 30-year-old girlfriend, Iana Kasian, on or between May 23 and May 26, at an apartment they shared in West Hollywood. Kasian was tortured and mutilated before she was killed and all of her blood was drained from her body, the prosecutor said.

Leibel—whose most successful work Syndrome is, according to him, “a lengthy graphic novel that grappled with the questions surrounding what provokes a person to commit evil acts”—is being charged with murder, torture, mayhem and aggravated mayhem. If found guilty, he may face the death penalty.

Leibel is still in the process of divorcing his estranged wife, Amanda Braun. Says his divorce attorney Ronald Richards, “Him being violent is so uncharacteristic of the person I’ve known for many years.”

Of his client’s relationship with relationship with Kasian, Richards adds, “It’s very rare that someone is involved in a homicide case with someone they just had a baby with. It’s very early to make a conclusion as to what the cause, intent, motive and facts were to this unfortunate tragedy.”

Kasian, who emigrated from Kyiv, Ukraine in 2014, is described by friends as “a very happy person [with a] strong and fighting character.” Before coming to the U.S., she studied law and tax inspection at a local college. Her mother—who was visiting L.A. to help with the baby—is currently caring for Kasian’s daughter.

The family, according to The National Post, is “raising money online to have Kasian’s body brought back to Ukraine and to fund what they expect will be an expensive custody battle.”