A popular true crime series will unravel the chilling case of a graphic novel author who tortured and mutilated his fiancée.
Blake Leibel, who grew up in Toronto, Canada, was the heir to a multimillion-dollar real estate empire and ambitiously creative at the time of his deplorable actions.
His facade of success collapsed when he was convicted of the brutal murder of partner Iana Kasian just weeks after she gave birth to the couple’s daughter.
He tortured the mother-of-one for six hours before scattering parts of her scalp, ear and face in their Hollywood apartment and draining her blood.
FEMAIL exposed the sordid details in an episode of this Death by fame will investigate the matter.
Blake Leibel, who grew up in Toronto, Canada, was convicted of torturing and mutilating fiancée Iana Kasian
Leibel’s graphic novel entitled Syndrome, released in 2010, which would later be described as a ‘blueprint’ for the gruesome murder he committed
The twisted story began in 2004 when Leibel, now 42, moved to California, where he lived on an allowance from his parents that totaled $1.8 million over seven years. Los Angeles Times.
The family’s wealth was largely due to his father, Lorne – a former Olympic sailor who made a fortune in the 1980s and 1990s as president of Canada Homes – once described as the country’s largest homebuilder.
Leibel tried to make a name for himself in the media world by working on a handful of projects, including Mel Brooks’ animated series Spaceballs (2008) and the comedy film Bald (2009), according to IMDb.
But it was his graphic novel entitled Syndrome, released in 2010, that would later be described as a ‘blueprint’ for the gruesome murder he committed.
The novel begins with the preface: “If you enjoyed hurting things, what would you do?”
It then follows a scientist who tries to find a way to cure people of evil with a page showing a woman lying naked on a bed without a head.
It ends with an image of a hand dripping blood and the caption: “We all become monsters in the end.”
It was during this time that he married model Amanda Braun and began building a family – but all was not as it seemed.
Former lawyer Iana, originally from Ukraine, had moved to Los Angeles to work as an interpreter
Police entered the blood-spattered room where Iana’s naked body lay sprawled on the bed, covered in a red Mickey Mouse blanket
Clumps of Iana’s hair were found on a razor, her eyebrow had been removed and her facial bones and muscles were visible
Evidence suggests that Leibel dragged his fiancée’s body through the house and submerged her underwater in the bathtub to drain her blood
Leibel would become increasingly erratic and ended the relationship when Amanda was eight months pregnant with their second child.
Instead, he started dating 30-year-old Iana, a former lawyer originally from Ukraine who had moved to Los Angeles to work as an interpreter.
By May 2016, the couple had welcomed a daughter named Diana, who would ultimately prove to be the catalyst to tip Leibel over the edge.
Iana told her own mother, Olga, that Leibel had become upset after the baby was born because he was jealous that the newborn was getting all her attention.
Just three weeks after the baby was born, she asked Olga to babysit the child while Iana and Leibel worked on their relationship – and that’s when things took a dark turn.
Olga did not hear from Iana for several days and, after becoming increasingly concerned, asked the police to visit the couple’s apartment.
Officers were able to enter the apartment where Leibel had barricaded himself in the master bedroom.
He eventually emerged, wearing only his boxer shorts, with cuts and bruises on his face.
Leibel ended the relationship when Amanda was eight months pregnant with their second child and instead started dating 30-year-old Iana (pictured with him)
Police entered the blood-spattered room where Iana’s naked body lay sprawled on the bed, covered in a red Mickey Mouse blanket – taken from their daughter’s nursery.
Clumps of Iana’s hair were found on a razor, her eyebrow had been removed and her facial bones and muscles were visible.
The autopsy report revealed that parts of the right side of the 30-year-old’s face were torn off by hand during the brutal killing spree while she was still alive.
Investigators found pieces of flesh in the bedroom, as well as part of Iana’s scalp – which had been turned inside out – and an ear in a garbage can at the bottom of the garbage chute outside the house. NBC reported.
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that Iana’s cause of death was exsanguination.
Evidence suggests that Leibel dragged his fiancée’s body through the house and submerged her underwater in the bathtub to drain her blood.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told the court there were no words to describe the depravity of Leibel’s actions and the extremity of his violence.
Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman told the court there were no words to describe the depravity of Leibel’s actions and the extremity of his violence against Iana.
Leibel was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2018 and ordered to pay $41.6 million to Iana’s family
‘This was depravity. Mrs. Kasian died a slow and painful death,” she said.
“He threw away pieces of his fiancée like she was trash, the mother of his newborn baby.
“Her daughter will never know her, and that is because of the unconscionable actions you heard about during this trial.”
During Leibel’s trial, pathologists testified that the gruesome murder had set a precedent in terms of the brutality and gruesomeness of Iana’s injuries.
Jurors deliberated for less than four hours before finding Leibel guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated mayhem and torture.
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2018 and ordered to pay $41.6 million to Iana’s family.
Death By Fame premieres on ID on January 22.