An Utqiaġvik woman has been charged with six felonies for allegedly murdering her father.
North Slope police officers responded to a call on Dec. 16 from an unidentified woman. The caller said she had done “something bad” and requested assistance.
According to court documents, officers responded to the residence and found the victim, 57-year-old Jens Leavitt lying on his back and unresponsive. Leavitt was later pronounced dead at a local hospital from multiple stab wounds.
Officers also found the suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Natalie Lauren-Marie Leavitt, the victim’s daughter. According to the arresting officer’s statements in court documents, Leavitt had locked herself in a bathroom, refused to leave and threatened to stab the officers through the door. She later complied with officers.
Once she was in custody, Leavitt allegedly told officers that she started drinking the previous day and continued drinking until she said she got into an argument with her father over household chores. The argument escalated and became physical. Leavitt admitted to stabbing her father several times. She admitted to calling the police dispatch after her uncle arrived at the house, about 20 minutes after the stabbing.
Leavitt was indicted on two counts of murder in the second degree, three counts of third degree assault and one count of terroristic threatening in the third degree.
Leavitt is in custody at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. Her bail is set at $1 million. Leavitt’s arraignment was scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Utqiaġvik Courthouse. Her attorney said he would enter a not guilty plea on Leavitt’s behalf.
