Third person arrested in connection to Blaire Leavitt murder after SWAT standoff

SALT LAKE CITY — Police say a third man has been arrested in connection to the 2019 murder of Salt Lake City resident Blaire Leavitt.

Officials with the Salt Lake City Police Department said 42-year-old Timote Fonua was taken into custody in San Mateo, California, on Tuesday — exactly three years after Leavitt was found in her Redwood Road apartment with a gunshot wound.

Emergency crews transported Leavitt to an area hospital, but she died before she could undergo emergency surgery.

SLC police began their investigation and released the identities of six suspects, including Fonua, in February 2022.

Police identify six suspects in 2019 murder of Blaire Leavitt

An arrest warrant was issued for Fonua on March 16 and California authorities took Fonua into custody following a SWAT standoff on Tuesday.

Police say Fonua has been charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated burglary.

Any extradition hearings in the case will take place in San Mateo County.

Other arrests

In March, 26-year-old Katoa Pahulu turned himself in to police and was arrested in Maui, Hawaii.

In February, SLC police arrested 36-year-old Lachelle Fiefia for obstruction of justice in connection to the investigation.

Police said Fiefia was one of several people who were at Leavitt’s apartment the night she was killed. According to court documents, she drove two of the men involved in the shooting to Oakland, California.

Police said their investigation remains active and anyone with information about the case should call 801-799-3000 and reference the Blaire Leavitt homicide.