[Breaking news update, published at 1:31 p.m ET]
A 19-year-old teen died and his younger brother was seriously wounded at Word of Life Christian Church in New Hartford, New York, during a “counseling session” that involved hours of physical punishment, New Hartford Police Chief Michael Inserra said Wednesday. The teens’ “spiritual state” was discussed during the session, Inserra said. Parents Bruce T. Leonard, 65, and Deborah R. Leonard, 59, have been charged each with one count of first-degree manslaughter, a Class B felony.
Lucas Leonard suffered blunt-force trauma injuries to the torso and extremities, Inserra said. A combination of the injuries and the duration of assault contributed to his death. Inserra said initial reports that Leonard suffered a gunshot wound were unfounded.
[Original story, published at 1:23 p.m. ET]
Six members of the Word of Life Christian Church in New Hartford, New York, have been arrested after the 19-year-old son of two of the suspects died from blunt force trauma injuries, police said.
Family members took the teen, Lucas Leonard, by car Monday afternoon to a hospital in nearby Utica. New Hartford police said Leonard was injured during an assault and was pronounced dead Monday at the hospital.
Investigators determined that Leonard was beaten at the church, New Hartford police said. Police were originally called to the hospital and told that Leonard had been shot, but authorities said later a gunshot wound had not been confirmed. A medical examiner is doing an autopsy.
Authorities found several children in the church and called in child protective services.
Brother in serious condition
A second assault victim — Leonard’s 17-year-old brother, Christopher — also was found, police said. He is at a hospital in serious condition, they said.
The parents, Bruce T. Leonard, 65, and Deborah R. Leonard, 59, were each charged Tuesday with one count of first-degree manslaughter, a Class B felony. Four other church members were charged with second-degree assault, also a felony.
They were arraigned Tuesday afternoon in New Hartford Town Court.
The Leonards each were held with bail set at $100,000. Bail for the other four was set at $50,000 each.
Don Gerace, attorney for Bruce Leonard, has entered a not guilty plea on behalf of his client, whom he said has no criminal history and has lived in the community more than two decades. Leonard has been a church member for eight years.
“In the state of New York he is charged with manslaughter in the first degree, which requires intent to cause serious bodily injury and I do not believe there was any intent,” Gerace said.
Deborah Leonard’s attorney, Devin Garramone, said his client had a stent put in due to a heart condition and requires constant medical attention.
“I cannot imagine my client had anything to do with these injuries, especially in the condition she is in,” he said.
‘Quite a shock’
A former Word of Life church member, who asked not to be identified, said she used to babysit the teenaged brothers. The allegations were shocking, she said.
The church, which began in 1984, is comprised of about five families, or approximately 35 members, including children, according to the former member. She described the congregation as a “makeshift family” that had been together for 25 years.
“We weren’t originally isolated from the community,” she said.
Over time, there was friction between the church and a neighboring community, she said.
“We put up the hedges,” she said.
“Then the neighbors got angry because they couldn’t see what’s going on any more.”
But the ex-member denied reports the church is a cult.
“I realize this situation makes it look like this,” she said, “but if you listen to the teachings, they are accurate to the bible.”
Bruce Leonard has been employed by the Utica School District as a teaching assistant since 2007, Proctor High School principal Steven Falchi told CNN. He has been employed at Proctor High School in Utica since 2010, Falchi said.
Leonard worked with a certified teacher and other teaching assistants in the special education department, Falchi said. He worked with “severely and profoundly disabled students,” Falchi added.
“We were very shocked to learn the news,” said Falchi, adding that he was not aware of previous complaints or disciplinary action against Leonard. “He was a hard worker and was exceptionally compassionate about his work with our students. It came as quite a shock.”
Lucas Leonard and his younger brother were home schooled, according to Ronald Wheelock, superintendent for Sauquoit Valley Central School District.
The school district’s involvement with the teens was limited, with the parents sending the district curriculum proposals at the beginning of the year, Wheelock said.
Police have interviewed others who were at the church Monday before a SWAT team entered.
‘Not a mainline church’
The pastor of a nearby Catholic Church told CNN that little is known about his neighbors.
“I really don’t know much about the place. They keep to themselves,” the Rev. Abraham Esper of St. Patrick’s-St. Anthony’s Church said. “I don’t know of any regular services that they have. They are certainly not a mainline church.”
Esper said a locked gate obscures a parking lot behind the Word of Life church. He said he’s never seen people coming or going in the five years he’s been at St. Patrick’s-St. Anthony’s, which has one service on Saturdays and two on Sundays.
Authorities said they expect to make more arrests. Police will hold a news conference about the case on Wednesday morning.
