Parents, Church Members Charged in Death of Teen, Beating of His Brother

Police say members of a small New York church where a teenager was beaten to death and his brother was brutally injured had little previous contact with authorities.

Six members of that church are now behind bars, including the victims’ parents.

Neighbors who lived near the church for years said they rarely, if ever, saw the gates opened, and they had never been inside.

The younger brother was now being treated at hospital for his injuries and was in “serious” condition, according to police.

The boys’ parents, Bruce and Deborah Leonard – aged 65 and 59 – each face a felony charge of manslaughter in the first degree, the New Hartford Police Department said. He was on the second floor and was not making himself known.

“We’re just alleging they were trying to seriously hurt their son, and ultimately he died from his injuries”.

Inserra said that the beatings lasted for several hours, and that both brothers suffered wounds and bruising to their torsos, genitals, arms and legs.

Police did not reveal if any weapons were used, but did say “feet and fists were involved”.

The assault took place on Sunday. “This did not do that”.

“It’s really sad. I think that people have always been so suspicious”.

In addition to the Leonards, police arrested David Morey, 26, of Utica; Linda Morey, 54, of Utica; Sarah Ferguson, 33, who lives at the same address as the Leonards; and Joseph Irwin, 26, who lives in the church building.

A woman charged with beating her teenage son to death inside a church felt helpless to stop an intervention that spiraled into violent punishment by others, her lawyer said Thursday. Eventually, Lucas stopped breathing and relatives took him early Monday to a hospital, where he died, police said. The brothers “weren’t allowed to do normal things, but they tried to be as normal as they could be”.

Local and state law enforcement officials have scheduled a news conference to discuss their investigation into the death of a teenager who was allegedly beaten inside a church by his parents. “As the investigation progressed, it was determined that the “Word of Life Church” was the scene of crime and a search warrant was secured for that location”.

Nicole Howard said the two siblings weren’t permitted to have sleepovers.

Lawyer Devin Garramone said Thursday the confrontation “spun out of control” and Deborah Leonard “didn’t have the temerity” to stand up to others in a church where she’d worshipped for 30 years.