Bruce Leonard is led into the town court in New Hartford, New York, for a preliminary hearing on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. Bruce, along with his wife Deborah Leonard have been charged in the death of their 19-year-old son Lucas. The couple is also charged with the beating of their 17-year old son, Christopher, along with other members of the Word of Life Christian Church, Joseph Irwin, David Morey, Linda Morey, and Sarah Ferguson. MARK DIORIO/OBSERVER-DISPATCH VIA AP
NEW HARTFORD, New York — A mother and father whipped their 19-year-old son in church with an electrical cord and what appeared to be a belt during a deadly, all-night spiritual counseling session triggered by his desire to leave the fold, according to witness testimony and police Friday.
Church deacon Daniel Irwin testified he peered through a doorway window in the sanctuary during the more than 12-hour ordeal at the Word of Life Christian Church and saw Lucas Leonard bleeding and in apparent agony.
“Lucas was rolling himself back and forth on the floor and making a sustained, monotone moaning,” Irwin said.
Within hours, the young man would be dead, killed by blows inflicted by his parents, sister and fellow church members, authorities said. His mother told police the group took turns hitting him and holding him down, state police investigator Jason Nellis testified.
The testimony came at a court hearing for the parents, Bruce and Deborah Leonard, on manslaughter charges. At the conclusion of the hearing, a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to sustain the charges.
The arrests in New Hartford, a town of 22,000 people, have thrown a spotlight on Word of Life, a highly regimented and insular church that operated out of a large, red-brick former school that also served as a communal home for several members.
Police Chief Michael Inserra said outside court that members told authorities Lucas Leonard and his 17-year-old brother, Christopher Leonard, were beaten during what began as spiritual counseling Sunday night over Lucas’ desire to leave the church.
A neighbor, James Constantine, also said Lucas had talked about moving on and had mentioned he might join the Army.
Christopher was hospitalized in serious condition, but his health was improving.
Four other church members, including the victims’ 33-year-old sister, Sarah Ferguson, have been charged with assault. Their hearings will be held later. All six defendants have pleaded not guilty.
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