A “counseling session” at the World of Life Church in New Hartford, New York, where teens were told to confess their sins took a turn for the worst, as they were beaten by church members. The assaults took place on Sunday night, and the teens were later taken to the hospital after members noticed one of the teens wasn’t breathing.
Lucas Leonard, 19, was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital on Monday. Autopsy reports show the cause of death to Leonard was blunt force trauma to the torso. His brother, Christopher Leonard, 17, remains hospitalized in serious condition as he also suffers from blunt force trauma to the torso.
Parents of the teens, Bruce T. Leonard, 65, and Deborah R. Leonard, 59, have been arrested and are each facing one count of first-degree manslaughter, a Class B felony. Four other church members were also charged with second-degree assault.
Other children were found in the church, and have been taken into custody of child protective services. You can find out more on this story here.
