NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (AP) — A police official says brutal beatings that left one teenager dead and his brother seriously wounded at a New York church were part of what members considered a “counseling session.”
A police official says brutal beatings that left one teenager dead and his brother seriously wounded at a New York church were part of what members considered a “counseling session.”
New Hartford Police Chief Michael Inserra said Wednesday that both Lucas and Christopher Leonard were subjected to hours of physical punishment at the Word of Life Church “in hopes that each would confess to prior sins and ask for forgiveness.”
Inserra says investigators are still looking into what the supposed sins were. He said there’s no indication, at this point, that the issue was sexual assault.
Nineteen-year-old Lucas Leonard died. Seventeen-year-old Christopher is hospitalized in serious condition.
Six church members, including the victims’ parents and sister, are now locked up on charges they assaulted the two young men on Monday.
Bruce and Deborah Leonard have been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Lucas Leonard. Four other members of the Word of Life Church in New Hartford also have been charged in connection with the man’s death.
New Hartford police say Lucas Leonard died Monday after he was beaten at the church. Officials say his injured 17-year-old brother was found inside the church and is hospitalized in serious condition.
Police have scheduled a news conference for Wednesday morning to discuss their investigation.
Authorities have declined to discuss a motive or other details of the case.
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