A central New York couple were accused Tuesday of beating their 19-year-old son to death inside a church, and four other church members were accused of assaulting the couple's younger son, police said.
The parents, Bruce Leonard, 65, and Deborah Leonard, 59, of Clayville, were charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection to their son Lucas' death. Lucas died of blunt force trauma to his body after being attacked inside the Word of Life Church in New Hartford, N.Y., according to Lt. Timothy O'Neill of the Hartford Police Department, The New York Times reported.
Lucas' 17-year-old brother was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after suffering serious injuries from the assault.
"Several church members were interviewed throughout the day and night, and several children were secured from the church and turned over to Oneida County Child Protective Services," said authorities, who have not yet released details about the motive of the attack, according to Reuters.
The couple, along with four other church members, were arraigned Tuesday when it was revealed that both teenagers had suffered injuries to their abdomens, genitals, backs and thighs. The judge set the couple's bail at $100,000 each and $50,000 for each of the other defendants. All the defendants pleaded not guilty.
