There was a story making the rounds yesterday about a New York teenager who was beaten to death by his parents and four other members of their church… for reasons that we still don’t understand. But the mystery is part of the problem.

Bruce Leonard, 65, and Deborah Leonard, 59, of Clayville, were charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of their son Lucas, said Lt. Timothy O’Neill of the New Hartford Police Department. O’Neill said Lucas Leonard died Monday after he was beaten at Word of Life Church in New Hartford, which is 80 miles northwest of Albany. His 17-year-old brother is hospitalized in serious condition with injuries from an assault.

We don’t know if this was an exorcism gone bad, some sort of punishment, or just a church ritual that we don’t understand. (What else could it be?) Keep in mind that small churches have been known to harbor beliefs that end up killing members or their children, whether it involves holding poisoning snakes or refusing to see doctors even during medical emergencies.

All six adults have pled not guilty.

I can’t even imagine what would drive two parents to kill or injure their kids… but doing something horrific in the name of God is all too common.

We’ll follow up on this as more information comes in.

(Thanks to everyone for the link)



