Tag Archives: Bruce Leonard

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Survivor of WOLCC Speaks Out as Defendants are Sentenced

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A few days ago, I received an email from Kristel Leonard. She is a former longtime member of Word of Life Christian Church (WOLCC) in Chadwicks, New York. Her message to me offered to answer questions about her brothers, Lucas and Christopher Leonard. I immediately became interested in her perspective and story. Recently, she publically began speaking out about the damaging effects of mind control. Today’s post is about Monday’s sentencing hearing. In a future post we will hear from Kristel as she recalls her time inside WOLCC and her exit from the group.

As a review:

On Sunday, October 11, 2015; Lucas and his younger brother, Christopher, were called into a “counseling session” by the leader of WOLCC church. Pastor Tiffanie Irwin arranged the meeting which stretched into the wee hours of the next morning. From what authorities learned later, the two teens confessed to sins never committed in an effort to be expelled from the group that after many years they wanted to leave. Investigations revealed these feigned confessions resulted in an untethered rage and anger fueling physical violence ending in the death of Lucas and severe injury to Christopher. Authorities also believe that statements from leader and Pastor Tiffanie Irwin being in contact with her brother who was participating; added to the intensity from which she bore culpability for the outcome.
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Word of Life Defendants Plead to Avoid Trial

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The death of a teen in a small town in New York a little over a year ago shocked the country. Those who read about it were confused how a teenager died during a church “counseling” session. One young man died, his brother was hospitalized with severe injuries. The local residents protested and held candlelight vigils. The stories of strange observations by neighbors; the reports of those who once were a part of the Word of Life Christian Church all pointed to dangerous and unsafe behaviors.

Lucas Leonard and his brother Christopher were held after church Sunday, October 11, 2015. The counseling session for them lasted about 14 hours. From this session, Lucas died of injuries inflicted with an electric cord along with receiving kicks and punches from those surrounding him. Christopher was found the next day by authorities in dire need of medical care with multiple bruises and kidney injuries. He spent several days in the local hospital under legal protection while the authorities sought to make sense of the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death.

The results of the investigation included indictments for nine members of the small church. Those indicted included the parents of the deceased, the half-sister, the pastor, her mom, her brothers and two additional members. Charges included murder, kidnapping and gang assault. Early in the proceedings, the mother, Mrs. Deborah Leonard, took a plea deal for her testimony in the case. She will receive no more than five years in state prison.
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Bruce Leonard Pleads Guilty to Assault in Death of His Son… NY

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Wednesday, in an Oneida County courtroom, Bruce Leonard faced heart wrenching questions from District Attorney Scott D. McNamara. Questions surrounding the “counseling session” in which Leonard’s two sons, Lucas and Christopher, were beaten with an electric cord. Lucas did not survive the events which took “hours and hours” to unfold in October of 2015. He was pronounced dead the next morning at the local hospital. Christopher suffered severe injuries including damage to his kidneys and lungs, which required hospitalization.

The session was inside the Word of Life Christian Church in Chadwicks, NY. The nine defendants face various charges including first and second degree assault, murder and gang assault include the parents, Bruce and Deborah Leonard. Deborah pleaded guilty earlier in the year. The half-sister, Sarah Ferguson along with the church pastor, Tiffani Irwin, her mom, two brothers and two other church members have all pleaded not guilty.

Investigators learned the two young boys desired to leave the church. The session was set to address their “sins” which included accusations of witchcraft, pornography, voodoo and sexual molestation of children. No proof of molestation has been found during the investigation.
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At any time, Pastor Tiffanie Irwin could have stopped the beatings…

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On Wednesday, December 2nd; Deborah Leonard was arraigned in Chadwicks, NY on a plea deal concerning the death of her son Lucas and the severe beating of her other son, Christopher. She entered a guilty plea to first-degree assault in the death of Lucas, for which she will serve five years. She also entered guilty plea to second-degree assault in the beating of Christopher for which she will serve an additional two years. In exchange, she agrees to testify truthfully in any of the trials for the other eight defendants charged with 13 counts including murder, felony assault and gang assault. The list of defendants includes her husband, Bruce Leonard and daughter, Sarah Ferguson, as well as the Pastor of the church, Tiffanie Irwin.

Two very important statements were made by Deborah Leonard which gives great insight into the dynamics inside the Word of Life Christian Church (WOLCC) where the beatings took place. These two statements tell us about the power structure within the group as well as the penalties for breaking the rules or going against the expected behavior norms. The similarities between the church in New York and Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC became more evident after Wednesday.

First, Mrs. Leonard said she was afraid and believed her son’s shift away from the church would get her in trouble with other members of the church, including the Pastor Tiffanie Irwin. Let’s examine this belief since it may seem out of order for those not familiar with groups such as WOLCC or WOFF. Mrs. Leonard said she may get in trouble for her son’s desire to leave. Just exactly what the “trouble” would have been was not made clear in reports on Wednesday. Allow me to explain how this occurs inside of WOFF and I believe the reactions would have been very similar.

From recent accounts conveyed to me, parents who have children who leave WOFF are openly encouraged to cut-off all contact with them and shun them completely. Recent reports coming out of WOFF tell of parents with children who have left – aggressively rebuking other parents who also have children who have left telling them our children have turned their back on God and we don’t talk to them, you must do the same! With Jane’s approval, members gang up on other members to pressure them to conform to the no contact policy. At that point, the victims of the aggression must make a choice; join their children and leave WOFF or stay inside the closed subculture which they may have been members of for many years. I believe this type of aggression and pressure would be similar inside of WOLCC.
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Pastor among eight defendants indicted in fatal beating

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Gang Assault Indictments Returned in This Case…

News sources out of Utica, NY, earlier this week reported additional indictments were handed down as predicted in the Leonard murder case. Pastor Tiffani Irwin, her mother, Traci, and her two brothers, Joseph and Daniel were leaders in the Word of Life Christian Church of Chadwicks, NY. All were included in the thirteen count indictment handed down Tuesday. Also, included was the father of the victims, Bruce Leonard, the half-sister, Sarah Ferguson and two additional church members- Linda Morey and her son David Morey.

Lucas Leonard died and his brother, Christopher Leonard was severely beaten as a result of a “counseling session” called by the Pastor in response to what authorities are reporting as the desire for the teens to leave the church. In October, Christopher Leonard testified against his half-sister, Sarah Ferguson in court as he described the extended session which lasted through the night and early morning hours of October 11th and 12th. Lucas was transported to St Lukes Hospital in Chadwicks and there declared dead. After extensive searching, authorities discovered Christopher Leonard on the second floor of the church building and transported him to the hospital under protective custody.

News sources differ as to the listed indictments. Reportedly, the recent indictments include: second degree murder, second degree manslaughter, first degree kidnapping, felony first-degree assault and felony first-degree gang assault. (sources Uticaod.com, AP, @OD_Parker)
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Is Your Conscience For Sale? How Would You Know?

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Last Monday evening, October 12th, I was privileged to sit among the leadership of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and witness the Honorable Judge Martin Reidinger deliver a presentation on the Nuremberg Trials. As mentioned in a previous post, the irony of the whole night was stark and at times overwhelming. Before the Judge began his delivery, Karel Reynolds opened with a few remarks noting the 15th of October 1945 as the day the Nazi party was dissolved. She mentioned two other statements which I have not been able to forget. She mentioned the results of the Holocaust showed us “…what human beings are capable of…” and that education was not the only answer to stopping such atrocities. Hitler had highly educated scientists and engineers working for him.

As proof of that, in preparation for the prosecution of the defendants at the Nuremberg Trials, each was administered intelligence tests and psychiatric evaluations. (here) Karel quoted Hermann Goering, a leading member of the Nazi party, to say, “I have no conscience. Adolf Hitler is my conscience.” Mr. Goering’s intelligence test score was 138. That score is listed as “gifted.” (2.3% of test takers score this range).

What was Karel’s point? I took it to mean that intelligence will not stop a person from selling or giving away control of their conscience. Karel, was I right?
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Events Unfolding in NY – Many Questions (Video and Links)

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Over the last few days, I have been contacted by several folks asking if I was aware of the events in New York. Truly, this has been a sad week for many as the details surrounding the death of Lucas Leonard become known. This young man wanted to leave his association with Word of Life Church. As a result, he was beaten to death with “fists and feet” and a belt or cord. He died Monday, October 12th at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Investigators soon learned about his brother, Christopher. A search of the church building located this young man and he was transported to the hospital with extensive injuries apparently suffered during the same session in which his brother was killed.

Since learning of the events, my heart has been heavy and ached at times as the details come out in press conferences and court hearings. Wednesday, I watched the stream of the press conference. Friday, on wktv.com, the felony hearings were carried live. The judge set limits of no audio or video during the witness testimony. At least two reporters were in court tweeting the happenings inside the court. One reporter, Micaela Parker has posted her tweets here in this article. Before viewing the string, be warned the descriptions in many places are word for word and describe the events surrounding the beating death of Lucas Leonard.
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