As the Eldest


As the Eldest, the task of signing my brother's death certificate fell to me. As the Eldest, I know Luke's desire to escape Word of Life was because he was following my lead.

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara identifies me as "the face of the Leonard family." I am honored to accept that title. My name is Kristel Holly Leonard, the eldest of Bruce Leonard's children, and eldest sibling of Lucas Leonard. I attended Word of Life Christian Church from age 10-35, till I left in July 2014.

Baby Luke and me, summer 1996
Luke's 2nd birthday


Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 24, 2024 at 8:03 PM

    I just heard this story today. Tiffanie Irwin did not get a sufficiently harsh sentence, in my view. Neither did Sarah Ferguson. Those women are monsters and they should never be released.

    So sorry for your loss, Kristel. I hope your family finds peace.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thunderings

Image
On October 12, 2015, a lightning bolt struck the destructive cult known as Word of Life Christian Church in Chadwicks, NY. The information compiled here is in honor of the hero who released his strength in one powerful strike -- my brother, Lucas Benjamin Leonard. The shock waves of this explosion continue to ripple and resonate.   Anger rises with a chokehold clutching my trembling frame, smothering my soul with thick, black smoke. Caustic. Sorrow rushes with murky raging floods, a tsunami consuming me in anguish and confusion. Destructive. Questions churn violently in a cloud of ash overhead: “How?” “Why?” Abrasive. Toxic. Desperate, my eyes search for a glimpse of beauty to rise from these ashes, and once more, I see Lukey’s lightning bolt in the midst of the volcanic storm. I remember my promise to my baby brother, to my hero. “I will be your thunder.” Perhaps most importantly you will find answers from insider perspective to the who, why, an
Read more

Debi's Sentencing

Image
My step-mother, Deborah Wright Leonard was sentenced on February 6, 2017, to 5 years in New York state prison. Debi was the first to take a plea deal, which happened relatively early in the case--Dec. 2, 2015. The authentic Debi came forward for a brief period following her arrest and incarceration. When she was asked by Judge Michael Dwyer and the Oneida County District Attorney what the motivation was for the beatings of my brothers, she responded that Lucas had expressed a desire to leave Word of Life Church and had in fact attended a different church the previous August. ...He attended church with me. That was a big no-no, and Debi knew that. She told the judge that she was concerned about what would happen if Tiffanie Irwin found out. When I went to visit Debi in the Oneida County Correctional Facility, she revealed that she thought I had gone behind her and my father's backs to convince Luke to come with me to church. She was quite surprised to learn that Luke was the one who
Read more

Bruce's Sentencing

I have done difficult things. Many of these difficult things have been related to the death of my brother, Lucas Benjamin Leonard, on October 12, 2015. Speaking at our father's sentencing was definitely one of the most difficult. Our father, Bruce Leonard, was originally arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter. I immediately knew that this was not an accurate reflection of the truth of what happened. The Grand Jury indicted him along with the other defendants on 13 counts, 6 of which were later dismissed. At the last minute, one day before his trial was to begin, Dad chose to plead guilty to 1st and 2nd degree assault. The sentence would be 15-16 years. Sarah Ferguson's trial did begin the next day. D.A. Scott McNamara asked me to speak on behalf of my father at his sentencing. Typically, the prosecution provides opportunities for victims to speak at the sentencing of a criminal, but Mr. McNamara understood the need for my father's true identity to be presente
Read more