Word of Life pastor among 8 charged in teen's beating death

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Three additional Word of Life Christian Church members were indicted bringing the total to eight church members charged in connection to the death of a 19-year-old parishioner and the assault on his 17-year-old brother.

Church Pastor Tiffanie Irwin, her mother Traci and her brother Daniel Irwin were taken into custody after a grand jury handed down an indictment on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and kidnapping.

In total, eight people have been indicted in the death of Lucas Leonard and the assault of Christopher Leonard after the pair expressed interest in leaving the church.That includes Bruce Leonard, the teens' father, Sarah Ferguson, the teens' sister and Deborah Leonard, the teens' mother. Police had initially charged six in the incident.

Christopher Leonard said they were both beaten with a black cord as members questioned them about leaving the church in October.