Cult Members who Beat Son to Death to Face Charges

A teen who was beaten to death inside a church with an electrical cord was attacked because he had said that he no longer wished to be a member of the World of Life Christian Church.

The beating, initiated by the victim's mother and father, took place over 12 hours and claimed the life of 19-year-old Lucas Leonard, The Guardian reports. Leonard's 17-year-old brother Christopher was also beaten and is currently in a hospital in serious condition trying to recuperate from his injuries.

The boys' parents are accused of manslaughter and the judge in the case has said there is more than enough evidence for them to face the charge. Four other members of the church, including the victim's sister, are being charged with assault for their roles in the deadly attack. All of the people charged in relation to the death are pleading not guilty.

A key piece of evidence in the case was the testimony of a deacon in the church named Daniel Irwin, who said that he received a text message about a special meeting that would take place at 8 p.m. after regular worship Sunday evening. Irwin did not attend or participate in that meaning, but when he looked through a window in the church's building around 10 p.m. he saw Lucas was bleeding, moaning, and rolling around on the ground.

Irwin said he saw the father strike both Lucas and Christopher with what he thought was belt, with the father striking Lucas six times.

The next morning, around 10 a.m., a number of churchgoers came to Irwin and said they thought Lucas was dead. Irwin said he then ran to where the beating took place and found Lucas' family members around him trying to give first aid before Lucas was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.