Bruce and Deborah Leonard #fundie grasswire.com

A young man died from injuries sustained during a "counseling session" at a New York church on Monday.

Lucas Leonard, 19, passed away from his injuries after family members dropped him off at a Syracuse-area hospital on Monday. Police said Leonard sustained severe injuries to his genitals and torso when a counseling session turned physical at the Word of Life Church in New Hartford.

Police found a second boy severely beaten during an investigation at the church this week. News reports identified the second victim as Leonard's younger brother. Grasswire is withholding the younger boy's name pending confirmation and additional information from police.

Leonard's parents Bruce and Deborah Leonard have been arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter. Four other church members were also arrested in connection with the fatal beating. Police said the beatings were designed to encourage both Leonard and the 17-year-old male to "confess their sins," though it wasn't immediately clear what those sins were.

Neighbors told the Syracuse Post Standard that odd things had been taking place at the church for years — notably that chants could be heard in the early morning hours and that children were often seen doing yard work in front of the building.

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