A federal grand jury has indicted a person in reference to a 2013 hearth in upstate New York that killed a 33-year-old father and his three younger kids, 9 years after authorities had mentioned there was “significant evidence” of his involvement within the arson.
Edward Leon, 52, was charged with malicious use of fireplace to destroy property leading to dying, a criminal offense that carries the potential for the dying penalty. He pleaded not responsible throughout a listening to in federal courtroom in Albany on Thursday, two days after the grand jury indicted him. Information of the case have been unsealed Thursday.
The hearth on Could 2, 2013, in Schenectady, killed David Terry, 3-year-old Layah Terry, 2-year-old Michael Terry, and 11-month-old Donavan Duell. One other little one, Sa’fyre Terry, who was 5 on the time, was severely injured. Investigators mentioned gasoline was used to begin the blaze.
It was not clear why Leon was charged so a few years after the hearth. His lawyer, Kevin Luibrand, didn’t instantly return cellphone and e-mail messages Friday. Schenectady police and the U.S. lawyer’s workplace didn’t reply to questions in regards to the investigation.
In 2016, Leon was sentenced to 10 years in jail for mendacity to a grand jury about his actions and whereabouts on the night time of the hearth. He was launched in 2022, federal jail data present. A number of different individuals have been sentenced to jail for mendacity underneath oath earlier than a grand jury, together with the mom of the youngsters who died.
In a 2016 courtroom doc, a federal prosecutor mentioned there was “significant evidence” of Leon’s involvement within the lethal hearth. Leon was upset that David Terry deliberate to marry Leon’s ex-girlfriend, in line with the doc, and had despatched Terry threatening textual content messages together with “you’re not going to make it to your wedding day,” “die, Dave, die,” and “you’re a dead man walking.”
Additionally, across the time of the hearth, Leon was close to the house as a result of he deliberate to confront Terry, prosecutors mentioned. However he mentioned he left the scene when he seen a hearth on the residence — worrying that folks would blame him — and didn’t report the hearth to authorities, in line with prosecutors.
And shortly after the hearth, police had zeroed in on one other man who they believed began it. The person, Robert Butler, was charged with the identical crime that Leon is now charged with, however federal prosecutors dropped the case in 2014. Officers mentioned additional investigation was wanted in regards to the doable involvement of others, and there have been points with eyewitnesses.
The Occasions Union of Albany reported that it obtained avenue digital camera video footage in 2014 that confirmed Leon’s van coming into the neighborhood within the early morning, minutes earlier than the hearth started.
The newspaper additionally reported that Butler’s public defender confirmed authorities video footage on the time, and officers responded that it may have been a coincidence that Leon was close to the house.
In a 2014 interview with The Occasions Union, Leon acknowledged he went to the home that night time.
“I was in Schenectady … to try to meet this guy and confront him face-to-face,” Leon instructed the newspaper. “Now they’re at the point of trying to pin something on somebody. … I haven’t hid for one minute from it and I ain’t going to now. I got five kids and four grandkids to take care of; they’re what it’s about to me.”
A courtroom listening to on Leon’s detention and doable bail was set for subsequent Wednesday.
