[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Whoa, what?! A convicted killer was arrested this week – just a bit greater than a mile away from the scene the place the 4 University of Idaho college students had been murdered of their sleep final month.
According to court docket paperwork obtained by Fox News Digital, 39-yr-outdated James Leonard was arrested on Wednesday for home violence battery with traumatic harm, aggravated assault, tried strangulation, and harm to a baby after allegedly beating his spouse and her daughter and slashing himself with a knife. A felony grievance said:
“Dispatch advised an intoxicated husband punched his wife in the head and struck his daughter.”
The man’s spouse instructed the authorities that James allegedly drank “half a bottle of gin” and had come inside from engaged on his truck when he noticed her on the cellphone with somebody. He accused her of dishonest on him and started yelling at her in entrance of her 20-yr-outdated and 15-yr-outdated children, her older daughter’s 21-yr-outdated boyfriend, and a 1-yr-outdated grandchild. Per the grievance, James then went into his room and started to chop himself.
Related: Man Arrested For Allegedly Tossing Kittens Out Of Moving Car On Highway?!
When the spouse checked up on him, he proceeded to hit her along with his fist and grabbed her throat. In the center of the assault, the older daughter, her boyfriend, and toddler went to a neighbor’s home. And at one level, James allegedly punched and kicked the 15-yr-outdated daughter earlier than pulling her hair and throwing her right into a dresser.
While the spouse contacted 911, James then lower his arm, screamed that she had lower him, and wanted assist. Law enforcement quickly arrived on the dwelling on Palouse River Drive, they usually discovered his spouse with blood on her nostril and mouth whereas he was in a bed room. When police demanded that he exit the room, James got here out with blood throughout his palms and face and a big lower on his forearm. An officer searched him, discovering he had two knives and a marijuana joint on him.
Police found a path of blood contained in the residence and requested the spouse if she was scared that Leonard would flip the knife on her, per the affidavit. She reportedly instructed them she wasn’t certain what he would do on the time. Law enforcement additionally ended up discovering her hiding beneath a baby in a distinct room with indicators of a concussion. What a horrific and scary scenario.
The arrest comes at an inneresting time because the ex-con lived about 1.3 miles from the house the place Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin had been discovered stabbed to dying on November 13. Plus, he was beforehand pleaded responsible to fatally capturing a person named Tyler Lee outdoors of his home in Genesee, Idaho, again in 2007.
Per a submitting obtained by Fox News Digital, he claimed it was self-protection after the sufferer got here to his home to accuse him of sleeping along with his girlfriend, punched him within the face, and climbed on high of him to proceed the assault. He took a plea deal, confessing to involuntary manslaughter in alternate to a 5 to fifteen yr jail sentence. However, in 2009, his jail sentence was suspended, and he was positioned on 15 years of probation.
Naturally, these particulars made some folks suspicious. And in a weird twist, the Latah County Coroner Cathy Mabbutt, who dominated that the 4 college students had been stabbed to dying of their sleep, can be James’ protection lawyer! Yeah, you learn that proper. According to Fox News Digital, she was elected to workplace in 2006 earlier than James’ homicide case and is a lawyer and nurse.
Wild…
But is the Moscow Police Department seeking to see if James is related to the University of Idaho murders? Nope. They mentioned to the outlet that he’s not a suspect at the moment. Meanwhile, his spouse insisted to Dailymail.com on Sunday that he “had nothing to do” with the killings:
“There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on, but my husband had nothing to do with what happened up there. People on the internet are trying to pin the murders on him. I had to get off that social media s**t.”
She additionally famous that he was dwelling together with her when the 4 victims had been killed. At this time, MPD has not recognized a suspect in these slayings – however they’re in search of the occupant(s) of a white 2011 to 2013 Hyundai Elantra who could have essential details about the crime. Anyone with data was requested to name 208-883-7180 or to electronic mail [email protected]
[Image via Latah County Sheriff’s Office, Kaylee Goncalves/Instagram]
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