Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. today announced prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Terrance Leonard. A grand jury indicted Leonard on four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder for the March 6 deaths of Kristina Riley, two of her children, and her niece. Leonard is also accused of attacking another of Riley's children, who survived the attack.
"After consulting with my staff and receiving input from the victim's families, I have decided that my office will seek the death penalty," said Connick.
Authorities say Leonard admitted attacking the children and niece of Riley, with a hammer as they slept. According to authorities, Leonard hid the bodies of the two children he killed in the initial attack in a closet so as not to arouse his girlfriend's suspicion when she returned home early in the morning of March 6. Detectives say when Kristina Riley arrived, Leonard attacked and killed her.
Sheriff Joe Lopinto described the crime scene that day as shocking and gruesome.
"This person should never see the light of day and the first chance that he gets to be off of this earth, I'm okay with that," the sheriff said.