Bob Leonard Jr. sentenced to life in prison
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) — A judge ensured Bob Leonard Jr., would never get out of prison by handing him two life sentences.
In February, a jury found Leonard guilty on 51 charges including murder, arson and conspiracy to commit arson.
Leonard is now the second person convicted and sentenced in the deadly 2012 Richmond Hill south side explosion.
Leonard’s half-brother Mark Leonard was convicted in 2015 in South Bend, and sentenced to two life without parole sentences in Michigan City for his role.
Prosecutors say the deadly explosion was set in November of 2012 in a plot to collect insurance money.
On the day of the explosion, a married couple, Dion and Jennifer Longworth, lived next door to the targeted house and were killed in the explosion.
Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson, told a group of reporters that she was satisfied with the judge’s decision because it holds Leonard accountable and it keeps him in prison for life.
“I was gratified with the sentence, it was very appropriate,” said Robinson.
John Longworth, Dion’s father says he’s drawn inspiration from his son, and Jesus, as he attended the trials.
“It was what we expected,” said Longworth, who said he was seeking a sentence that would keep Leonard from hurting someone else.
Don Buxton, Jennifer Longworth’s dad, talked to 24-Hour News 8 after hearing about Leonard’s demeanor.
“Somebody says if you are a callous person, you are a callous. He is part of a family that is that way,” said Buxton.
Leonard spoke to a judge after listening to seven victim impact statements. He told the judge he had no knowledge of the explosion plan. He also talked about a lack of evidence to support his conviction.
Leonard plans to appeal the judge’s decision.
Five people total were charged in connection to the deadly explosion.
Gary Thompson is in the Marion County jail, facing murder and arson charges. His trial was just moved to September.
Prosecutors say Thompson was involved in the first attempt to set a fire at Monserrate Shirley’s home. They say Thompson told Mark Leonard that police had pulled him over on the way there that day.
Glenn Hults faces one arson charge. According to jail records, Hults bonded out of jail awaiting his trial in June. Prosecutors say Hults was involved in conversations about setting the explosion before it happened.
Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard’s former girlfriend, pleaded guilty to arson charges and has agreed to testify against her co-defendants. Shirley will not be sentenced until all the trials are done.
