Richmond Hill neighbors react to verdict
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After nearly three years, a six week long trial, and hours of jury deliberation, victims of the Richmond Hill home explosion feel justice has been served.
Mark Leonard was found guilty on all 53 counts including murder for his involvement in a scheme to blow up the home.
Many of the neighbors 24-Hour News 8 talked with were glad with the verdict, but for some talking about it on camera is something they couldn’t do. The trial brought back painful memories of what happened when the home exploded. They say hearing guilty 53 times did give them some relief and another step towards healing.
Walking down a long hallway in a jail jumpsuit with a deputy at his side is the view most have come to know of Leonard. But Theresa Carmichael got an up close and personal glimpse last month when she testified at a this trial.
“He was just very stone cold,” she said. “It felt good to go on the stand. I wanted to make sure that I made eye contact with him when I was on the stand.”
Her home was one of around 80 either damaged or destroyed in Richmond Hill when Leonard concocted a plan to blow up the home of his then girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley, with hopes of making an insurance claim.
“We had several hundred people that were evacuating the neighborhood,” said Deputy Chief Kim Bacon, Indianapolis Fire Department, describing what it was like when arrived on scene.
He managed the response the night of the explosion and the days that followed. He said knowing the mastermind behind the tragedy is guilty brought them some closure and hopes and it can do the same for victims they helped.
“I’ve never seen anyone pull together like those folks pulled together and I hope that this helps them find some peace,” he said.
But peace might have to wait as more trials are scheduled for the three other suspects in the case.
Carmichael hopes they skip that process and go straight to a plea deal. But if she needs to take the stand again, she’s ready.
“We will stand ‘Richmond Hill strong’ and we will make sure that we tell the truth and that hopefully they find him guilty as well,” she said.
Carmichael also wanted to thank prosecutor Denise Robinson for building a solid case against Leonard.
“Denise and her team did an amazing job, just making sure that when they went in there that they had all the evidence, everything there to get the verdict that we did today,” she said.
Deputy Chief Bacon wanted to commend the firefighters who testified in the trial as well. He said he knows it wasn’t easy and knows it’s possible many of the witnesses who took the stand will have to do it again.