Shivangi Sinha
In October 2015, a group of people hurried to the front of a hospital in Chadwicks, New York, dropped someone off, and quickly left. This is how 19-year-old Lucas Leonard was discovered, as he was severely injured. Unable to survive his wounds, he passed away. Lucas was a member of the Word of Life Christian Church, led by Tiffanie Irwin. Shortly after, authorities were able to file charges against her and several other church members. In Hulu’s ‘How I Escaped My Cult’ episode titled ‘Word of Life,’ former members of the group describe their experiences. They insisted it was a cult and shared their perspectives on Tiffanie and their interactions with her.
Tiffanie Irwin Became the Pastor of Word of Life After Her Father Passed Away
Tiffanie Irwin was the eldest daughter of Jerry and Traci Irwin. Her father, Jerry, served as the pastor of the Word of Life Christian Church in Chadwicks, New York. Many former members claim it was a cult and allegedly exerted a lot of mental and psychological pressure on the members. Kristel Leonard, who grew up alongside Tiffanie in the church, recalled that she was always deeply spiritual and took her faith very seriously, even as a child. It was clear that she was the favored daughter and often spent hours in conversation with her father. From a young age, she also began taking on responsibilities within the church.
When Jerry passed away in 2012, it was Tiffanie who first addressed the congregation and delivered the news. She then took over as the church’s pastor, and former members claimed that from that point on, the church’s rules and regulations became even stricter. Her brothers would stand outside the church during sermons, acting as “guards” to ensure everyone attended services. This led to many members leaving, which, in turn, increased pressure on those who remained. One former member also alleged that she frequently asked for financial donations and allegedly claimed that God had revealed to her that a specific person was meant to contribute.
On the night of October 11, 2015, Tiffanie allegedly arranged a “counseling session” for 19-year-old Lucas and 17-year-old Christopher Leonard. Former church members claimed the two brothers had been considering leaving the church and, as a result, were subjected to severe physical abuse that night. Their parents and sister were also present during the incident, which ultimately led to Lucas being taken to the hospital. His cause of death was determined to be blunt-force trauma to the torso and extremities. Following this, other church members began speaking out against certain practices and alleged that the so-called “session” lasted approximately 14 hours. Shortly after, a grand jury indicted Tiffanie and several other members on murder charges.
Tiffanie Irwin is Serving Her Sentence Today
In October 2016, Tiffanie Irwin’s defense team reached a plea deal with prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to third-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault in connection with Lucas Leonard’s death and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Her brother, Joseph Irwin, was also among the co-accused and pleaded guilty to similar charges. During one of the trials, Bruce Leonard testified against her and stated that she had summoned the brothers for a “counseling session,” during which she accused them of child molestation and witchcraft. Now 39 years old, Tiffanie is serving her sentence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County, New York. Her earliest possible release date is set for 2026.
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