(NEW ROCHELLE, NY) As an overflow crowd of mourners filed into St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church at 19 Lincoln Avenue, the foster family that cared for Khalil Leak was turned away. Khalil Leak, a two-year old child was murdered by Richard Leak, his father, according to charges filed Thursday.
In a heated exchange outside the church, the foster mother collapsed briefly and was led away by friends and family. A woman with her shouted “Who cared for Khalil?” several times setting off a shouting match that only ended after New Rochelle police, stationed nearby, appeared on the scene. A group of about 30 people peaceably left the church and soon after the police left.
The service was private. Press were asked to leave. There was one altercation involving a man named Dixon and a cameraman from News 12. Talk of the Sound was asked to leave by a man who said “you and your soldiers aren’t welcome here”.
New Rochelle residents standing outside the church after having been denied entry said there was more to the story than was being reported. A number of the raised concerns about the Family Court Judge Kathie Davidson.
Khalil Leak was taken from his parents, Richard Leak and Kadya Ravizee in February 2009. The Court decision came after the then infant was hospitalized and diagnosed with 15 broken ribs, a broken leg and bleeding on the brain.
In the summer of 2010, Judge Davidson dismissed the petition against Richard Leak and Kadya Ravizee and returned the child to the parents.
Some attending the funeral said the natural parents and foster parents were relatives but this is unconfirmed.
Judge Davidson, in making her decision to place the child back in the care of Richard Leak cited evidence that Khalil had “preexisting medical conditions” such as anemia, a vitamin deficiency, and a bleeding disorder and cast doubt on claims by Westchester County that Khalil’s broken ribs, broken leg and brain hemorrhage were signs of child abuse and made critical statements about the County from the bench.
According to a timeline provided by the Westchester DA, Khalil Leak was left in the sole care of Richard Leak for about one hour last Sunday night when Kadya Ravizee took Khalil’s younger brother to the hospital due to “respiratory problems”. Leak called Ravizee on her cell phone and told her that Khalil was also having trouble breathing. Ravizee phoned and asked her to go check on Khalil. The neighbor found the child was non-responsive and called 911. Khalil Leak was pronounced dead at Sound Shore Medical Center a short time later.
There is a belief among some that the time line is wrong and that Khalil may have died several hours earlier, closer to 8 pm.
After the Westchester County Medical Examiner ruled that Khalil’s head had been forcibly slammed against a hard surface, Richard Leak was arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree. At a press conference later that day, New Rochelle Police Captain Joseph Schaller disclosed that Richard Leak has a prior criminal history including burglary, drug possession, and battery and assault against an adult. Leak served one year in prison on the assault charge.
Poor little soul
If this shmuck Richard Leak did what they say he did, I hope he suffers illness for the rest of his earthly life and then burns in hell for ALL of eternity. Khalil rest in peace.
If it’s true
If what the police and DA are saying is true then this man belongs in jail and i mean a real jail. The boys in jail don’t like child beaters. A defenceless little child. How was it that these parents got this child back after it was taken from them 15 months in foster care and he is only 2 years old.or 24 months there is something very wrong with this picture. Where is Janet {DA} and her troops get busy on this i say.