Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Richard “Ricky” Leak (DOB 10/03/80) of 345 Main Street, New Rochelle, New York was arraigned today on a two count indictment charging him with:
• one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Felony
• one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony
relating to the January 9th death of Khalil Leak.
At approximately 1 am on January 9th, 2011, the defendant called his live in girlfriend who was not at home and reported that the victim was not breathing. The girlfriend then called a downstairs neighbor and asked her to check on the victim.
The neighbor went upstairs and after finding the victim unresponsive in the defendant’s apartment, dialed 911 calling for an ambulance.
The two year old child was removed by Transcare Ambulance EMT’s to Sound Shore Medical Center where he was pronounced dead about one hour later.
Police initiated an investigation into the death and on January 12th, 2011 the defendant was arrested.
Extensive case and forensic pathology work by the New Rochelle Police Department and the Westchester County Medical Examiner were instrumental in charging the defendant.
The case was presented to a Westchester County Grand Jury and the defendant was indicted on two counts: one count of Murder in the Second Degree – depraved indifference to human life and one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree – recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of serious physical injury to a person causing the death of a person.
The defendant had been remanded to the Westchester County Jail.
Leak’s next court appearance will be on March 24th, 2011.
The defendant faces a maximum of twenty five years to life in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Heide Mason, Bureau Chief of the Child/Elder Abuse Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Christine Hatfield Acting Deputy Chief of the Child Elder Abuse Bureau, will prosecute the case.