New Rochelle Father Convicted Of Killing His Son

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Richard “Ricky” Leak (DOB 10/03/80) of 345 Main Street, New Rochelle, New York was convicted today after a jury trial of one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony relating to the January 9th 2011 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 both the New Rochelle Police Department and the Westchester County Medical Examiner were instrumental in convicting this defendant. The severity of the abuse, along with multiple and conflicting stories as to how the child sustained the fatal injuries, belied the defendant’s protestations that the death was just “an accident”,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore after the defendant was convicted.

Sentencing will be on June 12th, 2013.

The defendant faces a maximum of twenty five years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Heide Mason, Bureau Chief of the Child/Elder Abuse Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Christine Hatfield Deputy Chief of the Child Elder Abuse Bureau, prosecuted the case.

UPDATE: Sentencing Hearing in Ricky Leak Filicide Case postponed until 6/27. Leak is challenging his status as a 2 time violent felony offender so there will be a hearing.

Sentencing Postponed for New Rochelle Man Who Murdered His Two-Year Old Son