NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (AP) —
    The scene of brutal beatings that left one man dead and his brother seriously injured is a former elementary school where a Christian congregation had worshipped for as many as 30 years, and some neighbors said Wednesday that the secretive ways of the church made them suspicious.
    With six members of the Word of Life Church in New Hartford — including the parents of the two victims — now locked up on charges they assaulted the two young men on Monday, the reason for the attack still hasn't been released as prosecutors and police say they're still putting together the pieces of the crime ahead of a hearing on Friday.
    Police have scheduled a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the investigation.
    The rush of police activity on Monday included a special operations team raid on the church that startled neighbors in the once thriving mill town of 22,000 people, though some said they had been wary of the church members.
    Eva Monaghan, who lives around the corner from the church and is a lifelong resident of the area, said she was evacuated from her home for 8 hours when police arrived.
    "I'm really afraid. In my heart I don't think this is the first incident," she said. "Over all the years, I can't imagine this is the first thing. Maybe nothing as bad. Around town, it's considered a cult."
    Bruce and Deborah Leonard have been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Lucas Leonard. Four other members of the church in New Hartford also have been charged with assault in connection with the man's death. Lawyers for the Leonards declined to comment Tuesday.
    New Hartford police said Lucas Leonard died Monday after he was beaten at the church. Officials said his injured 17-year-old brother was found inside the church and is hospitalized in serious condition.
    Authorities have declined to discuss a motive or other details of the case, including how Lucas Leonard was killed or how his brother was injured.
    The news conference was set for 1 p.m. at New Hartford police headquarters.
    The elder Leonard, 65, and his 59-year-old wife live in the nearby hamlet of Clayville. The church is in a three-story brick building that once housed an elementary school. The congregation had been using the property as a church since the late 1980s or early 1990s, New Hartford town Supervisor Patrick Tyksinski told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
    The six church members were arraigned Tuesday and sent to Oneida County Jail. At the arraignment, it was revealed that both teens suffered injuries to their abdomens, genitals, backs and thighs. Bail for the Leonards was set at $100,000 each and for the four other defendants at $50,000 each. All pleaded not guilty.
    Police said more arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
    The investigation began at about 12:30 p.m. Monday when family members brought Lucas Leonard to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators determined that the Word of Life Church was the scene of the crime, and the building was surrounded by special operations teams from state and local police agencies.
    Police eventually entered the church, and several church members were interviewed. Several children were turned over to child welfare officials.
    In addition to the Leonards, police arrested David Morey, 26, of Utica; Linda Morey, 54, of Utica; Sarah Ferguson, 33, who lives at the same address as the Leonards; and Joseph Irwin, 26, who lives in the church building.
    Nancy Kneller has lived in the community for 28 years and worked at St. Patrick's St. Anthony's Catholic Church adjacent to Word of Life. She described the church as a close-knit group.
    "The reaction from me was fear. How can you not feel fearful when it's such a quiet, wonderful neighborhood to take a walk? It's frightening to see a police presence here," she said. "It's really sad. I think that people have always been so suspicious. Why are they so secretive? Why are there no kids out playing?"
    Still, she said, "I think they're good people that made a bad decision."