Richmond Hill suspect Bob Leonard Jr. sentenced to life without parole

An Allen County judge today sentenced Richmond Hill explosion suspect Bob Leonard Jr. to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his role in the massive blast in Indianapolis three years ago.

The 57-year-old Indianapolis resident was convicted last month in an arson and insurance fraud scheme that killed two people, injured a dozen others and resulted in millions of dollars in property damage. A jury found him guilty of 51 crimes, including two counts of murder, two counts of felony murder and several counts of arson.

Allen Superior Court Judge Frances Gull imposed two consecutive life sentences for the murder charges, plus 70 years, said John McGauley, court executive for Allen Superior Court.

Leonard is the second Richmond Hill explosion suspect to be sentenced. His younger half brother, Mark Leonard, was convicted of the same crimes last summer and is serving two life sentences in the Indiana State Prison.

Prosecutors said the brothers, along with other defendants, conspired to blow up the home of Mark Leonard's ex-girlfriend, Monserrate Shirley, in the Richmond Hill subdivision to collect $300,000 in insurance money. The natural gas explosion on Indianapolis' southeast side on Nov. 10, 2012, killed Shirley's next-door neighbors, John Dion and Jennifer Longworth, and damaged or destroyed about 80 homes.

Prosecutors believe an excessive amount of natural gas was released into Shirley's home at 8349 Fieldfare Way, and the explosion was ignited with a timing device on a microwave.

Bob Leonard's defense attorneys had argued that prosecutors were not able to connect him to the conspiracy and place him in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the day and night of the blast.

Shirley agreed to testify against her co-defendants in exchange for a lesser sentence. She pleaded guilty to an arson conspiracy charge and is facing 20 to 50 years.

Other alleged co-conspirators are still awaiting trial in Marion County. Gary Thompson, Mark Leonard's former employee, is scheduled to go to trial in September, court records show. Mark Leonard's friend, Glenn Hults, will go to trial in June.

Call IndyStar reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter: @kristine_guerra.

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