Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Edward Leon, age 53, of Fultonville, New York, was charged on Tuesday with malicious use of fire to destroy property resulting in death. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that on May 2, 2013, Leon used fire to maliciously damage and destroy a rental property at 438 Hulett Street in Schenectady, resulting in the deaths of David Terry and three of his children, Michael Terry, Layah Terry, and Donovan Duell. The fire also seriously injured a fourth child. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Leon was arraigned on Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz. A detention hearing is scheduled for August 6, 2025, at 3:30 p.m.
Upon conviction, the charge filed against Leon carries a minimum term of 7 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
ATF is investigating the case with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department, Schenectady Fire Department, New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control, New York State Police, Rotterdam Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, St. Johnsville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Wentworth-Ping, Richard D. Bellis, and Mikayla Espinosa are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with knowledge or information about this case is encouraged to contact the ATF Albany Field Office at 518-431-4182.