closed cases > Duncan and Jack Connolly-closed case

Coroner: Leichtenberg brothers died from drugs; 1 stabbed

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goinsfl:
May 6, 2009


GRANVILLE, Ill.---- Two central Illinois boys found dead in their father's car in March died after ingesting drugs used to treat anxiety, and one was stabbed in the back, the Putnam County coroner ruled Wednesday.

Seven-year-old Jack Leichtenberg died from a stab wound that involved his right lung and caused "a large amount of internal bleeding" into the chest cavity, said Coroner Robert Cofoid. A "significant contributing factor" in the child's death was an elevated amount in his system of the drug alprazolam, also known as Xanax, which helps treat anxiety and panic attacks.

Nine-year-old Duncan Leichtenberg died from a combination of alprazolam and quetiapine, which is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety, said Cofoid, who ruled the boys' deaths homicides.

Authorities say they believe the children's father, Michael Connolly, killed his sons. The boys were found dead in Connolly's 1991 Dodge Dynasty in late March in rural Putnam County. They had been missing since Connolly failed to return the boys to their mother following a custody visit on March 8.

Connolly, 40, of Bloomington hung himself and Cofoid ruled his death a suicide. His body was discovered about 60 yards away from the boys' bodies.

The coroner had performed autopsies on the boys but said they were inconclusive pending the results of toxicology tests.

Duncan and Jack, who lived in LeRoy, were the subject of a national search that ended when a 911 call led Putnam County authorities to the rural spot where they were found.

Amy Leichtenberg, the boys' mother, and Connolly divorced in 2006 and had a difficult relationship that included numerous disputes over the children. Connolly was barred from contact with Leichtenberg, and the couple picked up and dropped off the boys at the LeRoy Police Department before and after custody visits.

Connolly had only been given the right to keep his sons overnight and without supervision late last year after earlier violating a court order of protection.

Leichtenberg objected, arguing that her former husband had a history of mental illness.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1562875,w-leichtenberg-brothers-drug-stab-death-050609.article

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