Man Faces Federal Charges in 2013 Schenectady House Fire

Edward Leon's Detention Hearing: A Complex Legal Battle

In a packed courtroom at the Albany Federal Courthouse, a judge was unable to make a decision on whether Edward Leon should be detained before his jury trial in the 2013 fatal Schenectady house fire case. Leon is accused of starting the fire that led to the deaths of a father and three of his children.

The hearing took place on Wednesday afternoon, drawing a full audience as the legal proceedings unfolded. Leon faces charges related to malicious use of fire that resulted in property destruction and death. He has entered a not guilty plea following an indictment by a federal grand jury on July 31.

The tragic incident occurred on May 2, 2013, when a fire broke out at the home of David Terry located at 438 Hulett Street. The fire claimed the lives of David Terry and three of his children—Michael Terry, Layah Terry, and Donovan Duell. Safyre Terry, who was only five years old at the time, was the sole survivor. Ryan Lorey, Safyre’s godfather and spokesperson for the family, addressed the media after the two-hour court session.

“It was a lengthy process. The statement we want to convey at this point is our intention to follow hope, faith, and love as we have since the beginning,” said Lorey.

New details emerged during the hearing, revealing that prosecutors had learned about an alleged phone call approximately a year ago that contributed to the resurfacing of this case. They stated that Leon allegedly admitted to starting the fire during a conversation with an unnamed individual in February 2024. The conversation reportedly included a statement from the unnamed person, “Ed, you set a (expletive) house on fire that killed four (expletive) kids.” Leon responded, “What happened in the past was a (expletive) mistake.”

Leon previously served a 10-year prison sentence in 2016 for making two false statements to a federal grand jury regarding the arson-homicide investigation. Prosecutors indicated that Leon became upset and made threats when his girlfriend began dating David Terry. They released a photo showing Leon’s van, which had a distinctive dark-colored hatch, parked near Hamilton Street a few blocks away from Hulett Street on the morning of the fire. Another image depicted the same van leaving the area just minutes after the fire started.

Safyre Terry, the sole survivor of the fire, has been gradually recovering. She was severely injured and required extensive medical treatment. According to Lorey, Safyre has been making progress and enjoying life.

“She’s living her best life. She’s getting hair appointments, spending time on the lake, going on a boat for the first time, and even trying a jet ski for the first time,” said Lorey. “Safyre’s message of hope, faith, and love is an important message that everyone should live by. She is an inspiration for all of us. For me, every day.”

The outcome of the detention hearing remains uncertain, as Judge Mitchell Katz has yet to announce a decision regarding Leon’s pretrial detention. Updates on this ongoing case will continue to be reported as they become available.