BARRETT TOWNSHIP, MONROE CO. (WOLF) — Pennsylvania State Police are asking the public for help in solving the 1970 cold case homicide of a man in Monroe County.

On Sept. 8, 1970, at around 3:45 p.m., the body of John William Leonard Sr. was found in his taxi cab on the grounds of Buck Hill Falls Lodge, Buck Hill Falls, Barrett Township.

According to state police:

Leonard’s black 1966 Plymouth sedan was discovered approximately 150 feet south of the main entrance to the lodge in a slightly secluded area. Leonard was pronounced dead at the scene with the cause of death being multiple gunshot wounds.

John and Madeleine Leonard Unsolved Murders Update as to What We Know:

John W. Leonard, Sr., father of five children, was an American Hero of WWII and survived a POW camp under Hitler for over two years and returned home only to be murdered after starting a family. John was a member of the American Legion Evans-Blitz Post 922, Canadensis PA for many years and was the only WWII POW from the Barrett community who was a member. Madeleine G. Leonard was a Goldstar mom who lost a son in the Vietnam War who gave his life to this country. Madeleine and her husband, John Leonard, are both now silenced victims of violent crimes and ignored by the PA State Police and District Attorney’s Office for the past 54 years.

For all of you who can be with their Father this Father’s day, tell him how important he is in your life and never forget to tell him you love him every time you part…hopefully it is not your last. Our father survived 2 years in a WWII German prison camp and fathered the five of us after returning home after the war.

Recently a witness came forward with a detailed account and description that verified Madeleine Leonard was told what happened to her husband, John Leonard, Sr. and why he was murdered. Madeleine said she was going to the Police after finding out what happened to John Leonard. Because of this, she was lured out and killed in Mt. Pocono.

This is a follow-up for the unsolved murders for John and Madeleine Leonard who lived in Barrett Township, Cresco, PA.  At the time these murders took place, their 5 children under the age of 18 lived here in Cresco, PA  their entire lives.  The only two surviving children left are Lori and Debbie Leonard, Twins, who have started a Go Fund Me Page in order to have both their parents bodies exhumed. 

To Whom It May Concern:

Would it be possible for you to put this poster/flyer into the Barrett Community newsletter as both our Parents, John (murdered at age 52 at Buck Hill Falls Inn) and Madeleine Leonard (murdered at age 49 on Route 940 in Mt. Pocono), were residents of the Cresco, PA community and maybe someone will remember something to help solve our parents murders since we are approaching 52 years for these murders to be unsolved.

A never before seen sketch of a decades old murder suspect is finally being distributed to the public. 52-year-old John Leonard Sr. of Cresco was killed on September 8th in 1970. It happened around 2:30PM at the Buck Hill Falls Hotel in Barrett Township -- which has since been demolished after falling into disrepair. Leonard was the taxicab driver of a black 1966 Plymouth Sedan for Mick's Taxi Service. He was called to the hotel where a white man with dark hair and approximately 30 to 40 years old approached the vehicle. Leonard was later found in the sedan dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Police say Leonard had five children at the time. He was a World War II veteran. And was an active member with the VFW and his community. If anyone has information on this crime-- you're asked to contact state police at Stroudsburg.