‘Barney’ Co-Creator’s Son Awarded Prison Sentence

Patrick Leach, son of ‘Barney and Friends’ co-creator Sheryl Leach, was sentenced for 15 years in prison for shooting his Malibu neighbour in 2013. 29-year-old Patrick shot his 49-year-old neighbour in the chest with a .45 caliber handgun in Florida. The victim was saved by an individual in the vicinity, who heard the gunshot and then tried to stop the bleeding.

Leach drove next door to his neighbours house and accused him of trespassing. After shooting the victim, he drove off at which point the person who saved the victim noted the license plate number. The neighbour was shot in the chest and once through his shoulder. When Leach was arrested, he was carrying weapons and wearing body armor.

Sheryl Leach claimed that her son was the inspiration behind the friendly dinosaur ‘Barney’. When my son Patrick was a toddler I was always looking for ways to entertain him and keep him busy. I felt that if the storylines worked with my son, they would work with all children - Patrick was an excellent focus group of one!” she said.