Some nights start like any other, filled with laughter, celebration, and the careless energy of youth. But for Chad Pitts, the night of July 17, 1998, would turn into a nightmare that changed everything.
Chad had just celebrated a milestone — graduating high school the month prior. That evening, he attended a backyard party at a friend’s house, ready to enjoy a carefree night with friends. But joy can be fragile. A simple argument would soon escalate into a violent act that robbed the world of a 17-year-old boy.
A NIGHT THAT TURNED DEADLY
The confrontation began as many teenage disagreements do — a brief argument between Chad and 19-year-old Beau Leonard. It lasted only a few minutes before being broken up by other partygoers. But Leonard’s rage was far from over.
Witnesses say he ran inside the house, grabbed a 10-inch fondue skewer, and returned to the backyard. In a sudden, shocking act of violence, he plunged the skewer into the side of Chad’s neck. Friends immediately panicked. They placed Chad into a car and raced him to the hospital, but it was too late. At 2:58 a.m., Chad Pitts was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
A life that had just begun was extinguished in a single, horrific moment.
A DISTURBING HISTORY
Chad’s murder did not happen in isolation. Just days earlier, Leonard had been paroled on an assault charge. Earlier that year, he had violently attacked a juvenile who had left night school, punching him while he lay semiconscious, leaving the victim with a concussion, broken teeth, and severe bruising. On July 13, 1998, Leonard had been sentenced to time served plus 19 months of parole.
Only four days later, he committed the murder of Chad Pitts — a tragic reminder of the consequences of releasing violent individuals back into society too soon.
THE LEGAL AFTERMATH
Following the murder, Leonard was charged with murder and assault and held without bail. By October 1998, he was ordered to stand trial. The trial would ultimately be brief. On March 4, 1999, Leonard pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced to 18-40 years in prison.
After serving 20 years, Leonard was released on June 28, 2019. He had been 19 when he took Chad’s life. Chad was only 17 years old, a young man whose future was stolen in a violent moment of rage.
REMEMBERING CHAD
Chad Pitts’ story is one of heartbreak, lost potential, and the ripple effects of senseless violence. His family, friends, and community continue to feel the weight of that night, a tragedy that reminds us how quickly life can be taken and how fragile our sense of safety can be.
For those who wish to remember Chad and learn more about his story, a detailed tribute and video can be found on this TikTok link:
@famousgraveco Chad Pitts was murdered on July 17, 1998. That evening, Chad was at a friend’s backyard party. He had just graduated high school the month prior. After the party had been going for several hours, Chad got in an argument with 19-year-old Beau Leonard. The argument lasted a few minutes before it was broken up. Still enraged, Leonard ran into the house, entered the kitchen, and grabbed a 10-inch fondue skewer. He returned to the backyard, went up to Chad, and plunged the skewer into the side of his neck. In a panic, friends of Chad put him in a car and raced him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 2:58am. Just days before the incident, Leonard had been paroled on an assault charge. Earlier that year, he was charged with simple assault after he punched a juvenile who had just left night school. Leonard and a friend continued to assault the victim as he lay on the ground semiconscious. The victim’s injuries included a concussion, three broken teeth, and cuts and bruises. On July 13, 1998, Leonard was sentenced to time served plus an additional 19 months of parole. He murdered Chad four days later. Leonard was charged with murder and assault. He was held without bail to await a preliminary hearing. In October 1998, Leonard was ordered to stand trial, which would prove to be short-lived. On March 4, 1999, Leonard pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. He was sentenced to 18-40 years in prison. He was released on June 28, 2019 after serving 20 years of his sentence. Chad was 17 years old. #grave #cemetery #mausoleum #graves #cemeteries #cemeteryexplorer #cemeteryexplorers #famous #famouspeople #famousgraves #famousgrave #graveyard #gravephotographer #gravestone #gravestones #taphophile #taphophilia #celebritygraves #murder #truecrimetok #murdervictims #murdervictimsawareness #unsolved #unsolvedcases #unsolvedcasefiles #unsolvedcrime #unsolvedcrimes #truecrimetiktok #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #truecrimetok
Chad’s story reminds us: every young life is precious, every loss leaves a lasting scar, and justice, no matter how delayed, cannot erase the pain of what was taken.
