By Gwen
Posted Aug 2, 2026 at 8:41 AM
A Palm Beach County youth pastor faces charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide following a fatal crash on South Military Trail near West Palm Beach. Joel Isaias Leiniz, 38, was arrested after investigators concluded he was impaired and driving at 104 mph, resulting in the collision that killed his 8-year-old daughter, Zoe Alaya Leiniz.
The charges stem from the January 17 incident, where Leiniz’ 2017 Audi Q7 crashed into a concrete pole. Multiple 911 calls prompted the deputies’ response, and all four occupants were transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center. Tragically, Zoe was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m. due to her injuries.
Leiniz’ professional background is noted through his LinkedIn profile, identifying him as a youth pastor in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region. His legal proceedings are currently under review by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which initiated the investigation.
During a recent court hearing, defense attorney Anthony Genova highlighted Leiniz’s personal struggles, describing him as a grieving father who had recently lost his wife to cancer, leaving him as the sole caretaker and financially depleted. However, the source uses terms like “alleged” and “said,” so I must attribute these claims carefully without implying guilt.
In the courtroom, Judge Donald Hafele questioned Leiniz about his employment status at the time of the crash. Leiniz indicated he had resigned from his position in January of that year to focus more on his family, stating he did not hold outside employment. The judge noted that Leiniz’s job was not lost directly due to the incident.
Leiniz was granted a bond of $150,000 by the judge, while the prosecutor had requested a higher bond of $200,000. This decision reflects the court’s consideration of the charges and the circumstances surrounding the case.
The case underscores the critical importance of responsible conduct, especially among those entrusted with guiding and caring for families, as Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us to speak up for the one who is right and to stand firm in the day of trouble. Micah 6:8 calls for acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God, principles that resonate in this situation.
Source: Read the original report
Gwen
Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.
