George James Trepal was born on January 23, 1949. He grew up in the United States. He had an early interest in science and technology. This interest led him to study chemistry. He later became a chemist and then worked as a computer programmer. He was married to Diana Carr Trepal, a paralegal, and lived in a rural part of Alturas, Florida.

In late 1988, the Carr family of Alturas, Florida, began to suffer mysterious illnesses. Peggy Jean Carr (b. 29 August 1947), a 41‑year‑old waitress and mother, first experienced numbness and hair loss. Several family members, including her teenage son and stepson, later exhibited similar symptoms. Doctors initially suspected various conditions but eventually determined that the family was suffering from thallium poisoning, a rare and highly toxic heavy metal.

Carr was hospitalized and lingered for months before dying on 3 March 1989. Other members of her family survived after intensive treatment. The case shocked the small community, as thallium poisoning was both unusual and deliberate.

Investigators, led by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, quickly suspected foul play. Attention turned to George Trepal, the Carrs’ next‑door neighbor. Trepal and his wife had a history of disputes with the Carr family over noise, property boundaries, and lifestyle differences.

Detective Susan Goreck went undercover, befriending Trepal and his wife during a “Murder Mystery Weekend” they organized shortly after Carr’s death. The event’s theme was coincidentally centered on poisoning, which further raised investigators’ suspicions.

The Trepals later relocated to Sebring, Florida, but Goreck arranged to rent their Alturas property, giving authorities access. A search uncovered numerous chemical containers and empty bottles with traces of thallium residue. This evidence, combined with testimony about Trepal’s disputes with the Carr family, built the case against him.

George James Trepal was convicted in February 1991 for the murder of his neighbor, Peggy Carr, and for attempting to murder her family. He poisoned the Carr family by adding thallium to several bottles of Coca-Cola. While Peggy Carr died from the poisoning, all other family members survived.

Trepal was sentenced to death by Circuit Judge Dennis Maloney. After his conviction, he maintained his innocence and denied any involvement in Peggy Carr's death. He filed multiple appeals challenging his conviction. All of his appeals were denied. The last appeal he filed was with the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 2012, which was also denied.

As of 2011, Trepal had been on death row for more than 30 years at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida. Trepal has consistently denied his involvement, maintaining his innocence through decades of appeals. However, courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 2012 — have denied all relief. Trepal remains on Florida’s death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, where he has spent more than 30 years.