Bio

Leroy Dean McGill was born on February 22, 1963, in the United States. 

Murder Story

On July 13, 2002, Leroy Dean McGill entered an apartment in north Phoenix carrying a cup filled with gasoline. Inside the apartment were Charles Perez and Nova Banta. According to prosecutors, McGill poured the gasoline over both victims and then ignited it. Flames quickly spread, causing catastrophic burns. Charles Perez later died from his injuries. Nova Banta survived but suffered severe burns and required extensive medical treatment, including being placed into a medically induced coma.

Authorities stated that the attack was an act of revenge. Perez and Banta had accused McGill of stealing a shotgun, and the accusation had led to McGill being removed from the home where he had been staying. After the fire, witnesses reported that McGill spoke about the burning and claimed he had mixed gasoline with Styrofoam to create a sticky gel that would burn hotter and cling to the victims.

McGill was arrested and charged in Maricopa County. His trial began on October 6, 2004, before the Superior Court of Arizona. Prosecutors presented evidence of the deliberate nature of the attack, the suffering caused to the victims, and McGill’s prior violent criminal record. On November 10, 2004, a jury convicted him and he was sentenced to death the same day. Aggravating factors cited in the case included cruelty, danger to others, and his prior felony history.