What Happened to Leroy Dean McGill?

Leroy Dean McGill's criminal history culminated in his execution on May 20, 2026, for the brutal 2002 murder of Charles Perez and the attempted murder of Nova Banta. On July 13, 2002, McGill entered an apartment in north Phoenix, where he doused Perez and Banta with gasoline and ignited them, reportedly in retaliation for accusations that he had stolen a gun. Perez died from his burns, while Banta suffered severe third-degree burns over a significant portion of her body.

McGill was convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, arson, and endangerment. During the sentencing phase, his defense presented extensive evidence of a deeply fractured and abusive childhood, repeated removals from his home, placements in reform schools, early exposure to drugs and alcohol, and long-term methamphetamine addiction. Experts testified that stable, structured environments as a child allowed McGill to 'blossom,' but these were temporary. However, the jury ultimately returned a death sentence, finding that his mitigation evidence was not substantial enough to warrant leniency, especially given aggravating factors such as prior serious offenses and the cruel and heinous nature of the crime.

His appeals process spanned many years, with lawyers arguing issues such as incorrect jury instructions during sentencing and focusing on his childhood trauma and substance abuse. By 2022, McGill had exhausted all state and federal appeals. The state of Arizona had a moratorium on executions after a series of botched lethal injections in 2022, which Governor Katie Hobbs lifted in November 2024 after an internal review.

On March 26, 2026, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a warrant for McGill's execution, setting the date for May 20, 2026. Despite last-minute legal bids to postpone the execution and advocacy from groups like Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona, the execution proceeded as scheduled. Leroy Dean McGill, 63, was pronounced dead at 10:26 AM PT on May 20, 2026, following a lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. His last words were reported as: “I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.”