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Leroy
Dean McGILL
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Retaliation because the
victim has accused him of stealing a
shotgun
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder: July 13, 2002
Date of birth: February 22, 1963
Victim profile: Charles Perez
Method of murder: Doused with gasoline and set on fire
On July 13, 2002, Leroy Dean McGill walked into an
apartment in north Phoenix carrying a cup full of gasoline. McGill
doused Charles Perez and Nova Banta with the gasoline and lit them on
fire.
Perez subsequently died from his burns. Banta was so
severely burned that treating physicians had to put her in a medically-induced
coma in order to save her life.
McGill, a twice convicted felon (armed robberies),
committed these crimes because the victims had accused him of stealing a
shotgun.
McGill had been staying with the owner of the gun. As
a result of the accusation, the gun owner threw McGill out of his home,
causing McGill to become homeless.
After starting the fire, McGill asked an acquaintance
if he could smell burning flesh. He also bragged that he had mixed the
gasoline with Styrofoam to form a gel so that it would stick to the
victims and burn hotter.
PROCEEDINGS
Presiding Judge: Hon. Frank T. Galati
Prosecutor: Catherine M. Hughes
Defense Counsel: Maria L. Schaffer & Elizabeth Todd
Start of Trial: October 6, 2004
Verdict: November 10, 2004
Sentencing: November 10, 2004
Aggravating Circumstances
Especially heinous, cruel or depraved
Zone of danger
Prior Criminal Record
PUBLISHED OPINIONS
[Direct Appeal pending before the Arizona Supreme Court]
