Arizona Executes Leroy Dean McGill for 2002 Murder of Charles Perez

On May 20, 2026, the state of Arizona carried out the execution of 63-year-old Leroy Dean McGill at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. McGill was put to death by lethal injection for the 2002 murder of Charles Perez.

The 2002 Attack in Phoenix

The conviction stemmed from a violent incident on July 13, 2002, in a Phoenix apartment complex. According to court records, McGill doused 21-year-old Charles Perez and his girlfriend, Nova Banta, with a mixture of gasoline and styrofoam before setting them on fire. While Banta survived the attack, Perez died from his injuries.

The confrontation followed a dispute between tenants at the apartment complex. Perez had accused McGill and his girlfriend, Jonna Hardesty, of stealing a shotgun from their residence, an accusation that led to the eviction of McGill and Hardesty.

Legal Proceedings and Appeals

Following the attack, McGill was arrested in Minnesota. He was subsequently tried in the Arizona Superior Court and sentenced to death in 2004. Throughout the lengthy appeals process, McGill’s legal team sought to have his sentence commuted, citing mitigating factors such as childhood abuse, psychological immaturity, and mental health issues. However, the courts consistently upheld the original sentence.

Earlier in 2026, McGill’s attorneys made a final request for a new sentencing hearing, which was denied by a trial court judge. A subsequent request to the Arizona Supreme Court to stay the execution was also rejected.

The Execution

McGill was declared dead at 10:26 a.m. Local time following the administration of a lethal injection protocol involving pentobarbital. Officials from the Arizona Department of Corrections reported that the procedure was carried out without complications.

Key Takeaways

• Date of Execution: May 20, 2026.
• Crime: The 2002 immolation attack in Phoenix that resulted in the death of Charles Perez and the injury of Nova Banta.
• Legal Status: McGill was sentenced to death in 2004 following a conviction in Arizona Superior Court.
• Final Disposition: The execution was carried out via lethal injection after multiple appeals were exhausted.

McGill’s death marks the conclusion of a case that remained in the judicial system for over two decades. He had declined to pursue a request for clemency prior to the execution date.