Arizona carried out the execution of Leroy McGill on Wednesday morning, more than two decades after prosecutors said he intentionally set a north Phoenix duplex fire that killed one man and severely injured another person.
McGill was executed by lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence after exhausting years of appeals connected to the 2002 case.
The execution stems from a July 13, 2002, attack in Phoenix’s Sunnyslope area that resulted in the death of Charles Perez and left Nova Banta with life-threatening burns.
Case
According to investigators, McGill had been staying at the duplex with his girlfriend before tensions developed among the residents.
Former Phoenix homicide detective Tommy Kulesa, who helped investigate the case, said detectives initially responded to what was reported as an intentionally set structure fire.
“We got dispatched out to a fire, a structure fire with people that had been injured inside, and the fire we were told was deliberately set,” Kulesa told 12News.
At the time investigators arrived, the victims had already been transported to the hospital.
| Case Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Leroy McGill |
| Crime Date | July 13, 2002 |
| Location | Sunnyslope area, Phoenix |
| Victim Killed | Charles Perez |
| Survivor | Nova Banta |
| Execution Method | Lethal injection |
Investigation
Detectives later learned that housemates had accused McGill and his girlfriend of stealing a shotgun, an allegation investigators believed contributed to escalating tensions inside the duplex.
According to Kulesa, McGill returned to the residence carrying gasoline mixed with dissolved Styrofoam, which investigators described as a gel-like accelerant capable of creating a hotter and more intense fire.
“What that does is it makes the subsequent fire burn hotter and harder to put out,” Kulesa explained.
Investigators said McGill poured the accelerant onto Perez and Banta before igniting it.
“He then threw the gasoline on Charles Perez and Nova Banta and lit them on fire,” Kulesa said.
Another resident, Jack Yates, suffered minor injuries during the fire.
Victims
Charles Perez later died from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
Nova Banta survived but suffered burns covering approximately 75% of her body, according to investigators and court records.
The case remained one of the more severe arson-related homicide investigations handled in Phoenix during that period because of the extent of the injuries and the nature of the attack.
Kulesa reflected on the lasting impact the crime had on the victims and their families.
Trial
McGill was arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the investigation.
Court records show a jury convicted him in 2004 after deliberating for less than one hour.
During the penalty phase of the trial, jurors sentenced McGill to death.
Over the following years, McGill pursued multiple appeals through state and federal courts before Arizona authorities moved forward with the execution after a warrant was issued earlier this year by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Reflection
Ahead of the execution, Kulesa said he believed the perspectives that mattered most belonged to the victims’ families rather than investigators or public commentators.
“I’m of the belief that my opinion doesn’t matter on it,” Kulesa said. “I believe in a case like this, the only people whose opinions matter are Charles Perez’s family, Nova Banta and her family, and Leroy McGill’s family.”
While acknowledging the importance of the appeals process in death penalty cases, Kulesa said he remained focused on representing the interests of victims who could no longer speak for themselves.
“Leroy McGill has the ability to talk for himself right now,” he said. “Charles Perez doesn’t. Someone has to talk for him.”
Execution
The execution took place Wednesday morning at the state prison complex in Florence.
12News reported that media witnesses were present inside the execution chamber during the procedure.
Arizona resumed carrying out executions in recent years after previously pausing executions while reviewing procedures involving lethal injection protocols.
The state has continued facing public debate surrounding capital punishment, appeals, and execution methods, particularly in long-running cases dating back decades.
Aftermath
For investigators and surviving family members, the execution marked the conclusion of a legal process that extended more than 20 years.
The case continues to stand out in Arizona criminal justice history because of the brutality of the attack and the severe injuries suffered by survivors.
While legal proceedings have now concluded, the emotional effects on victims’ families and others connected to the case remain lasting reminders of the violence that occurred inside the Phoenix duplex in 2002.
FAQs
Who was executed in Arizona?
Leroy McGill was executed on Wednesday.
What crime was McGill convicted of?
A deadly 2002 arson attack in Phoenix.
Who died in the fire?
Charles Perez died from his injuries.
Who survived the attack?
Nova Banta survived with severe burns.
How was the execution carried out?
By lethal injection in Florence, Arizona.
