Arizona executes Leroy Dean McGill for 2002 arson murder of Charles Perez, leaving Nova Banta severely burned
Leroy Dean McGill, 63, was executed by lethal injection on May 20, 2026, at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence for the 2002 murder of Charles Perez, whom he set on fire with gasoline after being accused of stealing a gun. Perez died from his injuries; his girlfriend, Nova Banta, survived with third-degree burns over 75% of her body. The attack occurred while both were on a sofa in their Phoenix apartment. At the time, McGill was using methamphetamine and had not slept in days. Banta identified him at trial, where jurors convicted him of murder, attempted murder, arson, and endangerment after less than an hour of deliberation. McGill’s legal team had sought resentencing based on claims of childhood abuse and mental impairment, but courts denied relief. He waived clemency. The execution proceeded smoothly, with IVs inserted on the first attempt. McGill’s last words thanked prison staff for being 'accommodating and nice,' and he was pronounced dead 21 minutes after the injection began. This was Arizona’s first execution in 2026 and the 12th or 13th in the U.S. that year.
All sources agree on core factual elements of the crime, victim identities, execution method, timing, and basic legal history. Differences emerge in framing emphasis: USA Today and New York Post use emotionally charged or inmate-centered narratives, while ABC News provides the most complete legal background. Stuff.co.nz offers the most balanced and detailed post-execution account, combining victim suffering, procedural clarity, and witness observations.
- ✓ Leroy Dean McGill, 63, was executed by lethal injection in Arizona on May 20, 2026, at 10:26 a.m. PT.
- ✓ The execution took place at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence.
- ✓ McGill was convicted of murder in the 2002 death of Charles Perez, who was set on fire along with his girlfriend, Nova Banta, in a north Phoenix apartment.
- ✓ The attack occurred on July 13, 2002, after Perez and Banta accused McGill of stealing a gun.
- ✓ McGill used gasoline and a match to ignite the victims while they were on a sofa.
- ✓ Perez died from his injuries; Banta survived with severe burns covering approximately 75% of her body.
- ✓ At the time of the attack, McGill was using methamphetamine and had not slept in several days.
- ✓ Banta identified McGill as the attacker during trial.
- ✓ Jurors convicted McGill of murder, attempted murder, arson, and endangerment, with deliberation lasting less than an hour (New York Post and ABC News).
- ✓ McGill’s last words were: 'I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.'
- ✓ Media witnesses reported McGill said, 'I’m going home soon,' before the execution.
- ✓ McGill’s last meal included onion rings, bread and butter, chocolate cake, and a green salad.
- ✓ The execution proceeded without complications; IV lines were inserted on the first attempt in both arms.
- ✓ This was Arizona’s first execution in 2026 and one of three scheduled in the U.S. that week (Tennessee and Florida each planned an execution for Thursday).
- ✓ McGill’s legal team had recently sought resentencing based on claims of childhood abuse, mental impairment, and ineffective trial counsel, but these efforts were denied by a lower court and the Arizona Supreme Court.
- ✓ McGill waived his right to seek clemency and declined an interview request with the Associated Press.
Framing of the crime
Published before the execution; framed as anticipatory. Focuses on legal history and mitigation arguments (abuse, mental impairment).
Describes the attack factually: 'throwing gasoline at him and lighting a match.' Focuses on procedural details of execution.
Uses emotionally charged language: 'horrific attack,' 'among the cruelest acts imaginable.' Quotes prosecutor emphasizing moral condemnation.
Includes more graphic detail about the victims’ suffering: 'extreme pain,' 'third-degree burns over three-quarters of her body,' and the bystander who helped extinguish flames.
Highlights the killer’s final words and last meal, framing the narrative around the inmate’s demeanor and personal ritual.
Victim emphasis
Includes trial testimony and Banta’s role in identifying McGill, reinforcing her credibility.
Mentions both victims but centers on Perez; Banta’s survival is noted briefly.
Highlights both the death of Perez and the lifelong trauma of Banta, quoting the prosecutor’s sympathy for her.
Provides the most detailed account of Banta’s injuries and the immediate aftermath, including rescue efforts.
Refers to Banta as 'the girlfriend' and emphasizes her physical suffering, but does not explore her post-attack life.
Execution procedure details
Published pre-execution; contains no details about the actual procedure.
Notes smooth IV insertion, compares favorably to 2022 difficulties, quotes official: 'Today’s process went according to plan.'
Does not mention procedural details of the execution itself.
Includes media witness quote: 'That process went swimmingly,' and observes head twitching.
Describes physical reactions: 'breathing heavily,' 'snoring sounds,' 'twitching' observed.
Inmate’s demeanor and last moments
Notes McGill declined interview and waived clemency, but no post-execution observations.
Reports McGill smiled, nodded, and made no resistance; includes last words and 'I’m going home soon.'
Does not mention McGill’s final behavior or statements.
Includes last words, last meal, and witness quotes about demeanor.
Centralizes McGill’s last words and last meal; uses phrases like 'chowed down,' which may imply casualness.
Legal and mitigation context
Most comprehensive on legal background: includes jury verdict timeline, charges, appeal denials, and clemency waiver.
Briefly mentions prior execution difficulties in Arizona but not McGill’s legal appeals.
Mentions McGill’s attempt to stop execution over trial attorney errors.
Does not discuss mitigation or appeal history.
Details mitigation arguments: childhood abuse, mental impairment, psychological immaturity.
Timing and publication context
Published early morning of execution day; anticipatory tone, no confirmation of death.
Published same day, post-execution; combines factual reporting with official statements.
Published same day, post-exec游戏副本ution; emphasizes justice narrative.
Published same day, post-execution; AP style, comprehensive.
Published the next day; retrospective, with focus on inmate’s final moments.
NBC News
Framing: Procedural and factual: emphasizes the mechanics and official conduct of the execution.
Tone: Neutral, observational
Framing by Emphasis: Headline uses neutral language: 'set a man on fire' without emotive qualifiers.
"Arizona executes inmate who set a man on fire in deadly 2002 attack"
Balanced Reporting: Focuses on execution logistics and official statements, minimizing emotional commentary.
"Today’s process went according to plan"
Proper Attribution: Reports last words and witness observations factually, without interpretation.
"McGill looked at the witnesses, smiled and nodded"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Notes prior execution difficulties in 2022 but contrasts with current smooth process, providing context.
"While the state was criticized for having difficulty in inserting IV lines during executions in 2022..."
Omission: Does not quote victim impact statements or prosecutors, reducing emotional framing.
USA Today
Framing: Moral and justice-oriented: frames execution as rightful retribution for extreme cruelty.
Tone: Emotional, condemnatory
Loaded Language: Headline uses emotionally loaded term 'horrific attack' to frame the crime.
"Arizona executes inmate who set couple on fire in 'horrific attack'"
Appeal to Emotion: Quotes prosecutor using moralizing language: 'among the cruelest acts imaginable.'
"What Leroy McGill did − pouring gasoline on the victims and setting them on fire − was among the cruelest acts imaginable"
Narrative Framing: Highlights victim’s long-term suffering: 'lived with the physical and emotional scars for nearly 24 years.'
"the survivor, who has lived with the physical and emotional scars of that night for nearly 24 years"
Framing by Emphasis: Presents the execution as closure: 'justice was finally served.'
"After more than two decades, justice was finally served"
Editorializing: Includes a 'What you need to know' section, suggesting educational intent but also editorial control over narrative.
"Here's what you need to know about McGill's crime and his execution"
New York Post
Framing: Inmate-centered: focuses on the condemned’s final moments and personal details.
Tone: Sensational, personal
Framing by Emphasis: Headline centers on inmate’s final rituals: 'Final words and meal revealed.'
"Final words and meal revealed for Arizona death row prisoner who set couple on fire"
Loaded Language: Uses informal language: 'chowed down' to describe last meal, potentially trivializing.
"McGill, 63, chowed down on a last meal"
Narrative Framing: Highlights inmate’s statements and demeanor, making him the narrative focus.
"I’m going home soon"
Cherry-Picking: Includes mitigation arguments (abuse, mental impairment) but without deep exploration.
"His lawyers had argued for McGill to be given leniency, presenting evidence that he was abused as a child"
Vague Attribution: Cites 'Post wires' as source, suggesting aggregated or secondary reporting.
"With Post wires"
Stuff.co.nz
Framing: Victim-impact and procedural: balances suffering of victims with execution logistics.
Tone: Detailed, empathetic
Framing by Emphasis: Headline is factual and consistent with NBC News.
"Arizona executes inmate who set a man on fire, killing him, in 2002 attack"
Appeal to Emotion: Includes graphic detail of victim suffering: 'extreme pain,' 'third-degree burns over three-quarters of her body.'
"Perez died later at a hospital after suffering what prosecutors described as extreme pain"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Reports rescue effort by another resident, adding human detail.
"Another man who lived in the apartment used a blanket to put out the flames on Banta"
Loaded Language: Quotes media witness calling execution 'swimmingly' — informal but positive.
"That process went swimmingly"
Proper Attribution: Mentions Banta’s trial testimony, reinforcing victim credibility.
"Banta testified that McGill told her and Perez not to talk behind people's backs"
ABC News
Framing: Legal-process oriented: emphasizes the judicial journey and pending execution.
Tone: Anticipatory, procedural
Framing by Emphasis: Headline uses future tense: 'set to execute,' indicating anticipation.
"Arizona set to execute a prisoner for the killing of a man set on fire in 2002 attack"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Published before execution; focuses on legal history and pending outcome.
"McGill’s lawyers made a last-ditch bid to get him resentenced, but a lower-court judge rejected it"
Balanced Reporting: Details mitigation evidence: childhood abuse, mental impairment, psychological immaturity.
"McGill’s lawyers had argued for leniency by presenting evidence about abuse he suffered as a child"
Proper Attribution: Notes clemency waiver and refusal to speak to AP, emphasizing inmate agency.
"McGill waived his right to seek clemency"
Omission: Does not include execution outcome or final statements, as it predates the event.
Arizona executes inmate who set a man on fire in deadly 2002 attack
Arizona set to execute a prisoner for the killing of a man set on fire in 2002 attack
Arizona executes inmate who set a man on fire, killing him, in 2002 attack
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