Following a week-long trial, Griffin Leach was convicted Thursday, September 12, 2024, of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, arson in the first degree, and concealing the death of another.
Leach was sentenced by Superior Court Judge W. Fletcher Sams to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus a consecutive 35 years.
At trial, evidence showed that on January 11, 2023, the defendant shot his father, William Leach, while he lay in his bed. Shortly afterwards, the defendant left the Fayetteville home that they shared to purchase beer at a local convenience store. After returning, he set fire to the house to conceal the murder of his father and left the residence.
At 2:26 a.m. the next morning, a passerby noticed the home at 246 Porter Road engulfed in flames and called for help. As firemen worked to extinguish the fire, the defendant drove by the scene of the fire and was stopped by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.
He told the deputy that his father had set fire to the home after an argument and then shot himself. A .38 Special revolver was recovered from the defendant’s truck. Forensic testing later showed that the bullet recovered from the victim’s body had been fired from the .38 Special found in the defendant’s possession.
Further testing also indicated that gasoline was present on the victim’s body, the bedding, and the defendant’s clothing. The defendant’s hands and clothing also tested positive for the presence of gunshot primer residue.
After trial, District Attorney Marie Broder expressed her gratitude to law enforcement as well as the prosecutors who tried the case.
“Justice was served due to the hard work of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the Georgia State Fire Marshall. My team had an incredible case to work with, and everyone came together to fight for William Leach,” DA Broder said.
The case was investigated by Detective Zaj of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Deputy Chief ADA Warren Sellers and Senior ADA Daniel Hiatt.
