Fayette County man guilty of murdering father and setting house on fire

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. – A Fayette County jury has found Griffin Leach guilty of murdering his father, William Leach, and setting his family’s home on fire to cover up the crime.

Leach was arrested in January 2023 after officers saw his truck drive past the burning home on Porter Road without stopping. Neighbors had alerted officers that one of the family’s vehicles was missing, and moments later the truck was seen driving past the scene of the fire. Sheriff Barry Babb described Leach’s behavior as suspicious.

Investigators said Leach shot his father while he was sleeping in his bed and then set the house on fire to cover up the crime. The fire destroyed much of the Leach home, with the roof collapsing and the first floor collapsing into the basement. Despite the damage, investigators were still able to find enough evidence to conclude that William Leach had been shot by his own son.

“The murder of William Leach in 2023 is the stuff of nightmares,” said District Attorney Marie Broder, whose office prosecuted the case. “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their bed. Instead, William Leach was executed as he slept and his house burned down around him in a desperate attempt to hide the terror within him.”

On the morning of the fire, officers suspected Griffin Leach was drunk when they pulled him over. Leach, a felon on probation for aggravated assault, was found in possession of a firearm that was later confirmed to be the murder weapon.

Leach initially told authorities that when he returned home, he discovered that his father had committed suicide and set the house on fire. However, investigators found inconsistencies in his story and enough evidence to convict him.

Griffin Leach was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his father and subsequent arson.