Alabama Executes Jamie Mills for 1998 Murders
Alabama executed Jamie Mills on Thursday for the 1998 murders of Floyd and Vera Hill. The execution took place at the state prison in Atmore. The Supreme Court denied a last-minute request to stop the execution.
Mills was convicted of killing the elderly couple in their home in Guin, Alabama. He was 45 years old at the time of his death.
Details of the Crime
Floyd and Vera Hill were killed in their home on June 24, 1998. They were beaten with a hammer and stabbed. Prosecutors said Mills and his girlfriend at the time, JoAnn McCool, planned to rob the couple. McCool testified against Mills and received a life sentence.
Legal Challenges and Appeals
Mills maintained his innocence for years. He claimed McCool was responsible for the murders. His lawyers filed several appeals, arguing that he had ineffective counsel during his original trial. They also argued that new evidence pointed to McCool as the sole perpetrator.
The Supreme Court ultimately denied his request for a stay of execution. This cleared the way for Alabama to proceed.
Execution Details
Mills was put to death by lethal injection. The execution began at 6:26 p.m. Central Time. He was pronounced dead at 6:49 p.m.
Statements Following the Execution
The Alabama Attorney General’s office released a statement confirming the execution. They stated that justice had been served for the Hill family.
Alabama’s Executions in 2024
This is Alabama’s second execution of 2024. The state carried out the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in January. Smith’s execution gained attention because it was the first time a new method, nitrogen hypoxia, was used in the United States.
The Death Penalty in the United States
The death penalty remains a controversial issue in the United States. Some states have abolished it, while others continue to use it. The number of executions has declined in recent years.
Looking Ahead
The execution of Jamie Mills marks another chapter in the ongoing debate over capital punishment in the U.S. It also brings closure to the family of Floyd and Vera Hill, who have waited for justice for more than two decades.
Source: bbc.com
