Introduction to the Case
A Texas man, Blaine Milam, was executed on Thursday for killing his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter, Amora Carson, in a brutal and torturous ordeal that the couple claimed was an "exorcism" to expel a demon from the child’s body. Milam, 35, was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. He was condemned for the December 2008 death of Amora at his trailer in Rusk County, East Texas.
The Crime and Investigation
In a final statement, Milam thanked his supporters and the prison chaplaincy for opening its faith-based programs to death row inmates. He also made a religious statement, saying, "If any of you would like to see me again, I implore all of you no matter who you are to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and we will meet again. I love you all. Bring me home, Jesus." As the lethal dose of sedative pentobarbital began flowing into his right hand and left arm, Milam grunted and gasped once, then began snoring quietly. After about two minutes, all sounds and movement stopped, and he was declared dead.
The Trial and Conviction
Milam had blamed his then-girlfriend, Jesseca Carson, for the killing, alleging she was the one who claimed the girl was possessed by a demon. Carson was tried separately and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of capital murder for helping Milam. Both were 18 years old at the time of the crime. Prosecutors said Milam savagely beat the girl and also bit, strangled, and mutilated her over a period of 30 hours. A forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy found the child had multiple skull fractures, broken arms, legs, ribs, and numerous bite marks. The pathologist testified at trial that he could not determine a specific cause of death because the girl had so many potentially fatal injuries.
The Execution and Aftermath
It was one of two executions carried out on Thursday evening in the U.S. Geoffrey West was put to death in Alabama with nitrogen gas for fatally shooting a gas station employee during a 1997 robbery. The two executions brought the year’s total to 33 death sentences carried out nationwide.
Reactions to the Execution
Rusk County District Attorney Micheal Jimerson, who tried the case along with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, told The Associated Press in 2019 that authorities initially treated Milam and Carson as grieving parents. However, Carson later told investigators that Milam told her Amora was "possessed by a demon" because "God was tired of her lying to Milam," according to court records. Jimerson said at the time he still couldn’t pinpoint a motive, believing the exorcism claim was just a way for Milam and Carson to cover up their crime. The prosecutor witnessed the execution and stated, "We will never know what Amora would have contributed to our world. Answering the call for justice for the most helpless is a measure of a civilized people." Among other observers was the child’s grandfather, Richard Mutina, who declined to speak with reporters after the execution.
Milam’s Appeals and Execution
Milam was the fifth person put to death this year in Texas, historically the nation’s busiest capital punishment state. Florida leads the nation this year with a record 12 executions conducted to date in 2025, with two more scheduled in the state by mid-October. The execution was carried out hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Milam’s final appeals. Rebuffed previously by state and federal appeals courts, Milam’s attorneys had asked the Supreme Court to block the execution, arguing his conviction was based in part on "now-discredited" bite mark evidence and other unreliable DNA evidence. They also argued he was intellectually disabled and thus ineligible for execution. The Texas Attorney General’s Office has said Milam’s claims of an intellectual disability had been rejected previously by the courts.
Conclusion
The case of Blaine Milam is a tragic and disturbing example of the brutality and cruelty that some individuals are capable of inflicting on others, particularly vulnerable children. The use of the "exorcism" claim as a justification for the torture and murder of Amora Carson is a stark reminder of the dangers of extremist beliefs and the importance of protecting children from harm. The execution of Milam brings a measure of justice to the family of Amora, but it also highlights the need for continued vigilance and action to prevent such horrific crimes from occurring in the future.
FAQs
Q: What was the reason for Blaine Milam’s execution?
A: Blaine Milam was executed for killing his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter, Amora Carson, in a torturous ordeal that the couple claimed was an "exorcism" to expel a demon from the child’s body.
Q: How did Milam kill Amora Carson?
A: According to prosecutors, Milam savagely beat the girl and also bit, strangled, and mutilated her over a period of 30 hours.
Q: What was the outcome of Jesseca Carson’s trial?
A: Jesseca Carson was tried separately and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of capital murder for helping Milam.
Q: How many executions have been carried out in the U.S. this year?
A: As of the time of Milam’s execution, there had been 33 death sentences carried out nationwide.
Q: What was the reaction of the prosecutor, Micheal Jimerson, to the execution?
A: Jimerson stated, "We will never know what Amora would have contributed to our world. Answering the call for justice for the most helpless is a measure of a civilized people."
