Atmore, Alabama – A lethal injection was administered in Alabama on Thursday to Jamie Ray Mills, marking the state’s first execution since implementing nitrogen gas as an alternative method months ago. Mills, 50, was convicted of capital murder for the killing of an elderly couple, Floyd Hill, 87, and his wife Vera, 72, back in 2004.
The execution took place at a prison in southwest Alabama, where Mills was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. following a three-drug injection. Despite the option of choosing nitrogen gas or the electric chair, lethal injection remains the default method in Alabama for executions.
Prosecutors revealed that the couple was viciously attacked with a hammer, machete, and tire tool in their home located about 80 miles northwest of Birmingham. This gruesome incident took place in June 2004, resulting in the deaths of the elderly caregivers.
Family members of Mills were present in a witness room as the execution commenced. Mills, before losing consciousness from the sedative, gave a thumbs up to his relatives and mouthed “I love you” to them. Throughout the procedure, he expressed his love and gratitude to his family members, thanking them and his attorney for their support.
In 2007, Mills was convicted of capital murder by a jury and sentenced to death by a judge. The court documents detailed how Floyd Hill, the primary caregiver for his diabetic wife in poor health, was brutally murdered, followed by Vera Hill succumbing to complications of head trauma weeks later.
Members of the victims’ family, who witnessed the execution, expressed relief that justice had finally been served after a twenty-year wait. They hoped that this outcome would deter others from committing similar crimes in the future.
Amid final appeals from Mills’ legal team, concerns were raised about the evidence presented during the trial, with claims of deceit and misrepresentation by the prosecution. The Equal Justice Initiative stated that Mills had been subjected to an unjust process, emphasizing the need for reform in the criminal justice system.
Following Mills’ execution, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall defended the decision, citing overwhelming evidence against Mills. Marshall described the crime as cold and calculated, justifying the imposed punishment as fitting the severity of the crime.
