In brief
Blaine Milam, sentenced to death for the December 2008 murder of 13-month-old Amora Carson, is scheduled to be executed in Texas. As he maintains his innocence, placing blame on his girlfriend, the case has drawn attention due to allegations of using discredited evidence. Lawyers argue Milam is intellectually disabled, which would make him ineligible for execution.
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas man is set to be executed Thursday for the murder of his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter, Amora Carson, during an alleged exorcism aimed at expelling a demon from the child.
Blaine Milam, 35, received a death sentence for the violent death of the toddler in December 2008 at his home in Rusk County, East Texas. He is scheduled to undergo lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.
On the same day, Alabama plans to execute Geoffrey West for a 1997 robbery and murder of a gas station employee.
Milam maintains his innocence and has accused his then-girlfriend Jesseca Carson of being responsible for the child’s death, claiming she was the one asserting the girl was possessed. Carson, 18 at the time, was convicted separately and is serving a life sentence without parole for capital murder.
Details from the trial reveal that Milam allegedly tortured the girl over 30 hours before her death, beating her with a hammer, biting, strangling, and ultimately causing multiple fatal injuries, including skull fractures and broken bones.
Milam's legal team argues against the conviction, noting that the evidence heavily relied on now-discredited bite mark analysis, alongside other unreliable DNA evidence. They contend Milam's intellectual disability qualifies him to avoid execution.
Adding to the case's complexity, Milam's attorneys assert that Carson experienced significant psychological issues, leading to her violent actions against Amora. They argue, It was Carson who caused her daughter’s death. There is no credible evidence that Milam played any role in it.
Despite these claims, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has denied Milam's request for clemency, while the courts have consistently upheld his conviction. Less than six hours prior to the scheduled execution, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed all pending appeals from Milam.
If carried out, Milam's execution will mark Texas’s fifth this year, contributing to a total of 33 executions in the U.S. thus far in 2025. Historical data highlights Texas as the leading state in capital punishment, with Florida leading nationally with twelve executions in the same year.
Milam's case has ignited renewed discussions around the use of capital punishment, particularly over its ethical implications and the potential for wrongful convictions, especially when dubious evidence is utilized.
