223:, seeking approval to schedule a date of execution for Jamie Mills. However, unlike the previous execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith (the said inmate executed with nitrogen gas), the state asked to carry out the death sentence of Mills via the primary method of lethal injection. Mills would not be the only person in Alabama that year to face a lethal injection execution; a Chicago resident named
296:, a civil group, stated that the execution of Mills, whom they believed to be innocent, was "tragically regrettable and mournfully unjust" and they accused the prosecutors for having "lied, deceived and misrepresented" the facts of the case to make Mills guilty and stated that his case reinforced the wrongfulness of capital punishment. On the other hand, Attorney General
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were walking back to the porch. Mills would later turn his attention on Vera, who headed back to the shed after hearing the assault on her husband, and she was similarly downed by Mills after a vicious assault. Mills and his wife would ransack the house, where they stole some prescription drugs and some money amounting to $ 140 before they fled the house.
286:. In his last words, Mills expressed his love for his family, including his brother and sister who were present to witness the execution. Members of the victims’ family also turned up at the prison to witness the execution, and they stated that justice had been served for the Hills after 20 years since the murders of Floyd and Vera Hill.
198:
In August 2007, Jamie Mills was tried before a jury at an
Alabama state court for two counts of capital murder. Mills's wife, who was still pending trial at that point, turned up as a witness and she testified that she witnessed her husband wielding a hammer and battered the elderly couple to death.
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On that same day, after the brutal attack, the Hills' children and grandchildren were unable to reach the couple by phone. Out of concern, a police report was lodged, and Guin police officer Larry Webb responded to the scene by arriving at the Hills' home shortly after dark. Webb inspected the house
245:
dismissed Mills's appeal on May 20, 2024, after he found that the claims made by Mills, including those in relation to the plea bargain of Mills's wife, could not aid him in escaping the death sentence, and noted that these arguments were repeatedly rejected in previous appeals. Chief U.S. District
206:
After his trial, Jamie Mills appealed to the higher courts (both state and federal) against his death sentence several times, maintaining he was innocent and stated that the plea bargain of his wife might mean that his wife lied about his involvement in the murders. However, all of the appeals were
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Court records showed that sometime after gaining entry into the home of the Hills, Jamie Mills attacked the couple by bludgeoning them with a machete, tire tool and ballpeen hammer. Mills started off with assaulting Floyd first while the latter was conversing with him in the shed, just as the women
250:
also rejected Mills's separate petition for a stay of execution, describing it as "inexplicable and inexcusable" and admonished the recent phenomenon of filing last-minute appeals and requests for stay of execution when the facts of the case were repeatedly upheld, stating that such abuse of court
202:
It was revealed after the trial of Jamie Mills that his wife JoAnn Mills, who originally faced the same charges of capital murder as her husband, agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges of murder, provided that the death penalty was taken off the table and that she turn state evidence against her
182:
Floyd was mortally wounded and died on the scene. Vera, on the other hand, was still alive but sustained severe head and neck injuries. Despite timely medical intervention and being cared for by her family members, Vera died on
September 12, 2004 due to complications arising from her injuries. The
170:
On that fateful day, the elderly couple of 55 years, 87-year-old Floyd Hill and his 72-year-old wife Vera Hill, who was diabetic, were both present at home when they were approached by their neighbour, 30-year-old Jamie Ray Mills, who was accompanied by his wife JoAnn Mills. Mills reportedly asked
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were both attacked and murdered by an intruder who bludgeoned them severely before stealing $ 140 and prescription drugs from the couple. Floyd was mortally wounded and died on the scene while Vera survived for merely two months before she died from complications from her injuries on
September 12,
254:
The 11th
Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a follow-up appeal from Mills on May 28, 2024, after finding "no reasonable jurist could conclude that the district court abused its discretion", and allowed the execution to move forward. On the same date when the ruling was made, several opponents of
227:, who murdered a contract courier in 1998, also received a death warrant that scheduled his lethal injection execution on July 18, 2024; Gavin, who was also convicted of murdering a man in 1982 at Illinois, became the third person to be put to death in Alabama in 2024.
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The execution of Mills was the second documented execution to take place in
Alabama in 2024, and the sixth to happen in the U.S. that year. Mills's execution was the first to take place via lethal injection in Alabama after the state's first nitrogen gas execution.
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described the murders of Floyd and Vera Hill as "cold and calculated" killings done by Mills, whom
Marshall believed to be well-deserving of the death penalty, and he stated that there was ample evidence to prove that Mills was indeed guilty of the double murder.
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At the end of the trial itself, Mills was found guilty of both counts of murder by the jury. A sentencing hearing ended with the 12-member jury deciding that, based on a majority opinion of 11 to one, Mills should be sentenced to death for the double murder.
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the couple if he and his wife could borrow their phone. The couple agreed to allow both the Mills to enter their house. Prior to this, Jamie and JoAnn Mills had just completed an overnight drug use session, in which they smoked methamphetamine together.
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By May 16, 2024, two weeks before he was executed, Mills had already filed last-minute appeals with hopes to delay his execution. Most of his appeals at this stage centered on his claims of innocence and opposition to "torturous" execution procedures.
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husband. After admitting to her role behind the murders, JoAnn was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Her earliest parole hearing would take place in
December 2027.
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after there was no response to his calls and knocks, and Webb discovered the bodies of the couple inside the padlocked shed, which brought the robbery-assault into revelation.
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For his last meal, Mills ordered a seafood platter with three large shrimp, two catfish filets, three oysters, three onion rings and one stuffed crab.
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autopsies separately conducted on both Floyd and Vera confirmed that both the Hills died from blunt and sharp force trauma; a trauma surgeon from the
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would hear Mills's final appeal on the date of his execution, and similarly rejected it as well, clearing the way for Mills's execution to proceed.
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Both Jamie and JoAnn Mills were arrested a day after the double murder, and later tried before separate courts for murdering Vera and Floyd Hill.
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to schedule the execution date for Mills. Six days later, on March 27, 2024, the tentative execution date of Mills was slated as May 30, 2024.
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testified that Vera would have died within hours if she was not provided with the same treatment she gotten on the date of the murder.
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766:"Federal appeals court denies stay of execution for Alabama inmate Jamie Mills, upholds rejection of innocence claim"
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in 2007, while Mills's wife, who was a bystander and involved in the crime, was similarly convicted of murder but
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On March 21, 2024, the
Alabama Supreme Court approved the death warrant, and directed the state's governor
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730:"Timing of Alabama inmate Jamie Mills' lethal injection lawsuit 'inexplicable and inexcusable': Judge"
143:, was arrested and charged with murdering the couple. Mills was found guilty of the double murder and
874:"Alabama double killer becomes first death-row inmate put to death in state since nitrogen execution"
856:"Months after nation's 1st nitrogen gas execution, Alabama gives man lethal injection for 2 killings"
820:"After nation's 1st nitrogen gas execution, Alabama set to give man lethal injection for 2 slayings"
694:"Alabama inmate Jamie Mills set to die; argues innocence, challenges 'tortuous' execution method"
964:"Alabama inmate Jamie Ray Mills to be 2nd inmate executed by the state in 2024. What to know"
568:"Alabama has executed man convicted of killing delivery driver during a 1998 robbery attempt"
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242:
640:"Alabama sets May lethal injection date for man convicted of killing couple during robbery"
838:"Following 1st nitrogen execution in U.S., Alabama puts man to death via lethal injection"
408:"Death penalty: Alabama couple murdered in 2004 were married 55 years before tragic end"
345:"Alabama man set to be executed Thursday maintains innocence in elderly couple's murder"
586:"Alabama approves execution for Jamie Ray Mills in elderly couple's 2004 beating death"
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910:"A last supper on death row: Should America give murderers an extravagant final meal?"
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for clemency, with hopes of commuting Mills's death sentence to life without parole.
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363:"After US's first nitrogen gas execution, Alabama set to give man lethal injection"
982:"Alabama executes death row inmate Jamie Mills for elderly couple's 2004 murders"
514:"Alabama attorney general requests execution by lethal injection for Jamie Mills"
604:"Alabama high court authorizes execution date for man convicted in 2004 slaying"
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946:"Alabama death row inmate gives thumbs-up, says 'Love y'all' before execution"
712:"Federal judge rejects Alabama Death Row inmate Jamie Mills' innocence claim"
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802:"Petition to stop Alabama's execution of Jamie Mills goes to Gov. Kay Ivey"
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658:"Alabama sets execution date for Jamie Mills to die by lethal injection"
550:"Alabama executes 64-year-old Keith Edmund Gavin for 1998 murder at ATM"
444:"Alabama executes Jamie Mills for elderly couple's 2004 beating deaths"
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On May 30, 2024, 50-year-old Jamie Ray Mills was formally executed via
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was attacked and murdered by a younger couple who intruded their home.
99:
784:"U.S. 11th Circuit Court rejects Alabama death row inmate's appeals"
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On
January 31, 2024, less than a week after the state conducted its
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On the late afternoon of June 24, 2004, an elderly couple living in
478:"Alabama Supreme Court won't review appeals of 7 convicted killers"
676:"Gov. Kay Ivey sets late May execution date for Jamie Ray Mills"
219:, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office filed a motion to the
622:"Alabama Supreme Court approves execution of Jamie Ray Mills"
532:"Alabama attorney general requests execution for Jamie Mills"
496:"Alabama seeks to execute Jamie Mills for 2004 double murder"
426:"Alabama Supreme Court approves execution of Jamie Ray Mills"
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rejected, including one in 2006, 2008 and 2016 respectively.
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for about 17 years before he was executed on May 30, 2024.
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The killer, identified as the Hills' 30-year-old neighbour
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Jamie Mills executed on May 30, 2024 for the double murder
928:"Alabama executes man who killed elderly couple in 2004"
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748:"Appeals court won't halt upcoming Alabama execution"
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capital punishment, including representatives of the
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List of people executed in the United States in 2024
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892:"Alabama executes Jamie Mills by lethal injection"
16:2004 double murder of an elderly couple in Alabama
259:, submitted a petition to the Alabama governor
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217:first execution via nitrogen gas inhalation
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461:In re Jamie Ray Mills v. State of Alabama
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1021:June 2004 crimes in the United States
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1016:21st-century executions by Alabama
320:List of people executed in Alabama
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1011:2004 murders in the United States
395:Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
49:JoAnn Mills imprisoned for life
185:University of Alabama Hospital
127:On June 24, 2004, 87-year-old
20:Murders of Floyd and Vera Hill
1:
315:Capital punishment in Alabama
251:processes should be stopped.
284:Holman Correctional Facility
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1031:People murdered in Alabama
191:Trial process and appeals
131:and his 72-year-old wife
294:Equal Justice Initiative
896:Montgomery Advertiser
536:Montgomery Advertiser
465:Alabama Supreme Court
430:Montgomery Advertiser
221:Alabama Supreme Court
257:Death Penalty Action
241:U.S. District Judge
151:. Mills remained on
538:. January 31, 2024.
520:. January 31, 2024.
502:. January 31, 2024.
21:
806:Alabama Local News
770:Alabama Local News
734:Alabama Local News
716:Alabama Local News
698:Alabama Local News
662:Alabama Local News
590:Alabama Local News
554:Alabama Local News
500:Alabama Local News
482:Alabama Local News
448:Alabama Local News
268:U.S. Supreme Court
225:Keith Edmund Gavin
145:sentenced to death
1026:Murder in Alabama
842:Alabama Reflector
788:Alabama Reflector
682:. March 27, 2024.
680:Alabama Reflector
664:. March 27, 2024.
646:. March 27, 2024.
628:. March 21, 2024.
626:Alabama Reflector
610:. March 21, 2024.
592:. March 21, 2024.
518:Alabama Reflector
432:. March 21, 2024.
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110:Jamie Mills
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88:Jamie Mills
84:Convictions
69:JoAnn Mills
1000:Categories
331:References
129:Floyd Hill
968:USA Today
950:USA Today
914:USA Today
412:USA Today
349:USA Today
274:Execution
153:death row
133:Vera Hill
64:Convicted
986:CBS News
932:NBC News
824:NBC News
309:See also
261:Kay Ivey
232:Kay Ivey
106:Sentence
33:Location
74:Verdict
44:Outcome
246:Judge
136:2004.
100:Murder
78:Guilty
54:Deaths
39:, U.S.
114:Death
292:The
266:The
25:Date
572:CNN
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