In brief
Blaine Milam, a 35-year-old man from Texas, is scheduled for execution after being found guilty of brutally murdering his girlfriend's child under the guise of an exorcism. Despite claims of innocence and challenging the validity of his conviction, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeals. Prosecutors describe the torturous methods used in the child's death, with ongoing discussions about the reliability of the forensic evidence presented during the trial.
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas man is set to face execution on Thursday evening for the tragic murder of his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter, Amora Carson, in a case described by prosecutors as a torturous ordeal masked as an exorcism. Blaine Milam, 35, was condemned for his involvement in what authorities characterized as a sadistic attack on the child back in December 2008 in Rusk County, East Texas.Despite Milam’s claims of innocence, stating that his then-girlfriend Jesseca Carson was responsible, the evidence against him is severe. Prosecutors revealed that he beat the girl with a hammer and inflicted numerous injuries over a torturous 30-hour span. An autopsy report highlighted multiple skull fractures and broken bones, with the forensic pathologist unable to determine a single cause of death given the extent of injuries.Milam is scheduled to undergo lethal injection at the Texas state penitentiary in Huntsville, coinciding with another execution happening in Alabama. In prior statements, he insisted that Carson, who was also convicted of capital murder for her part in the abuse, claimed their daughter was possessed by evil spirits, and it was she who should be held responsible.With less than six hours before his execution, the U.S. Supreme Court declined all appeals filed by Milam's attorneys, who argued against the credibility of key forensic evidence used in the trial, including bitemark analysis, which has come under scrutiny for its reliability. His attorneys also highlighted claims of intellectual disability as a reason for ineligibility for capital punishment, although these claims have consistently been rejected in prior rulings.Prosecutors attest to the robustness of the evidence unearthed during the investigation, which includes Milam's own confessions. They argue that the actions taken reflect deliberate intent rather than mere circumstantial involvement. If his execution proceeds, Milam would become the fifth individual executed in Texas this year, a state that leads the nation in executions and remains a focal point for ongoing debates about capital punishment.
