by Huntsville, Texas – A Texas man was executed Thursday for the brutal killing of his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter in a horrifying case described by the couple as an attempt to perform an “exorcism” to rid the child of a demon. Blaine Milam, 35, was put to death by lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, wrapping up a case that has stunned and saddened communities nationwide.
Milam’s execution marks one of two carried out on the same evening in the United States, further highlighting ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding capital punishment.
The Tragic Details of the Crime and Execution
On December 2008, inside a trailer in Rusk County, East Texas, Milam executed a savage assault on Amora Carson, his girlfriend’s infant daughter. Prosecutors detailed a nightmarish 30-hour period during which Milam beat Amora with a hammer, bit, strangled, and mutilated her, resulting in her death. A forensic examination revealed the infant suffered:
- Multiple skull fractures
- Broken arms, legs, and ribs
- Numerous bite marks across her body
The pathologist performing the autopsy testified he could not isolate a specific cause of death due to the extensive injuries.
Milam was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. following administration of the sedative pentobarbital. After briefly showing signs of distress, he became unresponsive and was declared deceased a few minutes later.
Legal Battles and Last Appeals
Milam’s case has been marked by intense legal back-and-forth, especially concerning the evidence used to convict him. His last appeals, rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court just hours before his execution, argued that bite mark evidence was discredited and challenged the reliability of DNA findings, while also claiming he was intellectually disabled and therefore not eligible for execution.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office countered these claims, citing previous court rulings that rejected the intellectual disability argument and emphasizing additional evidence supporting Milam’s guilt. This evidence included a confession to a nurse post-arrest and attempts to hide evidence.
“Even if bitemark and DNA evidence were excluded, there was other evidence pointing to his guilt,” the attorney general’s office stated in court documents.
Experts have increasingly questioned the scientific reliability of bite mark analysis, with a 2016 report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology declaring the practice “clearly scientifically unreliable at present.”
Understanding the Context: The Exorcism Defense and Investigation Insights
Milam and his girlfriend at the time, Jesseca Carson, both claimed the beating was part of an exorcism intended to expel a demon from the child. Carson was separately tried and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for her involvement in the killing.
Rusk County District Attorney Micheal Jimerson, who prosecuted the case, expressed deep unease about the motive and circumstances surrounding the crime:
“It’s … very hard to confront the idea that someone would derive their gratification from the torture of a baby. That is really something that diminishes all of us and it’s just a very, very hard thing to face.”
According to court records, Carson informed investigators that Milam claimed Amora was possessed because “God was tired of her lying to Milam.” Jimerson speculated the exorcism narrative was likely a guise to cover up a horrific crime.
Execution Statistics and Final Proceedings
Milam’s execution adds to the statistics of capital punishment in the United States in 2025. He was the fifth person executed in Texas this year, a state known historically as the nation’s most active in carrying out death sentences.
- Florida currently leads the nation with 12 executions this year and has two more scheduled by mid-October.
- On the same day, Geoffrey West was executed in Alabama for a 1997 fatal shooting.
- Overall, 33 death sentences have been carried out nationwide in 2025 to date.
Milam had prior execution dates scheduled in 2019 and 2021, which were stayed. His recent request for a commutation was denied by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles just days before the lethal injection.
Looking Ahead: What This Case Means for Justice and Forensic Science
The tragic case of Blaine Milam and Amora Carson continues to cast a spotlight on the challenges of capital punishment, forensic evidence reliability, and the complexities of criminal motives. As scientific assessments question traditional forensic methods such as bite mark analysis, the justice system faces pressure to evolve in how it assesses evidence and protects vulnerable victims.
As this case and others unfold, ongoing dialogue among legal experts, forensic scientists, and the public will be vital to shaping a justice system equipped to handle such profound and troubling crimes with both rigor and fairness. For further reading, see the full report at NBC News.
What do you think about this case and its implications for forensic evidence in capital punishment? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
