Alabama executed Jamie Ray Mills on Thursday, marking the first execution in the state since Kenneth Smith’s death by nitrogen hypoxia in January.
Mills, 50, was declared dead at 6:26 p.m. following a three-drug injection at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, according to the state’s Department of Corrections.
Lethal injection is Alabama’s default execution method unless the inmate opts for nitrogen gas or the electric chair.
Mills was convicted for the 2004 murder of an elderly couple in northwestern Alabama.
Gov. Kay Ivey authorized a 30-hour window for the execution, from 12 a.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday, with the execution estimated to start at around 6 p.m. on Thursday.
On May 29 and 30, Mills had visitors, phone calls, accepted breakfast, and had a final meal of seafood, according to the Department of Corrections.
A 2007 Alabama jury convicted Mills for the murders of 87-year-old Floyd Hill and 72-year-old Vera Hill.
Two others, JoAnn Mills and Benjie Howe, were also found guilty.
Prosecutors claimed Jamie Mills and JoAnn Mills planned to rob the Hills for money and prescription pills.
The weapons were found in Mills’ car, with DNA evidence linking them to the crime. Mills’ wife’s testimony was crucial for the prosecution.
JoAnn Mills initially suggested Howe framed them but later became the prosecution’s key witness.
Controversy arose over whether she was incentivized to testify against her husband. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after a deal with the district attorney to avoid the death penalty if she testified truthfully.
Mills maintained his innocence and filed motions to reopen his appeal, citing issues with Alabama’s execution procedures.
Eleventh Circuit Judge Nancy G. Abudu acknowledged the plea deal but ruled in favor of the state. Mills appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court but was denied.
Mills raised concerns about the execution process, citing Alabama’s history of botched executions.
Judge Abudu noted Mills’ fear of being placed on the execution gurney without updates but stated the state would return him to a holding cell if a stay was granted and had taken steps to minimize delays.
