Texas executes man who killed toddler during 30-hour exorcism

A Texas man was executed Thursday for murdering his girlfriend's 13-month-old daughter in what prosecutors described as a brutal, 30-hour "exorcism" in a trailer in Rusk County, east of Dallas. Blaine Milam, 35, was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. local time at the Huntsville Unit, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said. Milam arrived at the prison earlier in the day and appeared anxious, telling officials he had a headache, according to prison records.

Prosecutors said Milam beat Amora Carson, then subjected the child to escalating violence over the more-than-one-day ordeal, including hammer blows, strangulation, biting and other mutilation. They described skull fractures, broken bones and dozens of bite marks on the 13-month-old. Milam maintained his innocence for years, saying his then-girlfriend, Jesseca Carson, insisted the child was possessed and that he was simply following her lead. Carson later was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole. Milam's trial was moved from Rusk County to Montgomery County because of intense publicity surrounding the case, and his appeals over the years centered on disputed bite-mark evidence and questions about his intellectual disability. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately ruled the execution should proceed, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency; his execution had been delayed in prior years as those issues were litigated.

In the execution chamber, a lethal dose of pentobarbital began flowing at 6:19 p.m., witnesses said, and Milam grimaced and gasped briefly before the sounds and movement ceased about two minutes later. He was pronounced dead roughly 21 minutes after the drug began to flow. Milam's final words were a statement of faith and gratitude for supporters and for faith-based programs offered to death row inmates. He said, "If any of you would like to see me again, I implore all of you, no matter who you are, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and we will meet again." He added, "I love you all. Bring me home, Jesus."

Milam's case was among several Texas death-row prosecutions that have drawn heightened attention because of the so-called exorcism claim. The defense had long argued against bite-mark evidence and raised questions about Milam's intellectual functioning; those challenges contributed to multiple delays in earlier attempts to set an execution date. His supporters and the prison chaplaincy service had publicly emphasized Milam's faith and the role of religious programs on death row, a point Milam himself referenced in his remarks.

The defendant's death marks another entry in Texas' status as the state with the most executions in the United States. Texas officials and proponents of the death penalty argue that capital punishment serves as a deterrent and provides justice for victims' families, while critics say the system is prone to error and concerns over intellectual disability and coercive testimony in some cases.

Milam's execution followed previous attempts in 2019 and 2021 to set a date, both of which were halted as courts reviewed claims related to the reliability of bite-mark evidence and Milam's intellectual disability. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately allowed the execution to proceed, and the clemency request was denied by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The case has been cited in debates over how the justice system handles mental health and forensic evidence in capital cases.

Texas remains the nation's leader in executions, a fact cited by supporters who say the state must aggressively pursue justice for the victims of brutal crimes. Opponents, however, continue to challenge the use of the death penalty and to advocate for reforms to prevent wrongful convictions and ensure due process in capital trials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Fox News Digital also contributed to this report.