Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement following the execution of Jamie Mills at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. The execution commenced at 6:12 p.m. CT, and Mills was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. CT.
In June 2004, Floyd and Vera Hill resided in Guin, Alabama. Floyd, an 87-year-old man, cared for his 72-year-old wife Vera, who required several medications due to her poor health. The couple was known for holding yard sales and Floyd often carried large sums of money.
Jamie Mills lived nearby with his common-law wife JoAnn. Unemployed at the time, Mills had previously worked at a local Amoco gas station frequented by Floyd Hill. On June 23, 2004, after staying up all night smoking methamphetamine, Mills and JoAnn decided to rob the Hills.
Mills was familiar to Floyd Hill and was allowed into their home to make phone calls. While JoAnn and Vera were looking at items stored for a yard sale in a shed outside the house, Mills remained inside with Floyd. A loud noise drew JoAnn back to find that Mills had attacked Floyd with a hammer. He then struck Vera when she rushed to help her husband.
The couple stole various items from the house including Vera’s medication tackle box, her purse, Floyd’s wallet, a phone, and a police scanner amounting to $140 in value.
The Hills' granddaughter alerted police after being unable to reach them by phone later that evening. An officer found the couple in their shed; while Vera was still alive but severely injured, Floyd had already succumbed to his wounds.
Investigators quickly identified Jamie Mills as a suspect based on witness accounts of his vehicle near the crime scene. A search of Mills’ car and residence uncovered significant evidence including blood-splattered items belonging to the Hills and tools used in the attack.
Floyd Hill died from blunt- and sharp-force injuries inflicted on his head and neck while Vera sustained severe brain injuries among other traumas before passing away less than twelve weeks later due to complications from her injuries.
At trial, overwhelming evidence led to Jamie Mills’ conviction for capital murder by a jury of his peers who recommended the death sentence subsequently imposed by the court.