Strapped to the gurney, an IV in his arm, convicted death row killer Jamie Mills mouthed three final words before lethal injection drugs raced into his system and snuffed out his life.
"I love you," he mouthed to his family, who were watching the ordeal from a window in a witness room inside the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, a small city bordering the Florida panhandle that's about 52 miles (83.7km) northeast of Mobile. He also gave them a thumbs-up.
Mills, 50, was convicted of bludgeoning to death an elderly couple approximately 20 years ago and stealing prescription drugs and $140 from their home in a violent burglary. He was pronounced dead at 6.26pm local time after a three-drug injection, the authorities confirmed, becoming the second Alabama death row inmate to be executed this year after the nitrogen execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in late January — the first-ever execution of its kind.
READ MORE: Death row killer who murdered elderly couple to steal prescription drugs put to death
When asked to give a final statement before his death, Mills said: "I love my family. I love my brother and sister. I couldn't ask for more." As he said the words, he looked in their direction. He also thanked his defence attorney, Charlotte Morrison of the Equal Justice Initiative, stating: "Charlotte, you fought hard for me."
He then simply said: "I love y'all. Carry on." Then, the drugs flowed into his system, putting him to sleep quickly before killing him as a spiritual advisor prayed at the man's feet during the entire ordeal.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement: "Tonight, two decades after he committed these murders, Jamie Mills has paid the price for his heinous crime. I pray for the victims and their loved ones as they continue to grieve."
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Hours before that, the US Supreme Court declined to step in on the case, even after attorneys for Mills argued that new evidence showed the prosecution lied about arranging a plea agreement with Mills' wife to spare her from seeking the death penalty if she agreed to testify against her husband.
Her testimony played a large role in the trial, eventually leading to his conviction. Mills' lawyers argued that Alabama has a history of problematic executions as well, citing botched executions in recent years, like the first attempt at killing Smith in late 2022, when executioners failed to find a suitable vein for the drugs, digging around his arm for several minutes, leaving nasty scars on his arms.
Mills was sentenced to death in the capital murders of Floyd Hill, 87, and his wife, Vera Hill, 72, in Guin, a small city about 80 miles (130km) northeast of Birmingham, in 2004. He also allegedly stole $140 and prescription drugs from them — he had struggled with drug addiction.
Hill had been the primary caregiver for his diabetic wife, who was in poor health, and kept her medications in a tackle box in the kitchen. He regularly held yard sales to supplement their income.
Their deaths were discovered after their granddaughter couldn't reach them. When police officers arrived for a welfare check, they reportedly found blood in the backyard shed. Floyd died from blunt- and sharp-force wounds to his head and neck, while Vera died 12 weeks later after suffering complications from head trauma, according to the attorney general's office.
According to prosecutors, Mills and his wife arrived at the couple's home, where he attacked them with a hammer, tire tool and machete, ultimately killing them. Mills has maintained his innocence, but the jury in his 2007 trial found him guilty.
Before his execution on Thursday, Mills was visited by family members, including his sister and brother and their spouses, who witnessed the execution. He was also visited by his spiritual adviser and his attorney. His last meal consisted of seafood from local restaurants.