An Alabama man convicted of murdering an elderly couple in 2004 was executed by lethal injection on Thursday night.

Jamie Ray Mills, 50, had spent 20 years behind bars for the killings of Floyd and Vera Hill in Guin. He was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. after a three-drug injection at a state prison in Atmore.

A federal court rejected Mills’ last-minute appeal on Tuesday, and his attorneys asked the Supreme Court to intervene on Wednesday.

Mills had claimed he was innocent and argued he received an unfair trial. His wife, JoAnn Mills, was the key witness against him. She later pleaded guilty to murder charges and was sentenced to life in prison.

Attorneys for Mills claimed JoAnn Mills cut a plea deal before trial but did not inform the court. Prosecutors have maintained there was never a deal with JoAnn Mills.

“Prosecutors obtained his conviction illegally by falsely telling the judge and jury they had not made a deal with the State’s star witness,” the Equal Justice Initiative wrote on its website.

The Millses went to the Hills’ home in Guin, about 70 miles northwest of Birmingham, on the night of June 24, 2004. Floyd Hill, 87, and Vera Hill, 72, let them in to use the phone.

At the home, Jamie Mills attacked the couple with a machete, a hammer and a tire iron. Floyd was pronounced dead at the scene, while Vera died from her injuries about 12 weeks later.

Mills then stole several items, including $140 from Floyd Hill’s wallet and a tacklebox with prescription medication.

Police captured Jamie and JoAnn Mills the following day. They were leaving their home wearing blood-stained clothes and transporting the murder weapons in the trunk of their car.

A jury convicted Jamie Mills of capital murder and voted 11-1 to sentence him to death.

He was the first person to be executed in Alabama since January, when the state killed Kenneth Eugene Smith using nitrogen gas, a first in U.S. history.

With News Wire Services

Alabama softball is back in the Women’s College World Series for the second straight season and for the 15th time in program history.

The No. 14 seeded Crimson Tide (38-18) will take on No. 6 UCLA (42-10) at 11 a.m. CT Thursday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the first game of the 2024 WCWS. Riley Valentine helped Alabama upset No. 3 Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional after dropping Game 1 of the super regional to advance.

MORE: Watch Alabama vs. UCLA in the NCAA Softball Tournament WCWS with Fubo (free trial)

Valentine opened the winner-take-all Game 3 between the two rivals with a two-out, first-inning grand slam in the Crimson Tide’s 4-1 victory over rival Tennessee despite a lengthy rain delay. Alabama dropped the series opener but kept their season alive with a record-14-inning win over the Vols to even the series in Game 1. The Crimson Tide had lost four straight SEC series before the victory.

The Bruins enter the WCWS as winners of 13 straight, including winning the final Pac-12 softball tournament and the Los Angeles Regional and Super Regionals. UCLA swept No. 11 Georgia 8-0 and 6-1 to advance to its 36th World Series berth. The Bruins have won a NCAA-record 12 national championships.

Here’s what you need to know on how to watch Alabama take on UCLA in the Women’s College World Series of the NCAA Softball Tournament on Thursday:

What channel is Alabama vs. UCLA softball on today?

Alabama and UCLA softball will kick off the Women’s College World Series and ESPN will broadcast the game. The game can also be streamed on the ESPN app or Fubo, which carries ESPN networks and offers a free trial to select users.

The “voice of college softball,” Beth Mowins, will handle the play-by-play, and multiple-time All-American softball players Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza will serve as analysts, with Holly Rowe serving as the sideline reporter for ESPN.

REQUIRED READING: Alabama softball adds home run hitter from transfer portal as it heads to WCWS

What time does Alabama vs. UCLA softball start today?

• Date: Thursday, May 30
• Time: 11 a.m. CT

Alabama and UCLA will square off in the first game of the Women’s College World Series, part of the 2024 NCAA Softball Tournament, on Thursday, May 30, at 11 p.m. CT at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

Alabama 2024 softball schedule

Below is the full schedule for the WCWS, including start times and TV information. To view the Crimson Tide’s full 2024 softball schedule, click here.

All times Central.

REQUIRED READING: What is Patrick Murphy’s NCAA Softball Tournament record? Alabama softball coach in 25th postseason

Women’s College World Series Schedule

Thursday, May 30

• Game 1: 6-seed UCLA vs. 14-seed Alabama | 11 a.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Game 2: 2-seed Oklahoma vs. 10-seed Duke | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Game 3: 1-seed Texas vs. 8-seed Stanford | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Game 4: 4-seed Florida vs. 5-seed Oklahoma State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Friday, May 31

• Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Game 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Saturday, June 1

• Game 7: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 2 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
• Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Sunday, June 2

• Game 9: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7 | 2 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
• Game 10: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8 | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

Monday, June 3

• Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 11 a.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Game 12 (If necessary): Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Game 13: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
• Game 14 (If necessary): Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)

Women’s College World Series Championship Schedule

Wednesday, June 5

• Game 1: Winner of Game 11/12 vs. Winner of Game 13/14 | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Thursday, June 6

• Game 2: Winner of Game 11/12 vs. Winner of Game 13/14 | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

Thursday, June 6

• Game 3 (If necessary): Winner of Game 11/12 vs. Winner of Game 13/14 | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)

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