DA Says Murder Suspect Should Have Still Been Behind Bars
HENDERSON — The man charged with beating to death a toddler during an “exorcism” earlier this week in Rusk County was supposed to be behind bars at the time as part of a condition of probation for the second-degree felony criminal solicitation of a child.
Couple Charged With Beating Infant To Death With HammerAccording to court documents obtained by the Tyler Morning Telegraph, 19-year-old Blaine Milam was sentenced by State District Judge Clay Gossett to 180 days in jail as part of the probation conditions agreed upon on Aug. 22. That sentence, if followed, would have had Milam behind bars until February.
Those conditions also prohibited him from being around children except his own biological children or siblings.
Officials also confirmed that Milam had failed to register as a sex offender in Rusk County and had not changed his previous address from Longview.
Milam and 18-year-old Jesseca Carson are jailed on $2 million bonds for the beating death of her 13-month-old daughter Amora. Carson has told authorities Milam killed her daughter while performing an exorcism to “beat out the demons.”
Rusk County District Attorney Michael Jimerson and Gossett both told the newspaper that anytime a sentence is ordered as part of a probation agreement, the confinement period is to be served before the person began their probation.
“It is what we refer to as upfront time,” Jimerson said.
Neither man would comment on the specifics of the baby’s death, but did say one could conclude that Milam should not have been out on the streets at the time of the murder and should have been behind bars.
Rusk County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Darryl Norris said records indicate Milam served 48 days on work release, meaning Milam went to work each day, but was locked up in the Rusk County Jail each night.
Gossett said he allowed Milam to participate in the work release program, but also expected the 180 days to be served.
Instead, Milam only served the 48 days and then walked out of the jail and never returned.
[…]Another breakdown in the system was the fact that Milam had moved into Rusk County and no one knew he was there.
[…]Additionally, no one knew Milam and Carson were living together, and that she had a 13-month-old daughter from another relationship.
[…]The Morning Telegraph also has gathered new details about the crime for which Milam received the 180 days in jail and the five years of probation and why he was ordered to register as a sex offender.
William Brown, Rusk County District Attorney investigator, said in March 2007 Milam broke into a home in his own neighborhood.
Once inside the home, he made his way into the bedroom of a girl who was just 13 at the time and went through her things.
“He went through her underwear drawer and then took adult magazine pictures he cut out and wrote obscene notes on the pictures telling her how he would like to perform each act with her,” he said.
Brown said when the family came home, they found Milam had been in the house, discovered the pictures and called law enforcement.
Brown said Milam subsequently was charged with criminal solicitation of a minor and never had any physical contact with the child.
[…]Milam and Carson now face capital murder charges, and Jimerson told the newspaper Thursday that the death penalty is being contemplated.
Brown and other lawmen say the murder scene was horrific, and the items found in the area of the child’s body were odd.
Brown said he pulled a charred New Testament Bible from the fireplace, and investigators found scores of horror movies — some of which were about a maniacal demon-possessed doll named “Chucky.”
Officials have said Carson told them Milam was performing an exorcism that went badly and then the two drove to Henderson to pawn some items to afford a priest to exorcise the child.
However, investigators said the child was already dead when the two left the home on their trip to the pawn shop.
Brown said Carson has referred to her daughter being “Chucky-like.”
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