A man from Texas was executed on Thursday for the murder of his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter during an alleged “exorcism” to rid the child of a demon.

Blaine Milam, aged 35, was declared dead at 6:40 pm local time after receiving a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. Milam had been on death row for the killing of toddler Amora Rose in his trailer in East Texas in December 2008.

Before his execution, Milam expressed gratitude to his supporters and the prison chaplaincy for providing faith-based programs to death row inmates.

As the lethal dose was administered, Milam made a final statement urging everyone to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. He peacefully passed away after a few minutes.

In a separate execution on the same day, Geoffrey West was put to death in Alabama by nitrogen gas for fatally shooting a gas station employee during a robbery in 1997. These executions brought the total number of death sentences carried out in the US this year to 33.

Milam had accused his then-girlfriend, Jesseca Carson, of the murder, claiming she believed the child was possessed by a demon. Carson was tried separately and sentenced to life in prison without parole for her involvement.

Prosecutors revealed that Milam brutally attacked the child over a 30-hour period, causing severe injuries with evidence like a pipe wrench linking him to the crime.

An autopsy conducted by a forensic pathologist showed that the child had extensive injuries, including multiple fractures and bite marks, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of death.

Rusk County District Attorney Micheal Jimerson, who witnessed the execution, emphasized the importance of seeking justice for the most vulnerable in society.

Milam’s execution marked the fifth in Texas this year, a state known for its high rate of capital punishment. The Supreme Court rejected Milam’s final appeals just hours before the execution took place.