Mother Convicted in Daughter’s “Exorcism” Death

HENDERSON (AP) – A 20-year-old East Texas woman gets an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole after a jury convicted her of capital murder in the sexual assault and beating death of her infant daughter. A Rusk County jury found Jesseca Carson guilty Wednesday of capital murder in the December 2008 death of her 13-month-old daughter, Amora. Carson’s boyfriend, Blaine Milam, has been sent to death row for capital murder in the death, which Carson believed was an exorcism. Prosecutors didn’t seek a death sentence for Carson, saying she encouraged, promoted or assisted in the crime. Defense attorney Don Killingsworth told jurors that Milam dominated Carson, convincing her that a demon dwelled inside her daughter. Killingsworth said Carson thought Milam was helping her child and didn’t think he would hurt her.