Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has authorized the execution of James Phillip Barnes, who confessed to the brutal 1988 rape and murder of Patricia Miller in Brevard County. Barnes, 61, is scheduled to be put to death on August 3rd. He received the death penalty in 2006 after pleading guilty to the crime.

In 2005, Barnes sent a letter to an assistant state attorney, confessing to the horrific details of Miller's murder. He described breaking into her Melbourne condominium, raping her twice, and then killing her before setting her body on fire. He was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, two counts of sexual battery with a weapon, and arson.

Miller’s case remained unsolved for a decade until 1998, when DNA evidence linked Barnes to the crime. At the time, Barnes was already serving a life sentence for the 1997 murder of his wife. He had been questioned previously in connection with Miller's death but refused to cooperate with authorities.

Barnes' confession letter was written after his conversion to Islam. He explained to prosecutors that he wanted to confess his sins while observing Ramadan. According to court documents, Barnes, who did not know Miller, entered her home through a bedroom window on April 20, 1988, and attacked her with a knife. He then raped her twice, attempted strangulation with her bathrobe belt, and ultimately delivered the fatal blow with a hammer. In a chilling attempt to cover up his crime, he tied Miller to her bed with shoelaces and set it ablaze. A medical examiner later confirmed that blunt-force trauma to the head was the cause of death. Reports indicate he was in her home for approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

During the sentencing, Judge Lisa Davidson described Miller's ordeal as "terrifying," highlighting the premeditated nature of Barnes' actions. She emphasized that Miller "knew he was going to kill her" and was powerless to resist. The judge also noted Barnes' admission that he went to Miller’s residence with the intention to murder her. The execution of Barnes will be the fifth lethal injection carried out in Florida this year.