Bio

William “Billy” Mitchell was born in 1952. Before the murder of Christopher Carr, Mitchell had already spent time in prison and had a criminal background. By 1974, Mitchell was involved in violent crimes and robberies. He was also connected to another killing of a 50-year-old man before the IGA store robbery.

Mitchell’s death sentence came from the August 11, 1974 murder of 14-year-old Christopher Carr during an armed robbery at a grocery store in Worth County, Georgia. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death.

Murder Story

On the morning of August 11, 1974, Mrs. James Carr and her 14-year-old son, Christopher Carr, opened IGA Store Number 13 in Worth County, Georgia. About fifteen minutes later, William “Billy” Mitchell entered the store. He walked near the drink box, then returned to the checkout counter, pulled a pistol, pointed it at Mrs. Carr, and demanded money.

Mrs. Carr gave Mitchell $150 from the cash register. Mitchell also demanded her personal money, and she gave him $15 from her purse. He also took money from Christopher. After the robbery, Mitchell ordered Mrs. Carr and Christopher to go to the back of the store.

Mitchell forced them through the meat room toward the cooler. He first pushed Christopher into the cooler area, then threatened Mrs. Carr and forced her inside with her son. Both were ordered onto the floor.

Mitchell then shot Christopher Carr in the chest. He also shot Mrs. Carr in the back of the head. He briefly left the cooler, then returned and shot Christopher again, this time in the back of the head. He also shot Mrs. Carr several more times. Christopher died from the shooting. Mrs. Carr survived despite serious injuries and later testified against Mitchell.

After the shootings, two young boys entered the main part of the store. Mitchell pointed his gun at one of them and pulled the trigger several times, but the gun did not fire. He took money from one of the boys, forced them toward the cooler room, again tried to fire the gun, and then left the store.

Mitchell was captured later that same day. Federal appellate records state that he gave two confessions after being taken into custody. He later pleaded guilty to Christopher Carr’s murder.

On November 5, 1974, Mitchell pleaded guilty to murder in Worth County, Georgia. The sentencing judge found aggravating circumstances because the murder happened during an armed robbery and involved aggravated battery. Mitchell was sentenced to death.

Mitchell appealed his death sentence, but the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in 1975. He later pursued state and federal habeas corpus relief. The Eleventh Circuit also rejected his later claims, including arguments about ineffective assistance of counsel and his mental condition.

William “Billy” Mitchell was executed by electrocution in Georgia on September 2, 1987. He was 35 years old. Georgia execution listings identify Christopher Carr as the victim connected to his death sentence.