Tampa Rapper Convicted of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend and Unborn Child Asks Judge to Send Him Straight to Death Row

Tampa Rapper Convicted of Killing Pregnant Girlfriend Asks Judge to Send Him Straight to Death Row

A Florida rapper convicted in the murders of his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child has taken the extraordinary step of asking a Hillsborough County judge to sentence him to death, requesting that his attorneys abandon further arguments against execution despite the legal safeguards governing capital punishment.

TAMPA, Fla. — A convicted murderer facing the possibility of execution in Florida has submitted a handwritten letter to a Hillsborough County judge asking to be sentenced to death rather than continue fighting for his life through the courts, an unusual development in a case involving the killing of a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Billy Adams, a 28 year old Tampa rapper convicted in connection with the 2023 deaths of 22 year old Alana Sims and her unborn child, is asking the court to follow a jury’s recommendation for the death penalty without allowing his defense attorneys to present additional mitigating evidence. According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Adams submitted the request after jurors voted 8-4 to recommend execution for the murder of Sims’ unborn child, a decision that meets the minimum threshold for a death recommendation under Florida law.

The handwritten letter introduces an unusual complication into the sentencing proceedings because defendants facing capital punishment typically rely on their attorneys to present evidence that could persuade a judge to impose life imprisonment instead. Although Adams has expressed his desire to receive the death penalty, the court must still independently evaluate the evidence and comply with Florida’s capital sentencing requirements before issuing a final decision.

Prosecutors Say Adams Murdered Pregnant Girlfriend to Pursue Another Relationship

The case stems from the 2023 killing of Sims, a 22 year old pregnant woman whom prosecutors say Adams shot in the back of the head as part of a calculated effort to continue a romantic relationship with another woman. According to the prosecution’s account, Adams wanted to pursue that relationship without the complications associated with Sims and her pregnancy, leading authorities to characterize the killing as deliberate and premeditated.

Investigators later determined that Adams was not the biological father of Sims’ unborn child, a detail that emerged during the investigation but did not alter the criminal charges stemming from the deaths. Prosecutors ultimately secured convictions in the case, which proceeded to a capital sentencing phase in which jurors were asked to consider whether Adams should receive life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

The prosecution attracted additional public attention because Adams had been acquitted in an unrelated double-murder case just three days before authorities charged him in connection with Sims’ killing. The earlier prosecution involved separate allegations and ended in an acquittal, meaning Adams was not legally responsible for those deaths. His subsequent arrest in the Sims case, however, placed him at the center of another homicide investigation that would ultimately result in his conviction.

Jury Votes 8-4 to Recommend Death Penalty

Following Adams’ conviction, jurors entered the penalty phase of the proceedings, where prosecutors presented arguments supporting execution and the defense had an opportunity to introduce mitigating circumstances intended to justify a life sentence. The jury ultimately voted 8-4 to recommend the death penalty for the murder of Sims’ unborn child, satisfying the minimum requirement under Florida’s revised capital sentencing law.

Florida changed its death penalty statute in 2023, eliminating the requirement that all 12 jurors unanimously recommend execution. Under the revised law, a death recommendation can be made when at least eight jurors support that punishment, provided the necessary statutory findings have been established. The change followed years of debate over whether unanimous jury recommendations should be required before the state can impose its most severe criminal penalty.

Although the jury’s recommendation carries substantial legal weight, it does not automatically result in a death sentence. Florida law requires the trial judge to independently evaluate the aggravating circumstances supporting execution and any mitigating factors that might justify life imprisonment without parole. The judge must then issue a sentencing decision consistent with the applicable legal standards, regardless of whether the defendant personally prefers one punishment over the other.

Adams Sends Handwritten Letter Asking Judge to Impose Death Sentence

In a handwritten letter submitted to the court, Adams directly requested that the judge follow the jury’s recommendation and prevent his attorneys from presenting additional arguments intended to spare his life. The request, reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, represents an unusual attempt by a capital defendant to limit the defense’s participation in the final sentencing proceedings.

“I don’t want my lawyers to present any mitigation or arguments at this hearing and I’m asking this court to sentence me to what the jury voted for,” Adams wrote.

The statement indicates that Adams wants to forgo additional efforts to persuade the judge to impose life imprisonment rather than execution. His request is particularly significant because mitigating evidence can play a decisive role in capital sentencing, allowing defense attorneys to present information about a defendant’s upbringing, family relationships, mental health, personal history and other circumstances that may influence the court’s decision.

By asking his lawyers not to introduce additional mitigation, Adams is attempting to narrow the arguments available to the court before sentencing. However, a defendant’s personal request does not automatically eliminate the judge’s obligation to consider relevant evidence, nor does it necessarily prevent attorneys from fulfilling their professional and constitutional responsibilities in a capital case.

Criminal Defense Attorney Calls Request Unusual

Tampa criminal defense attorney Anthony Rickman, who is not representing Adams, told FOX 13 that it is uncommon for defendants facing execution to request the death penalty themselves, particularly when legal opportunities remain available to argue for a lesser sentence. Rickman explained that some defendants facing the prospect of spending the rest of their lives in prison may view execution as a definitive endpoint rather than endure decades of incarceration without the possibility of release.

That explanation, however, should not be interpreted as an established account of Adams’ personal motivations. His letter expresses a preference for the death sentence but does not provide a comprehensive explanation of why he wants the court to impose it. The distinction is important because defendants may seek to abandon legal proceedings for different reasons, and the court must address the request within the framework of constitutional protections governing capital punishment.

Even if Adams receives the sentence he is requesting, execution would not necessarily occur quickly. Florida death sentences are subject to automatic review by the Florida Supreme Court, and capital defendants may pursue additional state and federal post-conviction proceedings. Those processes can extend over many years, meaning a defendant’s request for immediate sentencing does not bypass the judicial review required before an execution can take place.

December 1 Hearing Will Give Judge Final Opportunity to Review Evidence

Adams is scheduled to appear for a December 1 Spencer hearing, a proceeding held in Florida capital cases to allow the court to receive and consider additional information before imposing a final sentence. The hearing provides an opportunity for prosecutors and defense attorneys to address aggravating and mitigating circumstances beyond the evidence already presented during the jury’s penalty phase deliberations.

Despite Adams’ request, the judge remains responsible for considering the evidence relevant to sentencing, including mitigating information previously introduced by the defense. During the penalty phase, members of Adams’ family reportedly testified about his upbringing, educational achievements and personal relationships in an effort to persuade jurors that his life should be spared. That testimony included accounts from his stepmother and younger brothers, who described his academic accomplishments and family connections.

The court must determine how Adams’ handwritten request affects any additional defense presentation while ensuring that the sentencing proceedings comply with Florida law. The judge is not required to impose execution simply because the defendant wants it, and the ultimate sentence must be supported by the legal findings necessary for capital punishment.

Florida’s Death Penalty Law Adds Significance to the Case

Adams’ sentencing comes under Florida’s controversial 2023 death penalty legislation, which lowered the number of jurors required to recommend execution from 12 to eight. The law made Florida one of the states allowing a death recommendation without unanimous jury support, although jurors must still unanimously find at least one statutory aggravating factor before the death penalty can be considered.

Supporters of the revised law argued that requiring unanimous recommendations allowed a small minority of jurors to prevent death sentences even in cases involving particularly serious crimes. Opponents, including death penalty critics and advocates for criminal justice reform, have argued that reducing the required level of agreement increases the risk of inconsistent sentencing and wrongful executions, particularly given the irreversible nature of capital punishment.

The 8-4 recommendation in Adams’ case demonstrates the practical significance of the revised law. Under Florida’s previous unanimity requirement, a jury divided by that margin could not have recommended execution. Under the current statute, the recommendation is legally sufficient for the judge to consider imposing a death sentence, although the court retains the authority to impose life imprisonment without parole.

The distinction between a jury recommendation and a judicial sentence remains central to the proceedings. A death recommendation establishes that the statutory jury threshold has been satisfied, but the trial judge must still weigh the evidence and issue the final sentencing order.

Convicted Murderer’s Request Does Not End Legal Proceedings

The December 1 hearing will mark another significant stage in a prosecution that began with the 2023 deaths of Sims and her unborn child. Although Adams has now asked the court to impose the most severe punishment available under Florida law, his request does not eliminate the judicial responsibilities or appellate protections associated with a capital sentence.

If the judge imposes the death penalty, the case will proceed through the mandatory appellate review process, during which the Florida Supreme Court will examine the conviction and sentence for legal errors. Additional post-conviction proceedings may follow, depending on the issues raised and the decisions of the reviewing courts.

The unusual request has shifted attention from whether Adams’ attorneys can persuade the court to spare his life to whether a defendant facing execution can meaningfully limit the legal arguments presented on his behalf. For the court, the challenge is ensuring that the final punishment satisfies Florida law regardless of the defendant’s stated wishes.

For the family of Alana Sims, the proceedings represent another chapter in a criminal case arising from the killing of a young pregnant woman and her unborn child. The judge’s decision will determine whether Adams is sentenced to spend the remainder of his life in prison or joins Florida’s death row, where his conviction and sentence would remain subject to judicial review.

Sources & Further Reading 

• FOX 13 Tampa Bay — Original Report: Tampa Rapper Billy Adams Requests Death Sentence in Handwritten Letter
• Florida Legislature — Florida Statutes, Section 921.141: Sentence of Death or Life Imprisonment for Capital Felonies
• Death Penalty Information Center: Death Penalty Sentencing Practices and Legal Procedures