Convicted Murderer Requests Death Sentence in Tampa Court
Billy Adams waived his right to mitigation arguments following his conviction for the murders of Alana Sims and her unborn child.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Violence
Convicted murderer Billy Adams, 28, has formally requested a death sentence in a letter to the judge presiding over his case. Adams was found guilty by a jury for the 2023 murders of 22-year-old Alana Sims and her unborn child.
Why it matters
The request follows the jury's 8 to 4 vote recommending a death sentence for the murder of the unborn child. Adams has further waived his right to present mitigation arguments, which typically serve to advocate for a life sentence instead of capital punishment.
A jury voted 8 to 4 in favor of a death sentence for the murder of the unborn child after convicting Billy Adams, 28, of the 2023 killings of Alana Sims and her child. A Spencer hearing is currently scheduled for December 1 to finalize the sentence.
The players
Billy Adams
He is the 28-year-old defendant convicted of the murders of Alana Sims and her unborn child.
Alana Sims
She was a 22-year-old woman who was murdered along with her unborn child in 2023.
The details
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Adams killed 22-year-old Alana Sims as part of a plan to be with a different girlfriend. Despite previous acquittal in a separate double murder case, Adams now faces sentencing for the deaths of Sims and her unborn child, who was not his.
Timeline
Billy Adams murdered Alana Sims and her unborn child in 2023.
A jury convicted Billy Adams of the murders in September 2026.
The Spencer hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2026.
Legal Context
This case follows the Florida Spencer hearing process, which provides a procedural window for judges to weigh mitigating evidence before issuing a final sentence. It reflects the state's rigorous capital punishment requirements following a jury's sentencing recommendation.
The high-profile nature of this murder trial and the subsequent sentencing phase draws significant attention to the local judicial process in Hillsborough County. Residents are advised that the final sentencing date will be determined by the court following the December hearing.
The takeaway
The court must weigh the defendant's request for capital punishment against the statutory requirements for sentencing hearings. This case underscores the complexity of judicial proceedings when a defendant seeks to waive their rights to traditional mitigation strategies.
What happens next
A Spencer hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, where the judge will consider mitigating factors before issuing a final sentence.
Further reading
Read more about regional legal developments in the Tampa Violence section.
