BROOKHAVEN, GA – A man who violently attacked a Brookhaven couple in their home and left the husband with serious injuries has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison, following a jury conviction on multiple felony charges.

Jimmy David Mills, 60, was found guilty of first-degree home invasion, aggravated assault, possession of a knife during the commission of certain felonies, and criminal trespass, stemming from a September 2020 incident that shook a quiet suburban neighborhood. This week, a DeKalb County judge handed down a sentence of life plus 26 years to be served consecutively.

Authorities say Mills broke into a residence on North Druid Hills Drive NE on the afternoon of September 17, 2020. Surveillance footage captured him entering the home while the couple who lived there, along with their baby, were inside. The wife placed her baby down for a nap and took her phone into the bathroom to monitor the child. While showering, she received an alert from her home security app warning that the back door had opened.

As she called out from the bathroom, Mills ignored her pleas and entered, questioning whether she was alone. Her screams, loud enough to pierce through her husband’s noise-canceling headphones, brought him running to her defense.

A confrontation broke out when the husband demanded Mills leave the premises. When Mills refused, a physical struggle spilled from the bathroom into the kitchen. There, authorities say Mills pulled a knife, prompting the husband to grab a bat in defense.

The fight escalated with Mills stabbing the husband in the stomach and face and slashing his arms. Despite his injuries, the husband managed to counter with the bat, striking Mills at least once in an attempt to fend him off.

According to investigators, Mills then fled the scene, discarding his weapon as he ran and leaving a bloody trail through the house and out the back door. He tried to seek help by ringing the doorbell at a nearby house, but the homeowner, seeing blood on his chest, kept the door shut.

Shortly after, a motorist flagged down officers searching the area and reported seeing a shirtless man leaping over a wall and carrying something. Police followed the lead and quickly located Mills clutching his own bloody shirt, leading to his arrest without further incident.

Both the mother and the baby escaped physical harm, but the father suffered significant wounds. Emergency responders treated his injuries, and he later recounted the harrowing ordeal in court, detailing how close the attacker came to causing fatal injuries.

Prosecutors emphasized the terrifying nature of the home invasion and the long-lasting psychological trauma it caused the family. Officials say swift action by law enforcement ensured Mills was apprehended before he could pose a threat to others.

Mills was sentenced immediately following his conviction in DeKalb County Superior Court. The consecutive nature of the sentence ensures he will remain in custody for the remainder of his life.