Execution of Richard Rojem Jr.
Richard Rojem Jr., 66, was executed on June 27 for the 1985 kidnapping, rape, and murder of his ex-stepdaughter, Layla Cummings, who was seven years old at the time. As Oklahoma’s longest-serving death row inmate, Rojem received a lethal three-drug injection at 10:16 a.m. at the state prison.
Final words and last meal
Asked for any final words before his execution, Rojem replied, “I don’t. I’ve said my goodbyes.”
The night before, his last meal consisted of a Little Caesar’s pizza topped with eight sachets of salt, eight crushed red pepper packets, multiple servings of vanilla ice cream, and a large cup of ginger ale.
Details of the crime and defense
Layla Cummings’ body was found partially clothed, mutilated, and stabbed in a rural area of Burns Flat, Washita County, on July 7, 1984. Throughout his trial and subsequent appeals, Rojem maintained his innocence. His defense team argued that DNA evidence from Layla’s nails did not link him to the crime. “If my client’s DNA is not present, he should not be convicted,” stated his lawyer, Jack Fisher, during a clemency hearing earlier this month.
Statement from the victim’s family
Following Rojem’s execution, Attorney General Gentner Drummond read a statement from Layla’s mother, Mindy Lynn Cummings: “Today marks the final chapter of justice determined by three separate juries for Richard Rojem’s heinous acts nearly 40 years ago when he stole her away like the monster he was. We remember, honor, and hold her forever in our hearts as the sweet and precious 7-year-old she was.”
Rojem’s execution comes just over a year after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the execution of Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip, who was involved in a murder-for-hire scheme. This execution underscores ongoing debates about the death penalty and justice for heinous crimes.