OK - Layla Dawn Cummings, 7, murdered & raped by step-father in 1984, execution date set for death row inmate, Richard Rojem, 27 Jun 2024

[imstilla.grandma]

An execution date has been set for death row inmate Richard Rojem.

He was convicted of first-degree murder in Washita County for the 1984 murder and rape of his 7-year-old step-daughter, Layla Dawn Cummings.

He's been incarcerated for nearly four decades and is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 10 a.m. June 27 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

Execution date set for Oklahoma man after nearly 40 years on death row

An execution date has been set for death row inmate Richard Rojem.He was convicted for first-degree murder in Washita County for the 1984 murder and rape of his

okcfox.com

*original article:
Authorities have said they think 7-year-old Layla was abducted from her bed early July 7 as she and her 9-year-old brother slept alone in the family's Elk City apartment. The children's mother had left them alone to work the late shift at a local fast food restaurant.

A motel night clerk, who had been asked to watch the small apartment across the road, discovered Layla was missing when he went over to see why an outdoor light had been turned off. Authorities said the apartment door could not be locked.

Later that morning, Layla was found in her mother's nightgown in a field near Foss, stabbed several times, possibly with a hunting knife, authorities said. Investigators also say they believe she was raped, although laboratory evidence has not proved conclusive.

Ex-Stepdad Jailed In Child's Slaying

The man authorities said they had suspected from the beginning the former stepfather of Layla Dawn Cummings was arrested near here Friday in connection with the July 7 abduction and stabbing death of…

www.oklahoman.com

Article clipped from Okmulgee Daily Times

Clipping found in Okmulgee Daily Times published in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on 2/26/2006.

www.newspapers.com

 

[modesty blaise]

What evidence did they have against this person?
I tried looking it up but saw no case details.

 

[fsngruv]

Graphic warning

Rojem v. State | Cases | Westlaw

View on Westlaw or start a FREE TRIAL today, Rojem v. State, Cases

content.next.westlaw.com

Richard Norman Rojem, Petitioner-appellee/ Cross-appellant, v. Gary Gibson, Warden, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Respondent-appellant/ Cross-appellee, 245 F.3d 1130 (10th Cir. 2001)

Richard Norman Rojem, Petitioner-appellee/ Cross-appellant, v. Gary Gibson, Warden, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Respondent-appellant/ Cross-appellee, 245 F.3d 1130 (10th Cir. 2001) case opinion from the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

law.justia.com

 

[Palisades]

Graphic warning

Rojem v. State | Cases | Westlaw

View on Westlaw or start a FREE TRIAL today, Rojem v. State, Cases

content.next.westlaw.com

Richard Norman Rojem, Petitioner-appellee/ Cross-appellant, v. Gary Gibson, Warden, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Respondent-appellant/ Cross-appellee, 245 F.3d 1130 (10th Cir. 2001)

Richard Norman Rojem, Petitioner-appellee/ Cross-appellant, v. Gary Gibson, Warden, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Respondent-appellant/ Cross-appellee, 245 F.3d 1130 (10th Cir. 2001) case opinion from the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

law.justia.com

Thank you - that is a lot of proof against Layla’s EX-stepfather - her mother divorced him 2 months before the murder.

 

[bombardier]

not specific to this case, but it pisses me off that, if the death penalty is approved for a prisoner, it takes DECADES for it to go ahead. so...the person spent their healthiest 'best' years alive albeit in state custody*. as soon as they get old enough that their quality of life may be going down, and the cost of housing them + medical care would increase for the prison... the lethal injection goes ahead. im iffy on the DP in general (mostly due to possibility of false convictions) but if its supposed to be punitive, i dont understand the system.
* one could argue that spending a lifetime in custody is the punishment. in that case, why pursue the DP at all...

 

[wendybtn]

not specific to this case, but it pisses me off that, if the death penalty is approved for a prisoner, it takes DECADES for it to go ahead. so...the person spent their healthiest 'best' years alive albeit in state custody*. as soon as they get old enough that their quality of life may be going down, and the cost of housing them + medical care would increase for the prison... the lethal injection goes ahead. im iffy on the DP in general (mostly due to possibility of false convictions) but if its supposed to be punitive, i dont understand the system.
* one could argue that spending a lifetime in custody is the punishment. in that case, why pursue the DP at all...

Thirty years later is not punitive at all.

 

[lemonsoncake]

Thirty years later is not punitive at all.

40 yrs.

 

[lemonsoncake]

...

 

[lemonsoncake]

Quite alot.

 

[wendybtn]

40 yrs.

Either one.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"I have become weary all these years pressing against that prison door trying to keep him in," Vicky Cummings, Layla's aunt, said. "Having to relive and reiterate this horror time and time again"

Over the past four decades, three different juries have sentenced Rojem to death, but the first two convictions were overturned due to jury errors.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Rojem is a "real-life monster who deserves the same absence of mercy he showed to the child he savagely murdered."

"An innocent man doesn't ever plead guilty to a crime he hasn't committedm," Rojem said. "The reason for that is obvious, if there's justice to be had, it won't be had."

Rojem was unanimously denied clemency in June, and now his execution is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Executed After 40 Years Of Incarceration

After 40 years of imprisonment, the State of Oklahoma executed Death Row inmate Richard Rojem on Thursday for the 1984 kidnapping, rape, and murder of his 7-year-old stepdaughter.

www.newson6.com

'Forever 7': Grieving family of murdered Oklahoma girl eager for execution 40 years later

The family of 7-year-old Layla Cummings has been counting down the days until her ex-stepfather, Richard Rojem Jr., is executed for murdering her in 1984.

www.usatoday.com

 

[ms_x_to_the_m]

not specific to this case, but it pisses me off that, if the death penalty is approved for a prisoner, it takes DECADES for it to go ahead. so...the person spent their healthiest 'best' years alive albeit in state custody*. as soon as they get old enough that their quality of life may be going down, and the cost of housing them + medical care would increase for the prison... the lethal injection goes ahead. im iffy on the DP in general (mostly due to possibility of false convictions) but if its supposed to be punitive, i dont understand the system.
* one could argue that spending a lifetime in custody is the punishment. in that case, why pursue the DP at all...

The whole concept of appeals is to make sure that an innocent person is not sentenced for a crime that they did not commit. Some cases are more convincing than others. At the end of the day, one innocent person in jail or executed, is one too many. And sadly many time a innocent person admits to a crime they did not committed. Regardless of the details, it happens.The system is blind, at the end of the day it is there to limit the amount of innocent people persecuted/punish for crimes that they did not commit.
I am not sure how someone's quality goes down while being in prison. I mean unless they are diagnosed with a debilitating disease, their life is really not that great. Some death row imates are in their cell 23 hours a day. Whether they are young and fit or old and frail, that doesn't change. They are given the base necessities. They are not living the great life.

 

[Deleted member 326769]

Thank god it’s done

Oklahoma executes Richard Rojem Jr. in ex-stepdaughter's murder: 'Final chapter of justice'

Richard Rojem Jr., 66, was executed in Oklahoma for the murder, kidnapping and rape of his ex-stepdaughter, Layla Cummings, in July of 1984.

www.usatoday.com

 

[tlcya]

Laya's mother, Mindy Lynn Cummings, witnessed Rojem's execution, and said in a statement, "Today marks the final chapter of justice."

"Today, as we near the anniversary of Layla-Dawn's horrific death on July 7th, we remember, honor, and hold her forever in our hearts as the sweet and precious 7-year-old she was," Cummings' statement reads.

Layla Cummings
In the statement, Cummings called Rojem's actions "heinous" and said he stole Layla "away like the monster he was."

"He deserved nothing less than today's final justice for the savage, barbaric, and torturous acts of suffering he inflicted upon Layla-Dawn before then ending her life," according to the statement.
Oklahoma executes Richard Rojem Jr. in ex-stepdaughter's murder: 'Final chapter of justice'

May Mindy at long last feel some peace in her heart, knowing that man is finally dead.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"Justice for Layla Cummings was finally served this morning with the execution of the monster responsible for her rape and murder," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond wrote on X. "My prayer is that today's action brings a sense of comfort to those who loved her."

Rojem's official time of death was 10:16 a.m.

A family statement by Mindy Lynn Cummings said, "Today, as we near the anniversary of Layla-Dawn's horrific death on July 7, we remember, honor, and hold her forever in our hearts as the sweet and precious 7-year-old she was. 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. He deserved nothing less than today's final justice for the savage, barbaric, and torturous acts of suffering he inflicted upon Layla-Dawn before then ending her life."

The family statement added, "Today, we also honor the memory of Layla and Jason's father, Don Cummings, who is not with us today due to the absolute evil of a monster who purposely tormented him to the brink of despair that ended his life. Despite the tragic loss of their father and the lasting impact of his loss to us and all who loved him, the unimaginable pain and suffering endured by Layla's then surviving 9-year-old brother, and to me -- her mother, today is a solemn reminder that justice must prevail for Layla alone."

Oklahoma executes convicted child murderer Richard Rojem Jr. - UPI.com

Oklahoma executed convicted child murderer Richard Rojem Jr. Thursday by lethal injection for the 1984 rape and murder of 7-year-old Layla Cummings. Rojem was her ex-stepfather.

www.upi.com

 

[rosesfromangels]

What took them so long. He should have been in the diamond lane for his trip to haedes.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[lonetraveler]

not specific to this case, but it pisses me off that, if the death penalty is approved for a prisoner, it takes DECADES for it to go ahead. so...the person spent their healthiest 'best' years alive albeit in state custody*. as soon as they get old enough that their quality of life may be going down, and the cost of housing them + medical care would increase for the prison... the lethal injection goes ahead. im iffy on the DP in general (mostly due to possibility of false convictions) but if its supposed to be punitive, i dont understand the system.
* one could argue that spending a lifetime in custody is the punishment. in that case, why pursue the DP at all...

I approve of the death penalty but the biggest problem I have with it is that it takes entirely too long to carry out the execution. In the cases where a child is murdered, the death penalty should be mandatory. JMO

 

[wendybtn]

I approve of the death penalty but the biggest problem I have with it is that it takes entirely too long to carry out the execution. In the cases where a child is murdered, the death penalty should be mandatory. JMO

40 years later is too long to make the death penalty a deterrent. Two years is long enough.

 

[lonetraveler]

40 years later is too long to make the death penalty a deterrent. Two years is long enough.

I totally agree. I was going to say 5 years at the most, but now I like your answer better. I can't think of any reason that this murderer should have been breathing 40 years after being convicted.