Oklahoma carried out the execution of Richard Rojem Jr., 66, on Thursday for the 1984 rape and murder of his 7-year-old ex-stepdaughter, Layla Cummings. The execution took place at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, where Rojem was pronounced dead at 10:16 a.m. by lethal injection.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed relief and a sense of justice following the execution. “Justice for Layla Cummings was finally served this morning with the execution of the monster responsible for her rape and murder,” Drummond wrote on X. “My prayer is that today’s action brings a sense of comfort to those who loved her.”
Layla’s family also released a statement, reflecting on the nearly 40-year journey to justice. Mindy Lynn Cummings, Layla’s mother, 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 also honored the memory of Layla’s father, Don Cummings, who took his own life in 1985, tormented by the loss of his daughter. “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,” the statement read.
The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) responded to the execution, reiterating their stance against capital punishment. “No state has the right to carry out the death penalty. The death penalty is immoral because the intentional killing of human beings by their government is immoral. The death penalty is unjust because it is irreversible. And, the death penalty is ineffective because it does not deter crime,” the coalition stated. They emphasized that there is no data supporting the notion that capital punishment deters crime and argued that Oklahoma is not safer because of its use of the death penalty.
Rojem’s case has been a long and complex one. He was initially convicted of Layla’s murder in 1985 and sentenced to death. However, jury errors led to the overturning of his convictions in 2001 and 2006. He was ultimately sentenced to death again and exhausted his appeals.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency for Rojem on June 17, 2024, after hearing arguments from both sides. Washita County District Attorney Angela Marsee highlighted the impact of Layla’s loss, stating, “She never had a sweet 16 party, graduated from high school, got to marry her true love, or had children of her own.”
Rojem’s attorneys argued that the evidence against him was insufficient, pointing to a cup found near the Cummings’ front door as being of poor quality and not conclusively linking him to the crime. However, the state presented other evidence, including tire tracks and a condom found near Layla’s body, which they argued pointed to Rojem as the perpetrator.
Despite maintaining his innocence until the end, Rojem did not seek any last-minute stays. He addressed the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board earlier this month, stating, “I did not kidnap Layla, I did not rape Layla, and I did not murder her.”
Rojem’s execution was the second in Oklahoma in 2024, following the execution of Michael Smith in April. His execution was carried out without any visible complications, according to Steven Harpe, the executive director of the Department of Corrections. “There were no incidents, issues, or problems,” Harpe said.
Tulsa television reporter Reagan Ledbetter, who witnessed the execution, described it as very routine. “I’ve witnessed four of these now. It appeared to go smooth,” he said.
Rojem’s execution marks the end of a long and painful chapter for Layla’s family. Her mother, Mindy Cummings, watched from a witness room and expressed gratitude for the justice served. “We are grateful today for justice served and the peace of knowing that Richard Rojem can never hurt us or any other person again,” she said in a statement read by Oklahoma’s attorney general to the media.
Rojem was the longest-serving death row inmate in Oklahoma’s history and one of the longest-serving in the United States. His execution was delayed for decades due to successful challenges to his punishment and a hiatus in Oklahoma’s executions from 2015 to 2021.
In the death chamber, Rojem was accompanied by a spiritual adviser, a Buddhist monk from California. Reverend Master Daishin Yalon stood at Rojem’s feet and spoke to him at least twice before Rojem became unconscious. Rojem had become a Zen Buddhist in prison and was known by other followers as Daiji.
Rojem’s last meal consisted of two small Little Caesars double cheese double pepperoni pizzas, two cups of vanilla ice cream, and a bottle of Vernors ginger ale.
The Pardon and Parole Board’s unanimous decision to deny clemency meant that Governor Kevin Stitt could not commute Rojem’s sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The next scheduled execution in Oklahoma is for Emmanuel Littlejohn, who was sentenced to death for the 1992 murder of an Oklahoma City convenience store owner. His execution is expected to take place in September.
Source: UPI, KFOR, Oklahoma Department of Corrections
