Oklahoma Executes Richard Rojem, Jr., on June 27, 2024
Richard Rojem, Jr., Oklahoma
Updated: Thursday, June 27, 2024
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Richard Rojem, Jr., was executed by the state of Oklahoma. He was pronounced dead at 10:16 am local time, inside the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma. Richard was 66 years of age. He was executed for murdering his seven-year-old stepdaughter Layla Dawn Cummings on either July 6 or 7, 1984, in Washita County, Oklahoma. Richard spent the last 38 years of his life on death row in Oklahoma.
Sometime between 10 p.m. on July 6, 1984, and 1:15 a.m. on July 7, 1984, Layla Cummings was kidnapped from the apartment where she lived with her mother and brother. Layla’s mother was at work that night when she received a notification from the person watching the apartment that Layla was missing.
Layla’s body was found by a farmer in a plowed field on the morning of July 7, 1984. The farmer stayed at least 10 feet from the body after discovering it. Next to Layla’s body, police discovered a condom wrappings.
An autopsy determined that Layla had two large stab wounds to her neck which severed a major artery and pierced a lung. Physical evidence also suggested that she had been raped.
Later that day police searched the bedroom of Richard Rojem, Jr. Rojem had divorced Layla’s mother two months before her disappearance and death. Rojem knew the mother’s work schedule and that the lock to the apartment was broken and would not lock. The apartment where Layla was sleeping had no sign of forced entry. Police eventually recovered a beer cup within 25 feet of the apartment that had Rojem’s fingerprints on it.
On the evening of July 6, Rojem had been drinking at a local bar. The bar sold condoms that matched the wrappings found near Layla’s body. Just before leaving, Rojem was seen entering the bathroom, where the condoms were located. Additionally, a search of Rojem’s residence found a used condom in the trash.
Rojem was arrested, charged, and convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder. He was sentenced to death.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole has voted against granting clemency to Rojem. Rojem insists that he is innocent of the crime.
This is not Rojem’s first execution date. His previously scheduled execution date was stayed at the request of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond to allow more time between execution dates in the state. The additional time between executions was requested due to understaffing at the prison.
Please pray for the family of Layla Cummings. Pray for strength for the family of Richard Rojem.
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