State of Oklahoma executes man convicted of killing 7-year-old

McALESTER, Okla. (KFOR) – The state of Oklahoma executed Richard Rojem at 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

According to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, Rojem was convicted and sentenced to death for the July 1984 kidnapping, rape and murder of his 7-year-old former stepdaughter, Layla Dawn Cummings, in Washita County. Her body was later found along the road in Burns Flat.

On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency for Rojem after hearing from both sides whether to spare his life or not.

“She never had a sweet 16 party, graduated from high school, got to marry her true love, or had children of her own,” said Angela Marsee, the Washita County District Attorney.

Cummings was remembered 40 years later as state prosecutors and family addressed the board.

Rojem’s attorney’s argued evidence from a cup found near the Cummings’ front door all those years ago is not enough to link him to the murder.

“Everyone ignored the poor quality of the cup, it was a fuzzy, blurry print with, I would say, a third of the area, black, either black or white, out where you can’t see anything,” said Paul McCausland, an attorney for Rojem.

The state revealed other evidence they said points to Rojem being the right suspect, including tire tracks in a field and a condom discovered next to the 7-year-old's body.

“It is no coincidence that three parts of one of these condoms were found at the crime scene, and the other including the used condom with Rojem’s DNA were found on the top of his trashcan,” said Jennifer Crabb, the assistant Attorney General.

Rojem appeared by video to address the board.

“I don’t deny that I went to prison. I learned my lesson and I left all that behind. I did not kidnap Layla, I did not rape Layla, and I did not murder Layla,” said Rojem.

Rojem’s attorneys fought until the end, but that wasn’t enough and the board unanimously reached a decision to deny clemency.

“I am pleased the Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency for the monster who savagely raped and murdered an innocent child and caused unimaginable suffering for her family. Justice for Layla will be served when he is executed on June 27.”

Attorney General Gentner Drummond

Rojem was executed on June 27 at 10:16 a.m.

A.G. Drummond also released a statement Thursday morning shortly after the execution.

“Justice for Layla Cummings was finally served this morning with the execution of the monster responsible for her rape and murder. Layla’s family has endured unimaginable suffering for almost 40 years. My prayer is that today’s action brings a sense of comfort to those who loved her.”

Attorney General Gentner Drummond

The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) responded Thursday as well.

"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. There is no data that shows fewer people commit crimes out of fear of capital punishment. There are more effective, fiscally prudent means, such as life without parole. Oklahoma is not any safer because the state serially carries out judicial homicide."  

Dr. Elizabeth Overman, OK-CADP Vice-Chair

Rojem was the state’s second execution of 2024 following the execution of Michael Smith on April 4.