Pardon and parole board denies clemency for convicted child killer
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Clemency has been denied for a man accused of murdering his former stepdaughter. Richard Norman Rojem Jr. is set to be executed June 27 for the 1984 killing.
He is convicted of kidnapping, raping, then killing 7-year-old Layla Dawn Cummings.
Her body was found along the road in Burns Flat.
At Monday's special meeting, the Pardon and Parole Board heard from both sides to make a decision on sparing Rojem's 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.
Layla Cummings was remembered 40 years later as state prosecutors and family addressed the board. Her aunt begged the board to deny clemency.
"Please, just ten more days," said Vicky Cummings, Layla's aunt.
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 including tire tracks in the field and a condom discovered next to Layla'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 plead his case.
"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 Richard Rojem Jr., who's accused of killing Layla Cummings.
After nearly three hours of back and forth, Rojem's attorneys fought until the end.
"All we're asking is that you commute his death sentence. If he is a bad person, he will remain in prison for the rest of his life," said McCausland.
That wasn't enough and the board unanimously reached a decision, denying clemency.
Rojem's attorneys denied News 4's request for an interview. He will be executed next Thursday, June 27.