In a solemn execution, Richard Rojem, a 66-year-old man convicted of the horrifying rape and murder of his 7-year-old stepdaughter in 1984, was put to death by lethal injection on Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Rojem, who had been incarcerated since 1985, was the longest-serving inmate on Oklahoma's death row.

The execution took place at 10:16 a.m., with prison officials confirming Rojem's death shortly after. Prior to the lethal injection, Rojem, strapped to a gurney and with an IV in his tattooed left arm, declined any last words, stating, "I don't. I've said my goodbyes." He briefly acknowledged the witnesses present in a room adjacent to the death chamber before the sedative midazolam began its administration. Rojem was declared unconscious at 10:08 a.m. and ceased breathing approximately two minutes later.

Accompanied by a spiritual advisor, Rojem maintained his innocence until the end, denying responsibility for the heinous crime committed against his stepdaughter, Layla Cummings. The young girl's mutilated and partially clothed body was discovered in a field near Burns Flat, Washita County, on July 7, 1984. Authorities reported that she had been fatally stabbed.

During a clemency hearing earlier this month, Rojem's attorneys argued that DNA evidence extracted from Layla Cummings' fingernails failed to link their client to the crime. Attorney Jack Fisher emphasized, "If my client's DNA is not present, he should not be convicted." Nonetheless, the argument was ultimately disregarded.

In a statement read by Attorney General Gentner Drummond following the execution, Layla's grieving mother, Mindy Lynn Cummings, conveyed her heartfelt sentiments, saying, "We remember, honor and hold her forever in our hearts as the sweet and precious 7-year-old she was." Cummings described the day as the "final chapter of justice" for Rojem's monstrous acts committed almost four decades ago. Rojem's capture and subsequent divorce from Layla's mother were a result of the child reporting sexual abuse by Rojem, leading to his parole violation and confinement.

Rojem, testifying via video link from prison during the hearing, maintained his innocence, expressing remorse for his past actions. Handcuffed and dressed in a red prison uniform, he admitted, "I wasn't a good human being for the first part of my life, and I don't deny that. But I went to prison. I learned my lesson and I left all that behind."

Despite Rojem's claims, prosecutors presented substantial evidence against him. A fingerprint found outside the girl's apartment on a cup from a bar Rojem had visited prior to the abduction, as well as a condom wrapper discovered near Layla's body, which matched a used condom found in Rojem's bedroom, were among the incriminating pieces of evidence.

After just 45 minutes of deliberation, a jury in Washita County convicted Rojem in 1985. However, his previous death sentences were overturned twice due to trial errors. Ultimately, a Custer County jury handed him his third death sentence in 2007.

Oklahoma, known for its high execution rate per capita since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, has carried out its 13th execution since resuming lethal injections in October 2021. This comes after a temporary hiatus lasting nearly six years following issues with executions in 2014 and 2015.

The execution of Richard Rojem marks the end of a chapter in the long-standing quest for justice for Layla Cummings and serves as a solemn reminder of the devastating impact of such heinous crimes on the victims and their families.