Richard Rojem Jr., 66, is set to be executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma today for the 1984 rape and murder of his 7-year-old former stepdaughter, Layla Cummings, marking the state's second execution this year.

Rojem's execution, scheduled for 10 a.m. CT at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, comes after decades of legal battles, including overturned death sentences and rejected clemency appeals. Despite maintaining his innocence, Rojem has exhausted all appeals. His impending death has brought renewed attention to the brutal crime and relief to Cummings' family, while also sparking protests from death penalty opponents.

Layla Cummings was abducted on July 6, 1984, from the apartment she shared with her mother and her 9-year-old brother in Elk City, approximately 115 miles west of Oklahoma City. Her mutilated and partially clothed body, still clad in her mother's nightgown, was discovered the next day by a farmer in a field about 15 miles away, near the small town of Burns Flat.

Rojem, who knew the family’s routine and was aware that the lock on their apartment door was broken, became a prime suspect. Evidence linking him to the crime scene included a fingerprint on a beer cup found near the apartment, tire tracks, and a condom wrapper matching those found at the site where Layla's body was discovered. Rojem had a prior criminal history, including a conviction for raping two teenage girls in Michigan, which further raised suspicion.

Rojem’s legal journey has been lengthy and troubled. Since his first conviction, his death sentences have been overturned twice due to trial errors. However, he was re-sentenced to death in 2007. More recently, on June 17, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied his clemency appeal, which effectively sealed his fate.

Rojem's defense team has argued that DNA evidence taken from Layla's fingernails did not match his. Despite these claims, the accumulated evidence and his previous criminal record were compelling enough for juries and judges to consistently find him guilty.

Mindy Cummings, Layla's mother, has expressed relief that the execution is finally moving forward. She has articulated ongoing concerns for her family's safety as long as Rojem remains alive. This sentiment highlights the enduring trauma and anxiety that the family has faced over the past four decades.

Rojem's background includes a troubled childhood marked by chaos and abuse, which some have argued contributed to his later violent behavior. During his time on death row, he has converted to Zen Buddhism, perhaps seeking solace and redemption amid his legal and personal struggles.

The execution will follow Oklahoma’s protocol of administering a three-drug lethal injection consisting of midazolam, vecuronium bromide, and potassium chloride. This combination is designed to first sedate the inmate, then paralyze the muscles, and finally stop the heart.

Rojem's final meal includes a small double cheese/double pepperoni pizza, salt and crushed red pepper packets, Vernors Ginger Ale, and vanilla ice cream cups. Such last meal traditions are often closely followed and observed as part of the ritual surrounding capital punishment.

Only a select group of witnesses will be present for the execution, including Rojem's attorney, Jack Fisher. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office keeps the witness list confidential for security reasons. As the execution takes place, death penalty opponents are expected to hold vigils outside the governor's mansion in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. These demonstrations reflect the broader and ongoing debate over the ethical and legal dimensions of capital punishment in the country.

Today’s execution will mark the ninth execution in the United States this year and underscores the continuing use of the death penalty in certain states, including Oklahoma. Even as the legal appeals come to an end for Richard Rojem Jr., the wider discussion about the death penalty, its efficacy, and its moral implications persists.