Death Sentence Vacated for Serial Killer
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Rogers at a court hearing in 2006
The Oregon Supreme Court today vacated the death sentence for the state's most prolific serial killer. Dayton Leroy Rogers, also known as the "Molalla Forest Killer," was found guilty of killing seven prostitutes in the late 1980's and dumping their bodies in the woods near Molalla.
He would drive along old logging roads, share orange juice and vodka with his victims and engage in sex. Rogers then hogtied, stabbed and tortured them, even sawing off some of their feet.
Since then, the 58-year-old has been in the Oregon State Penitentiary on and off death row after several appeals. He's awaiting death by lethal injection. That order though would have to be given by Governor John Kitzhaber who has stopped all executions during his term in office. Now, Rogers will be sentenced over again in Clackamas County.
The state's high court says Circuit Court Judge Ronald Thom made an error on juror anonymity and by allowing testimony about a homosexual relationship that Rogers had as a teenager. Rogers and his defense attorneys were barred from learning the identities of potential jurors to help pick an impartial panel.
Clackamas County's Chief Deputy District Attorney Gregory Horner was surprised by the ruling. He's not sure how prosecutors will proceed.
Tags: execution, murder, homicide, Oregon State Penitentiary, Clackamas County, Governor John Kitzhaber, serial killer, Dayton Leroy Rogers, Oregon Supreme Court, lethal injection, death sentence, Molalla Forest Killer, prostitution, Circuit Court Judge Ronald Thom
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