Daniel Juan Revilla
Encyclopedia
Daniel Juan Revilla, a 34-year-old white male, was executed by lethal injection
at Oklahoma State Penitentiary
in McAlester, Oklahoma
on January 16, 2003. Revilla was found guilty of the 1987 murder of Mark Gomez, a 13-month-old white male. Revilla, who was 18-years old when he committed the capital crime, was sentenced to death on December 4, 1987.
On January 26, 1987, Revilla took his girlfriend, Michelle McElmurry, to the Jackson County
Health Department for a checkup. Michelle's son, Mark Gomez, was left alone at the Altus, Oklahoma
house shared by Revilla and McElmurry. Approximately 40 minutes later Revilla ran through the lobby of the county hospital carrying Gomez in his arms yelling that he had swallowed his tongue and was not breathing. Subsequent attempts by hospital medical personnel were unsuccessful in reviving the unconscious infant.
Hospital personnel noticed numerous wounds and injuries to Gomez's body including bruises on his back, blisters on his chest, peeling skin on his chest and groin area, burns on his thighs and ear, and lacerations on his thighs and arms. The autopsy
report showed a swelling and bleeding of the brain and the complete severance of the liver.
When confronted Revilla denied causing Gomez's death and explained that when he returned home from dropping Michelle off at the clinic, he saw Gomez lying on the floor. Gomez was pale and appeared not to be breathing. Revilla attempted to revive Gomez by striking him in the abdomen. When Gomez gasped for air Revilla struck him again. Unable to start him breathing Revilla stated that he began to panic, grabbed Gomez, pulled his clothes off, rushed him into the bathroom, placed him in the tub, and leaned over to turn on the cold water but accidentally turned on the hot water, scalding the infant.
Turning the water off Revilla wrapped Gomez in a blanket and in his rush out of the bathroom, struck the infant's head on the door frame and on exiting the house, tripped and fell on top of Gomez onto a concrete cellar. Revilla then claimed that he got up and rushed Gomez to the hospital.
At trial
there was testimony that Revilla had once tried to fold Gomez up in a hide-a-bed couch; that he once put him in a kitchen drawer and closed the drawer; and that he taunted Gomez by not letting him go to his mother, go to sleep, or play with his toys.
Evidence also showed that Gomez was afraid of Revilla and would cry and refuse to leave with him; that Revilla had said that he hated Gomez because he was not his child; that Revilla had slapped Gomez and thrown him on the floor; that on one occasion Revilla wrapped duct tape around Gomez's shoulders, threw him in a bathtub of cold water then hung him up by his heels; and on another occasion that Revilla wrapped his belt around Gomez and squeezed him.
A Jackson County District Court
jury found Revilla, who had no prior criminal record, guilty of first-degree child abuse
murder and recommended death as punishment. The judge formally imposed the death penalty on Revilla in absentia
as he escaped from county jail shortly after trial. Captured in Acapulco
, Mexico
, Revilla was extradited back to the United States. On the day of execution the Supreme Court of the United States
denied a stay
.
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
at Oklahoma State Penitentiary
Oklahoma State Penitentiary
The Oklahoma State Penitentiary is located in McAlester, Oklahoma, on . It is a prison of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Opened in 1908 with 50 inmates in makeshift facilities, today the prison holds more than 1,200 male offenders, the vast majority of which are maximum-security inmates...
in McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
on January 16, 2003. Revilla was found guilty of the 1987 murder of Mark Gomez, a 13-month-old white male. Revilla, who was 18-years old when he committed the capital crime, was sentenced to death on December 4, 1987.
On January 26, 1987, Revilla took his girlfriend, Michelle McElmurry, to the Jackson County
Jackson County, Oklahoma
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 28,439. Its county seat is Altus.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
Health Department for a checkup. Michelle's son, Mark Gomez, was left alone at the Altus, Oklahoma
Altus, Oklahoma
Altus is a city in Jackson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 19,813 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County....
house shared by Revilla and McElmurry. Approximately 40 minutes later Revilla ran through the lobby of the county hospital carrying Gomez in his arms yelling that he had swallowed his tongue and was not breathing. Subsequent attempts by hospital medical personnel were unsuccessful in reviving the unconscious infant.
Hospital personnel noticed numerous wounds and injuries to Gomez's body including bruises on his back, blisters on his chest, peeling skin on his chest and groin area, burns on his thighs and ear, and lacerations on his thighs and arms. The autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
report showed a swelling and bleeding of the brain and the complete severance of the liver.
When confronted Revilla denied causing Gomez's death and explained that when he returned home from dropping Michelle off at the clinic, he saw Gomez lying on the floor. Gomez was pale and appeared not to be breathing. Revilla attempted to revive Gomez by striking him in the abdomen. When Gomez gasped for air Revilla struck him again. Unable to start him breathing Revilla stated that he began to panic, grabbed Gomez, pulled his clothes off, rushed him into the bathroom, placed him in the tub, and leaned over to turn on the cold water but accidentally turned on the hot water, scalding the infant.
Turning the water off Revilla wrapped Gomez in a blanket and in his rush out of the bathroom, struck the infant's head on the door frame and on exiting the house, tripped and fell on top of Gomez onto a concrete cellar. Revilla then claimed that he got up and rushed Gomez to the hospital.
At trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
there was testimony that Revilla had once tried to fold Gomez up in a hide-a-bed couch; that he once put him in a kitchen drawer and closed the drawer; and that he taunted Gomez by not letting him go to his mother, go to sleep, or play with his toys.
Evidence also showed that Gomez was afraid of Revilla and would cry and refuse to leave with him; that Revilla had said that he hated Gomez because he was not his child; that Revilla had slapped Gomez and thrown him on the floor; that on one occasion Revilla wrapped duct tape around Gomez's shoulders, threw him in a bathtub of cold water then hung him up by his heels; and on another occasion that Revilla wrapped his belt around Gomez and squeezed him.
A Jackson County District Court
Courts of Oklahoma
Courts of Oklahoma include:State courts of Oklahoma*Oklahoma Supreme Court *Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals **Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals***Oklahoma District Courts...
jury found Revilla, who had no prior criminal record, guilty of first-degree child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
murder and recommended death as punishment. The judge formally imposed the death penalty on Revilla in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
as he escaped from county jail shortly after trial. Captured in Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Revilla was extradited back to the United States. On the day of execution the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
denied a stay
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
.
See also
- Capital punishment in Oklahoma
- Capital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United StatesCapital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...