Jury Recommends Death Penalty in Raymond Lee Oyler Arson Murder Trial

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Riverside, California

March 19, 2009

The same jury that found Raymond Lee Oyler guilty of murdering five U.S. Forest Service firefighters has recommended that the arsonist be put to death.

After just four hours of deliberation the eight-woman, four-man jury came back with the penalty phase verdict Wednesday afternoon in a packed courtroom of firefighters and surviving family members of the fallen fire heroes at the Riverside County Hall of Justice.

Earlier this month Oyler was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder, 20 counts of arson and 17 counts of using incendiary devices to start fires between May and October of 2006 within a few miles of his Beaumont home.

The murder convictions stem from Oyler being found guilty of intentionally setting the 40-thousand plus acre Esperanza Fire that year in a section of the San Bernardino National Forest west of Palm Springs during the early morning hours October 26th.

The federal firefighters, Mark Loutzenhiser, Pablo Cerda, Daniel Hoover-Najera, Jason McKay and Jess McLean were overrun by flames later that morning as they attempted to protect a hilltop home between the communities of Cabazon and Idyllwild.

Prosecutor, Deputy Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin, successfully argued the 38-year-old deserved to die for the firefighters' painful deaths.

Oyler's defense team claimed the deaths were not intentional and the jury should have recommended life in prison without parole.

In a news conference following the jury's death penalty recommendation Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said, "Justice came today for the five murdered firefighters and their families."

While praising the "team effort" of his staff, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Cal Fire and federal investigators Pacheco singled out Hestrin as "one of the best prosecutors in the state."

Hestrin responded by saying, "We must not forget what the firefighters did and the sacrifices they made, and that their families still endure."

Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins said he too was grateful for the successful prosecution of Oyler.

Chief Hawkins pointed to several Cal Fire investigators who, he said, spent the past six months tirelessly gathering detailed evidence for the case against Oyler.

San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans said her agency will never be the same and that she'll never forget the day the Esperanza Fire "claimed the lives of five of the Forest Service's own."

She said, "We will always remember them."

Thanking prosecutors and jury members Mark Loutzenhiser's wife, Maria, said their effort brings peace to the victims' families and "maybe an end to their misery."

From Bonnie McKay, the mother of fallen firefighter Jason McKay, a plea to family members of other suspected arsonists to come forward now and report them to authorities. She said, "This way the tragedy of deaths and devastation can be avoided."

Gloria Ayala, the mother of Daniel Hoover-Najera, told reporters she forgives Oyler. Ayala said she harbors no anger. However, she wants Oyler to think about "the depth of pain you've caused so many families, including your own."

Oyler's 21-year old daughter, Heather, said she knew that when her dad had earlier admitted setting some of the fires he was charged with it would be hard for a jury to not convict him of setting the Esperanza Fire.

But, Oyler's daughter said, "I know my father didn't do this and I'm going to stand by him and his claim of innocence."

Heather Oyler told FDNNTV that she has visited her father a few times at the county's Pressley Detention Center since the trial began and she's making plans to see him again over the coming weekend.

While jury members have been excused and thanked for their service, Riverside County Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan has set the formal sentencing date for June 5th.

District Attorney Pacheco says he has every confidence that Morgan will go along with the jury's recommendation of death.

If Judge Morgan so rules, Oyler would be immediately transported to San Quentin State Prison, near San Francisco, where he will be housed in a cell on Death Row while awaiting the outcome of his state-mandated automatic appeal.

Watch The Full Comments of Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco, Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone, Prosecutor Michael Hestrin, Cal Fire Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins, San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans and Family Members Here:

Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco

Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone

Prosecutor Michael Hestrin

San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans

Cal Fire Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins

Gloria Ayala Mother of Fallen Firefighter Daniel Hoover Najera

Bonnie McKay Mother of Fallen Firefighter Jason McKay

Maria Loutzenhiser Wife of Fallen Firefighter Mark Loutzenhiser