Raymond Lee Oyler Officially Sentenced to Death for Murder of 5 US Forest Service Firefighters

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Riverside, California

June 5, 2009

A former auto mechanic, found guilty earlier this year of setting a massive brush fire that killed five U.S. Forest Service firefighters, was formally sentenced to death Friday by a Riverside County Superior Court judge.

In March the jury that had convicted 38-year old Raymond Lee Oyler of five counts of murder with special circumstances recommended the death penalty.

Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan backed the jury's decision after reviewing testimony heard in the 10-week long trial.

Oyler, in a Hall of Justice courtroom wearing an orange jail jumpsuit with chains around his wrists and ankles, showed no emotion when Judge Morgan ordered that he be immediately sent to San Quentin State Prison's Death Row.

Prior to declaring Oyler be executed, Judge Morgan told a packed courtroom that on the morning of October 26, 2006, Oyler "set out on a mission to wreak havoc."  "Why?" he asked.  "No one will ever know."

After Judge Morgan's pronouncement, prosecuting Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Michael Hestrin told reporters, "The death sentence was the right thing and necessary for what Oyler did."

Hestrin said Oyler's death sentence will automatically be appealed by the California Supreme Court.  Asked by FDNNTV.com how long that process might take, Hestrin replied, "Five to seven years seems right."

22-year old Heather Oyler, who did not speak in court in defense of her father minutes earlier, said she continues to believe in her dad's innocence to the charge of setting the deadly Esperanza Fire.

Killed in the 43-thousand acre fire in the San Jacinto Mountains just west of Palm Springs, were U.S. Forest Service Fire Captain Mark Loutzenhiser, along with federal firefighters Daniel Hoover-Najera, Pablo Cerda, Jason McKay and Jess McLean.

Oyler was also found guilty on several felony counts of arson as well as possessing incendiary devices.

Reaction to Death Penalty Sentence

To watch FDNNTV.com's coverage of the Raymond Lee Oyler Arson-Murder Trial, click below.

Jury Recommendation for Death Penalty

Jury Finds Raymond Lee Oyler Guilty of Arson and Murder

Week 4 of Raymond Lee Oyler Trial

Week 3 of Raymond Lee Oyler Trial

Week 2 of Raymond Lee Oyler Trial

Week 1 of Raymond Lee Oyler Trial

Raymond Lee Oyler Trial Begins