Summary of Offense: 21-year-old Karen Marie Lauffenburger was an interior design student at Oklahoma State University, and worked part-time delivering pizzas for Buy 'N Bye Pizza.
She was last seen alive on December 19, 1990 on her way to deliver a pizza to the home of Audra Lynn Todd, the girlfriend of Kelly Lamont Rogers.
A short time later, she was found dead in her apartment by her boyfriend, stabbed 9 times in the chest, neck and abdomen. She had also been sexually assaulted.
Investigators found bank records showing that Lauffenburger's bank account had practically been emptied at an ATM machine between the time she left to deliver the pizza and when her body was found.
At trial, Todd testified that Rogers told her he was going to rob the pizza delivery person. She told the court that Rogers bought crack cocaine and drank wine after telling her he had just killed "a pizza girl."
Todd was originally charged with Murder, but she entered a guilty plea to Robbery and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Along with the death sentence, he received 325 years in prison (150 years for rape, 75 years for robbery, 50 years for robbery of the pizza money and 50 years for stealing her car).
Prosecutors said Rogers raped Lauffenburger while she was alive and again after she was stabbed. Rogers had been previously convicted of Forgery and Escape (1988) and Robbery (1986). At the time of the murder, Rogers had been out of prison just five weeks.
Victim: Karen Marie Lauffenburger
Time of Death: 12:27 a.m.
Manner of execution: Lethal Injection
Last Meal: Five drumsticks, four thighs, mashed potatoes and gravy, slaw, a large Sprite and double chocolate cake
Final Statement: A minute before the lethal injection, Rogers, 31, thanked his family members with a smile and told them he loved them. His arms, legs and chest were already strapped to a table. Next, he turned to the Lauffenburger family. “To the Lauffenburger family, I just pray you guys will find peace and in time, God will heal you from inside and out.” Rogers’ statement lasted about one minute. Near the end, he addressed every witness. “And for those who might not know Jesus, I just ask that you know him, trust him as your Lord and Savior,” Rogers said. “He will get you through, just give him a chance.”
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