Glen James Ocha

Glen James Ocha (October 27, 1957 – April 5, 2005) was convicted of first degree murder of Carol Skjerva. He later legally changed his name to Raven Raven.

The crime

On October 5, 1999 Glen James Ocha, who had his name legally changed to "Raven Raven", met Carol Skjerva, at Rosie's Pub in Kissimmee, Florida where he was employed engraving beer mugs. Ocha and Skjerva left the bar together and drove to Ocha's home, where the two had consensual sex. Afterwards, Skjerva made some condescending remarks about Ocha and threatened to tell her boyfriend about the sexual encounter. Ocha became angry and told the victim to sit in a chair, as he paced back and forth deciding how he would handle the situation. Ocha entered the garage where he found some rope which he used in strangling Skjerva. As he applied pressure, he lifted her off the floor multiple times to make sure that she was no longer breathing. Finally, because he determined that the victim's heart was still beating, Ocha tightened the rope around Skjerva's neck, hung it over a door and closed the door on the rope, catching it between the door and its frame. Ocha then left the victim hanging from the door.

Arrest and confession

Ocha then consumed a beer, cleaned up the bottles and ashes from the kitchen table, and changed his clothes. He then returned to lower the Skjerva's body from the door and force it into a home entertainment center cabinet in the garage. Thereafter, Ocha left his house and drove the victim's car to Daytona Beach. He was arrested in Daytona Beach on October 6, 1999 for disorderly intoxication. Ocha confessed to detectives that he had murdered Skjerva. The detectives quickly notified the Osceola County Sheriff's Office of Ocha's statements. Ocha was then transferred to incarceration in Osceola County, where he gave a detailed description of the murder to detectives. Ocha waived his right to a trial by jury, as well as to the presentation of mitigating evidence. At the trial he refused to let a public defender present evidence to try and avoid an execution. Furthermore, he asked the trial judge to sentence him to death.

Final words and execution

Final meal

Ocha's last meal was a chicken breast, potato salad, corn, two biscuits, and a large glass of Pepsi.

Final words

"I would like to say I apologize to Carol Skjerva, the girl that I murdered, her family and her friends. This is the punishment that I deserve. I'm taking responsibility for my actions. I want everybody to know I'm not a volunteer but this is my responsibility I have to take." In a written statement, Ocha stated, "I unjustly took the life of Carol Skjerva. I have made my peace with my God and go now to face His judgment."

Glen James Ocha was executed on April 5, 2005 by lethal injection and was Florida's 60th murderer executed since 1976.

Sources

* [http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/ocha957.htm Ocha's Execution Information]
* [http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/Pending/05/apr05.htm ProDeathPenalty.com's 2005 Execution Info]
* [http://www.alligator.org/pt2/050406ocha.php Independent Florida Alligator article]
* [http://www.dc.state.fl.us/InmateReleases/inmateaction.asp?DataAction=GetInmate&DCNumber=911117 Inmate Release Information Detail - Inmate 911117] . "Florida Department of Corrections". Retrieved on 2007-11-14.