Daniel Juan Revilla

Who was Daniel Juan Revilla?

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 October 29, 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.