Tulsa County jurors handed Phillip Anthony Summers two death sentences

Tulsa County jurors handed Phillip Anthony Summers two death sentences today for the Feb. 23, 2004 killings of Shelly and Ples Vann Jr. District Judge Tom Thornbrugh set formal sentencing for March 24. In an effort to mitigate punishment, defense lawyers pointed to evidence that Summers emerged from a family environment of crime, drug abuse and violence. Summers was the youngest of 7 siblings. Of the other 6, 2 have been shot to death, 3 are in prison, and one is on probation.