Tulsa Man Charged In Oklahoma City 'Cathouse' Murders

A second suspect has been charged for the November 2009 murders of four people, including two pregnant women, at a house in southwest Oklahoma City.

Thursday, August 23rd 2012, 1:38 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Man Charged In Oklahoma City 'Cathouse' Murders

A second man has been charged for the November 2009 murders of four people, including two pregnant women, at a house in southwest Oklahoma City.

Thursday, Oklahoma County prosecutors charged Denny Edward Phillips of Tulsa with six counts of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of HBO Cathouse reality star Brooke Phillips, and her friends Jennifer Ermey, Milagros Barrera, Casey Barrientos. Both Phillips and Barrera were pregnant.

David Tyner pleaded guilty in May of this year to six counts of murder. He was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences in prison.

Investigators say Tyner and Phillips plotted to kill Barrientos.

Phillips and Barrientos met in prison. When they got out, according to court documents, Barrientos supplied Phillips with illegal drugs. Phillips sold those drugs in Tulsa.

Police say Phillips was a member of the Indian Brotherhood Gang, and Tyner wanted to be a member. When Barrientos began receiving death threats, Phillips told Tyner if he agreed to become Barrientos' bodyguard, he could become a member of the gang.

Court papers show Phillips became unhappy with the drug dealing arrangement with Barrientos. Phillips' girlfriend told police he and Tyner began plotting in June 2009 to kill Barrientos, and steal all his drugs and cash.

Phillips' girlfriend also said the two decided they could not leave any witnesses.

According to investigators, Tyner and Phillips went to Barrientos' house at 1511 S.W. 56th Street on the night of November 9, 2009. Prosecutors allege the men killed Barrientos and his friends, and then set the house fire.

Surveillance video showed a white Pontiac Grand Prix leaving the area right after the murders. Police later determined the car was registered to Phillips' wife. She told police he took it from her about a week before the murders and claimed he sold it. Police still have not found the car.

Tyner was arrested soon after the murders. Phillips was arrested in Tulsa in April 2010 when he allegedly tried to sell two guns stolen from a Tulsa police homicide sergeant's home. Police shot Phillips at a motel when he pulled a gun on officers.