Jury Recommends Life Without Parole For Men Charged In 'Cathouse' Murders

The jury has recommended a life sentence without parole for Denny Phillips and Russell Hogshooter, the two suspects involved in the infamous “Cathouse” murders in OKC back in Nov. 2009.

The jury reached their decision after more than 10 hours of deliberations.

Denny Phillips and Russell Hogshooter had faced the death penalty in this case, but the jury of nine women and three men chose to spare them an execution. Instead, the two will most likely die in prison.

The two ignored reporter questions as they were lead out of the courtroom but the looks on their face said it all.

The same jury found them guilty on all six murder counts and 35 years for a conspiracy count for the 2009 murders of Casey Barrientos, Jennifer Ermy, Milagros Berrera and Brooke Phillips. Both Phillips and Berrera were pregnant when they were killed, so two of the counts represented their unborn children killed.

State prosecutors state the victim's families are satisfied with the jury's decision.

“There's nothing to be unhappy about in this case, two incredibly violent men and dangerous men are going to die in prison,” said Assistant District Attorney Gayland Gieger, who helped try the capital murder case.

“They are a continuing threat to society and they will not be in society anymore.”

The case gained nationwide attention since Brooke Phillips was once on the HBO reality show “Cathouse”, which spotlighted life at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch, a legal brothel in Nevada.

Phillip’s attorney had nothing to say after the verdict, but Hogshooter's attorney had this to say.

“I am a person who personally doesn't believe in the death penalty, but I was quite concerned that my client could receive the death penalty,” said Perry Hudson. “I take no joy, these families have suffered terrible losses, my client goes to jail for the rest of his life so there’s no winner in this.”

State prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty due to the heinous nature of the crime.

“The law and the facts supported the death penalty, the jury obviously considered that,” said Gieger. “They deliberated for hours and hours overnight late into the night. They struggled with that decision and they made the decision that they felt was right. The family is satisfied and justice was done.”

Formal sentencing has been set for August 11.