David Allen Tyner: Suspect in Custody for "Cathouse" Brothel Star Brooke Phillips' Murder
OKLAHOMA CITY (CBS/AP) Former Marine David Allen Tyner turned himself in to police on Tuesday after being named a suspect in the shooting deaths of four people whose bodies were found in a burning home, including a prostitute featured on the HBO reality series "Cathouse," police said.
The 28-year-old surrendered at the Mayes County Sheriff's Office on a warrant that included six murder complaints. Authorities said two of the victims — 22-year olds Brooke Phillips and Milagrous Barrerra — were pregnant.
Tyner has not been formally charged with any crime. He is expected to be transferred to Oklahoma County later Tuesday, Oklahoma City police Sgt. Gary Knight said. He said he does not know if Tyner has hired an attorney.
Knight said police have not determined a motive in the killings, but said Tuesday investigators believe there was more than one suspect.
"We don't believe he acted alone," Knight said. "We've identified the one suspect, but that doesn't yet tell us what his motive is for doing this."
Authorities have not released the identities of the other two people slain.
According to a police affidavit, a witness inside the residence told police Tyner was arguing with one of the victims when the shooting occurred. All four victims died of gunshot wounds, police said.
Phillips had worked at the Moonlite BunnyRanch, a legal brothel near Carson City, Nev. that is featured in the HBO series.
Firefighters discovered the four bodies Nov. 9 in a burning home on the city's southwest side.
Tyner was a two-time state champion wrestler from Salina who finished his high school career at Locust Grove, where he was a state runner-up his senior year in 2000, said Johnny Cook, Tyner's wrestling coach at Locust Grove.
"This is just unbelievable," Cook said. "He was as good a kid as you could find — a hardworking, passionate kid who'd give you the shirt off his back."
After high school, Tyner wrestled at the University of Tennessee-Chatanooga and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps, Cook said.
After a stint in the military, Tyner became a cage fighter and compiled a 6-1 record as a mixed martial artist.
Jason Nicholson, a former fight promoter who described Tyner as "like a brother," said Tyner was planning to fight in Kansas City next month.
"Knowing what he's charged with shocks me the most," Nicholson said.
Police interviewed 31-year-old Jose Fernando Fierro, who rented the home and was the only person to survive the fire, but said he is not a suspect, said his attorney, Shawn Jefferson.
Jefferson said Fierro was lucky to escape, but declined to discuss details of what Fierro told police or other aspects of the investigation.
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November 17, 2009 - Brooke Phillips, HBO "Cathouse" Brothel Star, and Unborn Child, Shot Dead Before Arson