Bio

Gregory Lynn Summers was born on March 14, 1958, in Abilene, Texas. He was adopted by Gene and Helen Summers when he was just three days old. They were loving parents and raised him as their only child. Growing up, Gregory lived a typical childhood, but there were signs of trouble in his family life. His relationship with his adoptive father, Gene, was particularly difficult. Family members reported that there were many conflicts between them.

As a young man, Summers did not have a stable educational path. He attended school but only completed about eleven years before ending his education. After leaving school, he worked as a general contractor. Over time, he faced financial difficulties. Family members noted that he had ongoing money problems, which caused friction in his relationships, especially with his parents. They had previously helped him financially, but eventually decided to stop. This decision seemed to worsen his financial situation.

Gregory became estranged from many people in his life. He had a particularly troubled history with his family, including violence. Witnesses described incidents where he had physically harmed his first wife and children. There were also claims that he threatened his father and made violent remarks about burning their house down.

Murder Story

On June 11, 1990, a tragic event occurred in Abilene, Texas. Firefighters discovered three bodies in a burning house. The victims were Gene Summers, his wife Helen, and Gene's brother, Billy Mack Summers. All three had been brutally stabbed, and their home was set on fire. Gene and Helen were both 64 years old, while Billy was 60 years old.

The police investigation pointed to Gregory Lynn Summers, their adopted son. He was accused of hiring Andrew Cantu to kill his parents and uncle for financial gain. Prosecutors alleged that he offered Cantu $10,000 to commit the murders and then set the house ablaze to conceal the crime. Gregory was to benefit from a $24,000 life insurance policy on his parents.

Several days after the murders, police received tips about Gregory's intentions. A man named Keenan Wilcox reported that Gregory had tried to hire him to commit the murders and burn down the family home. Another tipster shared that Cantu confessed to being hired by Gregory for the killings, although Cantu claimed he did not receive the payment.

During the trial, witnesses testified about Gregory's troubled relationship with his parents. His violent history against family members and threats to kill them were also presented. The prosecution's case included how Cantu and two accomplices had entered the home through a back window, attacked each victim, and then set the house on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The trial concluded with Gregory being convicted of capital murder in August 1991. His conviction was upheld by various appeals courts over the years. He was eventually executed by lethal injection on October 25, 2006, at the age of 48. His execution came more than seven years after Cantu was executed for the same crimes.