Man sentenced to life in prison after decapitating roommate
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man convicted of decapitating his roommate and stuffing him in a suitcase was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole while in court Tuesday morning.
Julian Summers was charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. In addition to the life sentence, Summers must serve an additional two years.
On December 12, 2021, Julian Summers struck the victim, Bruce Jefferies, in the head with a hammer while he slept in their apartment on Cleveland Street in Midtown. He was convicted in February.
Man convicted of decapitating roommate after body found in suitcase
Even though the court accepted Summers’ claim of being on medication, Judge Addison says she does not believe he was having a mental break during the deadly incident because that took “planning and work.”
Judge Addison said Summers is unwell but not so unwell that he doesn’t appreciate what he is doing. She says he murdered him, cut his head off, stuffed him in a suitcase, then dropped him in a dumpster. Summers showed zero remorse, she says.
After the attack, Summers decapitated Jefferies with a knife, cleaned up the crime scene, and placed Jefferies’ body inside a suitcase before putting it in a dumpster.
Investigators say the suitcase left a blood trail that led to the Broadmoor Apartment complex where they lived.
Later that night, the remains were found.
On December 20, the body was positively identified as 63-year-old Bruce Jeffries. 16 days later, Summers was apprehended and admitted to the crime.
Summers’ defense claims he is getting mental health treatment and will ask for a new trial.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
