MAN GETS LIFE FOR METH LAB FIRE THAT KILLED HIS FATHER

BENTON -- A Bollinger County man was sentenced to life in prison for the death of his father in an accidental fire from a methamphetamine lab, a Scott County judge said.

Michael Wayne Summers was sentenced by Judge David Dolan to life in prison for second-degree murder, along with a seven-year sentence for the class C felony of manufacturing methamphetamine. The sentences are to run consecutively, Dolan said.

Bob Shell, who lived in the home near highways 51 and 91 in Bollinger County, died in the fire prosecutors said was caused by Summers on Oct. 1, 1997.

"He caused his father to suffer from asphyxia, to fall and die and burn to a crisp," said Kevin Zoellner, special prosecutor for the state Attorney General's office.

A jury had deliberated about three hours on Aug. 19 before finding Summers guilty of both charges.

Sentencing had been rescheduled several times to accommodate attorneys' schedules.