26 June 28, 2000 Inmate Roy Vance faces murder charges Roy Vance was behind bars in a Randolph County jail when two guards were killed in an alleged botched attempt to free him, but he will face first-degree murder charges in their deaths. Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Fusselman filed the charges against Vance on Monday in Moberly. He also included charges of armed criminal action and escape from custody, though the jail break in Huntsville was unsuccessful, associate criminal court clerk Ann McCune said. Authorities say Vance, 27, conspired with Michael Tisius, 19, and Tracie Bulington, 27, to kill the two jailers and use their keys to free Vance. Both victims were unarmed, following county policy prohibiting firearms in the jail. Randolph County Sheriff Don Ancell said last week that jailers allow visitors into the lobby if they appear unarmed. Ancell and others have called for tighter security at the facility. Nothing separates visitors from deputies in the jail's lobby, and Ancell closed the jail after the shootings until a bulletproof barrier could be put up. Officials are working to add bulletproof glass, build a protective wall and replace a door, said Randolph County Western District Commissioner Rick Thornburg. Commissioners on Monday discussed estimates and a possible ballot measure to fund further improvements. Three times over the past two years, Randolph County voters rejected ballot measures to replace the 91-year-old building with a new jail. Fusselman on Monday also added and upgraded charges against Tisius and Bulington so that both will face charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, burglary and aiding the escape of a prisoner. Fusselman has said he will likely seek the death penalty for Tisius, who authorities say fired the .22-caliber pistol that killed jail supervisor Leon Egley and Sheriff's Deputy Jason Acton on Thursday. Bulington and Vance also may face the death penalty, Fusselman said. He said Monday he will not make the final decision on any of the suspects until after preliminary hearings, which could be as late as August or September. Egley, 33, was a Huntsville city councilman who had pushed for tougher security at the jail. Acton, 36, of Woodlandville, had been with the department only about two months. Tisius and Vance apparently became friends while both were in the jail in May and June, investigators said. Bulington has been romantically linked to Vance. Fusselman said evidence found in the getaway car, a brown Mercury Cougar, points toward a conspiracy. ""There were some documents recovered that reflect the involvement of the three of them,'' Fusselman said Monday. ""It's detailed about their participation.'' Fusselman said he could not yet discuss the content of the documents. According to court records in a felony complaint filed by Fusselman, on more than one occasion visits were made to Vance at the county jail. Witnesses told authorities they overheard discussions of a jail break and that Tisius and Vance discussed the possible use of a firearm for escape. However, these witnesses did not disclose this information to authorities until after the shooting. The day before the shooting, Tisius and Bulington took a .22-caliber revolver from Bulington's father's home which is believed to be the murder weapon. The handgun which allegedly used in the shooting, was found by authorities along Highway 36 between New Cambria and the Linn County line. Authorities say the two victims allowed Tisius and Bulington in about 12:30 a.m. after they rang the buzzer at the front door. According to court documents, Sheriff's Deputy Willie White returned from a call in time to see Tisius fire several shots at the jailers. Autopsies found that Egley and Acton both died from gunshot wounds in the head. While White went for help, the two suspects searched unsuccessfully for the key to Vance's cell, authorities say. Tisius and Bulington fled before more police arrived, prosecutors said, and were caught nine hours later in northeast Kansas. Both victims were unarmed, following county policy prohibiting firearms in the jail. Randolph County Sheriff Don Ancell said last week that jailers allow visitors into the lobby if they appear unarmed. Ancell this morning clarified rumors about Tisius and Bulington were under the influence of narcotics during the jail break attempt were false. Ancell said medical examination on the suspects proved that they were not under the influence of narcotics, however, Tisius has been known to use methamphetamine he said. Randolph County Presiding Commissioner Fred Ward said the renovations to the jail will be quite expensive. Cost estimates are not known, however, monies to pay for the improvements will come from the county's general operating budget which is expected to be in the red several thousands of dollars come the end of this year he said. Tisius, of Moberly, had been convicted twice previously in Randolph County for misdemeanors, failure to return rental property and stealing. Bulington, of La Plata, pleaded guilty to assault May 30 and received probation, according to the Macon County Circuit Clerk's Office. Bulington, who is a former Westran High School student at Huntsville, had been scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on charges of passing bad checks. Vance, of Macon, has been jailed repeatedly since 1991, according to state corrections officials. Vance was sent to state prisons three times between 1992 and 1997 for probation and parole violations on burglary and stealing charges. Macon County Sheriff Robert Dawson has said that Vance has been in his jail 15 times on charges related to bad checks, probation violations and damage to public property. Vance has been transferred to the Marion County Jail. Tisius is being held in Chariton County, and Bulington is being held in Audrain County. Note: Joe Stange of the Associated Press and Chuck Embree of the Moberly Monitor-Index contributed to this article.Inmate Roy Vance faces murder charges