By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Joshua Leroy Vance was a Centralia College student who got straight “A”s last semester and earlier this week he cut his own hand so severely, he was taken to a Seattle trauma hospital to save his fingers.
Vance, 25, is in the Lewis County Jail today, because according to prosecutors, that same night he also cut the throat of his sleeping father and stabbed him at least 11 times.
Joshua Leroy Vance
Terry Vance, 58, was found dead on his bedroom floor early Wednesday morning after family members awoke to screaming.
Joshua Vance, his father and 11-year-old nephew lived together in his grandmother’s Onalaska home.
Family members say he was prone to violent outbursts, his mental health issues so serious, he could not work and collected social security disability payments instead.
His grandmother Bonnie Vance said he’d been off his medication since last weekend.
“Each day he was off of it, I could see him deteriorating and going back to the way he was before,” she said.
“He could be very abusive and erratic,” she said. “And then he would come to and he would be pretty good. For awhile.”
“And then something would happen and … It’s been bad,” she said.
“And when he was good, he was such a good young man,” she said.
Terry Vance
Deputies were called about 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday to a mobile home on the 400 block of Pennel Avenue in Onalaksa when Joshua Vance called 911 and said he killed his father.
According to charging documents, his grandmother confronted him in the hallway, he dropped a knife and ran outside.
Eleven-year-old Thomas Flood told deputies he followed, to warn his Uncle Larry Vance who lives in an adjacent travel trailer.
Thomas said he heard Joshua say, “I killed my father and I slit my throat so somebody come help me because I will die in about five seconds,” charging documents state.
The child said he ran back inside and hid.
Both Bonnie and Joshua Vance had reportedly called 911.
When deputies arrived, they had firefighters tend to Joshua Vance’s cut hands.
It was self-inflicted laceration to the fingers on his right hand, according to Lewis County Fire District 1 Chief Mark Conner who treated him.
“He said he did it to make himself stop,” Conner said.
Prosecutors described the injuries as severe and wrote that he cut his hand on the knife while stabbing his father.
When Deputy Matt McKnight videotaped him before he was taken to the hospital to save his fingers, Joshua Vance told him he was going to kill everyone else on the property, but he couldn’t because he cut his hand, according to charging documents.
Charging documents also say his grandmother saw him a few hours earlier, pulling kitchen knives out of their cutting block and checking their sharpness.
Joshua Vance was charged today with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt ordered him held on $1 million bail.
He sat quietly, shackled with a large bandage on his right hand.
Deputy Prosecutor Joely Yeager said the cruel and heinous act showed he was extremely dangerous to the community.
Defense attorney Bob Schroeter said the case showed Joshua Vance has significant documented mental health needs that have not been met.
Bonnie Vance says her grandson has had issues for years.
“His (treatment providers) were in the process of changing his medicine,” she said. “Because of the cost of it; he evidently didn’t have it for a few days.”
The uncle, Larry Vance, was in the courtroom this afternoon, and afterward, said he saw something bad coming as well. But not this.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from,” he said.
His biggest question is, why? he said.
Larry Vance commented that just a few days previous he asked his nephew why he wasn’t at school.
“He said he had the flu, it was finals week and he was going to flunk all his classes,” he said.
It was odd, because he got such good grades the previous semester, he said.
Larry Vance said he warned his mother a few days ago, his nephew was “turning into a Hyde again.”
He said his mother and the family have bent over backwards to help his nephew.
Bonnie Vance didn’t talk about herself, in a brief interview yesterday. She spoke of her children and grandchildren.
The 78-year-old raised her family on the block near the school and across from the ball field since about 1970.
Terry Vance and her two younger sons all attended Onalaska schools, as did her grandson, though he also attended Centralia High School too, she said.
Terry Vance played, coached and refereed baseball for years, she said.
“He dearly loved his grandkids, fishing and his games,” she said.
Her two adult sons stayed with her to take care of her, she said. “I had cancer, I’m okay now,” she said.
Joshua Vance was given a court-appointed attorney. His arraignment is scheduled for March 22.
•••
Family friend Cindy Hanson says a group of Onalaskans are getting a work party together, to brighten up Bonnie Vance’s home – do a little renovation like the carpets, and maybe plant a garden, she said.
“Just trying to be supportive,” Hanson said.
Donation can be dropped off at Brenda’s Country Market, she said.
•••
Read “Coroner’s office names Terry Vance as victim in Onalaska home” from Wednesday March 7, 2012 at 7:53 p.m., here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I got the chance to meet Bonnie Vance and the rest of the family during this tragic time and yes what Josh did was very horrific to the family and he will get what he deserves in due time. Every one seems to be missing the point at this time-yes the mental health care can be a black hole at times but as time goes on the family had to re-build their lives and heart,mind and soul. And I hope that one day everyone will be able to carry on with wonderful memories of Terry and Josh will have to carry this with him for the rest of his life-no matter of his mental health status. Everyone needs to make sure that the family will survive and become surviors and Bonnie Vance will never be forgotten and always cared for in return for all those she has cared for.
It’s a messed up world..then add mental illness and lack of services..is a mentally ill mind w/o medication really capable of making a sane decision when it comes to taking drugs..whether they are street drugs or not?
I only knew josh for a couple months, and no he wasn’t a meth head. In general he seemed like a laid back king of guy. honestly, every day he had a smile on his face and seemed to be in good spirits. The day I heard about this I really couldn’t believe it. As one of his classmates I can tell you that I never thought that he was capable of this. Not much else can be said except that I feel deeply sorry for the family.
I have known Josh for almost two years, he was working out at the gym and doing very well. He told me about his depression and mental issues. The only drugs he took were those that were prescribed to him. He was doing so good in school, was excited about a New York trip coming up and looking into getting his own apartment. He talked about his dad and grandma always, in a positive way. Josh never bothered anyone at the gym he did his thing and went on his merry way. Josh seemed happy and normal at the gym, he loved Zumba. I was sad to hear about what Josh had done last week. I was also confused, I kept asking myself why, what makes people act like this, I know mental people are sick. I would have given Josh money to get his medication. My heart goes out to the Vance family. I know most people are hating Josh right now. I will visit Josh in jail with my bible in hand and pray.
Your all missing the point of this tragedy! There is a good man who has lost his life and his family and friends are hurting. Why does personal reason really matter to you? I can understand you being upset with our health system. The medical field had to have known there would be gap in his meds and he was just seen in Seattle for self inflicted injury (where I would think they had been told of his meds, or shoul I say lack of and nothing was done) What I am caring about is Terry’s family that has to go through all of this. I personally know this family because I was married to Terry years ago. He was a good hearted person and I ask that you show your respect. Put yourself in this family’s shoes and really take the time to think about ” what if this was your family”. Bottom line is this is a time to think about the family, the court WILL come later
I’m not convinced that Joshua Vance was on meth or anything else. The guy obviously has severe mental issues, and drugs aren’t required for someone like that to lose it the way he did. Yes, he bears responsibility for what he did, but if in fact he was “between meds” because the people in charge of prescribing them dropped the ball, there’s some culpability there as well. We’ll find out more during the trial.
Meanwhile, I feel for the family members who’ve had to deal with this. Terry Vance isn’t the only victim.
This guy is a nut job and regardless of whatever dope he is on, he still knows right from wrong. The Law states that regardless of the persons state of mind while committing a crime he/she is still held responsible for their actions. Good Job LCSO, hopefully this guy will never see the light of day again from his prison cell!!
Our mental health here in lewis county and maybe all over Wa. is very very poor, I have someone in my family with mental health and the same place that was to be taking care of this man, was the one that was taking care of out family guy. And it does not do much to help or even care. They were changing his meds all the time, some times you could not get in for a apt. so days go by with no meds. I do not think this will be the last time we see something like this. Yes these people can be dangerous, I have found that even so you can not get help when needed.
Im sorry for those with mental health issues, but at what point will public safety become priority vs the rights of those who are not in control of their behavior? The crimes committed by Steve Moulton were preventable, yet he leaves a trail of victims who will suffer a lifetime, and now this? There has got to be a better way!
Do you know for a fact if this person was using meth?
Give your neck a rest will ya “just somebody”
can’t wait to hear about this kids addiction to Methamphetamine, i think anyone can sense that coming out soon.