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Michael Tisius executed for murder of rural Missouri jailers

Published

2 years ago

June 7, 2023

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BONNE TERRE, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Corrections carried out its execution of a man convicted of killing two Randolph County jailers in 2000.

Michael Tisius gunned down unarmed guards Jason Acton and Leon Egley while attempting to break Roy Vance out of jail. Tisius was joined by Vance’s girlfriend, Tracie Bulington, during the crime. The jailbreak was unsuccessful after Tisius and Bulington failed to find the keys to unlock Vance’s cell.

Tisius and Bulington were arrested later that day in Wathena, Kansas.

The execution was carried out at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Tisius, 42, died via lethal injection. He was declared dead by 6:10 p.m.

Tisius made a written final statement in the days leading up to his execution.

I am holding tightly to my faith. It’s all I have to take with me. I am sorry it had to come to this in this way. I wish I could have made things right while I was still here. I really did try to become a better man. I really tried hard to give as much as I could to as many as I could. I tried to forgive others as I wish to be forgiven. And I pray that God will forgive those who condemn me. Just as the forgave those who condemned Him. I am sorry. And not because I am at the end. But because I truly am sorry.

And I need to say that I love you Truffle.

Seacrest Out!
Final statement by Michael Tisius; taken June 3, 2023

Meanwhile, Burlington and Vance are serving life sentences for the failed jailbreak and murders.

Last week, a federal judge granted a temporary stay following a claim from defense attorneys that a juror who sentenced Tisius to die was illiterate. The death penalty was later reinstated by an appeals panel.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to stop the execution. That same day, Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied a clemency request.

Parson’s office issued the following statement after the execution was carried out:

Missouri’s judicial system provided Mr. Tisius with due process and fair proceedings for his brutal murders of two Randolph County jail guards. Having run a small county jail, I know firsthand the hard work and selflessness displayed by those who work there. It’s despicable that two dedicated public servants were murdered in a failed attempt to help another criminal evade the law. The state of Missouri carried out Mr. Tisius’s sentences according to the Court’s order and delivered justice.

Tisius is the third person executed by the state in 2023.

On Jan. 3, the state executed Amber McLaughlin, the first openly transgender inmate to be executed.

McLaughlin was sentenced to death on Nov. 3, 2006, for the murder of ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther. During the 2005 trial, prosecutors said McLaughlin, then known as Scott, stalked Guenther, abducted her as she left her job, and stabbed her to death.

The Missouri Department of Corrections executed Leonard Taylor on Feb. 7 for the November 2004 murders of his girlfriend and her three young children.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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