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Oklahoma double-homicide suspect not seen in 24 hours, sheriff says

By Andrew V. Pestano
Michael Vance, a 38-year-old homicide suspect who is the subject of a manhunt in Oklahoma, has not been seen in over 24 hours and could have died from a bullet injury, Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office
Michael Vance, a 38-year-old homicide suspect who is the subject of a manhunt in Oklahoma, has not been seen in over 24 hours and could have died from a bullet injury, Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office

WELLSTON, Okla., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Police on Tuesday said Michael Vance, a homicide suspect who is the subject of a manhunt in Oklahoma, has not been seen in more than 24 hours and could have died from a bullet injury.

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said law enforcement officers are moving through rural Oklahoma in attempts to find Vance, who is accused of killing two family members and injuring two police officers in a gunfight, KOCO News 5 reported.

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Vance was shot during the gunfight with officers and Whetsel believes Vance could be anywhere. Authorities said Vance is likely avoiding major roads and could be hiding in his car or in a house.

"That is a real probability or possibility is that the wounds become, if they continue to bleed -- he bleeds out. Or infection sets in. There's just a number of probabilities or possibilities with that wound," Whetsel said Tuesday.

The injured officers, Shaun Stewart and Jim Hampton, were responding to a report of shots fired when they encountered a man who started shooting at them. Police believe that man was Vance.

Police accuse Vance of killing his aunt and uncle in the town of Luther before the shootout with police. They said the victims' injuries were consistent with an attempted decapitation. Vance then allegedly shot the two officers in Wellston, Okla., with an AK-47-type rifle. Police said he also shot a woman and stole her vehicle. The officers and the woman had non-life-threatening injuries.

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KFOR News Channel 4 reported police warned Vance may have a "hit list" of people in Luther.

Since his escape from capture, Vance has posted multiple live videos on Facebook.

Monday afternoon, officials identified the two dead victims -- Vance's uncle Ronald Wilkson, 55, and aunt Kay Wilkson, 54.

Investigators said Vance has AIDS and that he also may try to spread the disease. Vance was recently released from jail following an arrest for child sexual assault.

Authorities have stated that another "subject" was involved in the shooting and was arrested.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals and the Beckham County Sheriff's Office are involved in the search.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office considers Vance to be armed and dangerous.

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