CHEHALIS, Wash. — A man who killed his father was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday.
According to police, Joshua Vance attacked and fatally stabbed his father, Terry Vance, while he was sleeping in their Onalaska home.
Family members were in the courtroom to see Joshua Vance be sentenced.
"What transpired the night of March 7th was disgusting," said Larry Vance, Joshua Vance's uncle. "And I feel when Josh murdered my brother, Josh died as well as far as I'm concerned."
Terry Vance’s mother, Bonnie Vance, wept as her story about the killing was read to the judge.
“I heard my son, Terry Vance, yell, ‘No, Josh, No.’ And I heard a loud struggle going on,” said Bonnie Vance.
When Bonnie Vance ran to her son’s bedroom and found Joshua Vance standing over his dad with a knife in his hand, she yelled for him to stop.
Joshua Vance told detectives he would have killed his grandmother, uncle and 10-year-old cousin in the house, but he cut himself while attacking his father.
In court, Vance had no explanation.
After hearing the family, the judge sentenced Vance to 30 years in prison.
“Still the nightmares continue. Our lives have been affected for the remaining days we have left here on earth,” said Larry Vance.
The only motive Joshua Vance revealed about the killing was claiming his father did not treat him well, which the family called untrue.
Three months after Terry Vance was killed, an electrical fire destroyed the Onalaska home where the family had lived for more than 40 years.
The community has gathered together to help the Vance family and KIRO 7 was there in August when they were able move into their new home on the same property.
That new home was made possible in part by donations and volunteer efforts of the people in Onalaska.
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