Murder suspect who skipped bail back in local custody
A Neshoba County woman indicted in the March 2023 murder of her boyfriend here at a residence off of Highway 16 West has been returned to local custody after she was arrested in New York state after skipping bail for that murder, Sheriff Eric Clark said.
The woman, Stephanie M. Vance, 26, of 11852 Highway 16 West, Philadelphia, arrived back at the Neshoba County Detention Center at 8:30 pm on Wednesday, April 10, Clark said.
“She is awaiting arraignment on her Indictment with the 8th District Circuit Court,” Clark said.
Vance was indicted here for the murder of Christopher Charles Bland on Dec. 14, 2023. Clark said she had been out on a $100,000 bond since September and failed to show up for a bond call on Dec. 20 after she was indicted.
Vance was arrested back in January 2024 in Dutchess County, New York for the local murder indictment.
Clark said Vance refused to sign an extradition agreement. The local District Attorney requested a Governor’s Warrant from the State of Mississippi.
“It was granted and sent to New York,“ Clark said. “Court proceedings in New York led to a New York Governor’s Warrant being issued.”
The indictment stems from a Friday, March 3 incident when officers responded to 11852 Highway 16 West for an emergency medical call, Clark said.
“The caller stated that she had discharged her handgun and shot her boyfriend,” Clark said at the time. “She stated the .9mm SCCY handgun went off while they were fighting.”
Deputies and Neshoba EMS responded, Clark said. Vance was detained and Child Protection Services was contacted to assist and take custody of their 8-month-old child.
The victim, Christopher Charles Bland, 35, who lived at the same address, was taken to Neshoba General and later flown by helicopter to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson where he died the following day, according to Clark.
He said Vance was initially charged with aggravated domestic violence, but the charges were upgraded to first-degree murder after Bland’s death.