Roy Dale Ensey, a homeless man from Empire, California, died on October 22, 2019, under tragic and violent circumstances. His death was the result of a longstanding feud with Michael Roger Bruce, a resident of Empire. The conflict between Ensey and Bruce escalated dramatically when Ensey, believing Bruce possessed a winning lottery ticket worth $20,000, attempted to break into Bruce's home.
During this altercation, Ensey allegedly shot a gun and set fire to Bruce's truck using a Molotov cocktail. The lottery ticket, which Ensey believed to be valuable, was later found to be worthless.
In response to Ensey's aggressive actions, Bruce tracked him down and found him hiding under the Santa Fe Bridge. Bruce then shot Ensey at close range five times with a shotgun, resulting in Ensey's death. The following morning, construction workers discovered Ensey's body under the bridge on the north side of the Tuolumne River. The fatal shots were to Ensey's face, with additional birdshot wounds to his side and back.
Michael Roger Bruce was arrested and charged with murder shortly after the incident. However, the initial charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. Bruce was re-arrested after further investigation and witness testimonies provided new evidence. The prosecution's first attempt to try Bruce ended in a mistrial in 2020 due to a hung jury. Eventually, Bruce agreed to a plea deal, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for an 11-year prison sentence. This plea deal was reached during the jury selection phase of his second trial.
Bruce's criminal history includes prior convictions for evading law enforcement, vehicle theft, and a felony hit-and-run. He was also a suspect in a 2011 kidnapping case. In addition to the manslaughter charge, Bruce was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The case highlights the complexities and challenges of prosecuting homicide cases, particularly when there are elements of self-defense and provocation involved.
