Curtis Lavelle Vance Found Guilty for Annie Pressly Murder

by Amy Judd | November 11, 2009 at 02:46 pm

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In a decision made today Curtis Lavelle Vance has been found guilty for the murder of Arkansas television anchor Anne Pressly in 2008. The jury deliberated for about two hours and found Curtis Lavelle Vance guilty of capital murder, residential burglary, rape and theft of property.

It is still to be decided if he was receive life in prison or the death penalty.

Anne Pressly was only 26 when she was killed. She was the morning news anchor for Little Rock, Arkansas television station and CNN affiliate station KATV. She was found unconscious in her home, but died five days later. Curtis Lavelle Vance pleaded not guilty to the charges in her death, but through DNA he was linked to the killing; he also admitted to part of her murder in a taped confession.

Pressly's mother, Patti Cannady, told NBC last year her daughter fought hard for her life, breaking her left hand in the process.

"I found my daughter beyond recognition, with every bone in her face broken, her nose broken, her jaw pulverized so badly that the bone had come out of it," Cannady said. "I actually thought that her throat had possibly been cut. Her entire skull had numerous fractures from which she suffered a massive stroke."

Curtis Lavelle Vance showed little reaction when he was pronounced guilty, but Anne's mother and relatives cried and hugged each other.

Lt. Terry Hastings, spokesman for Little Rock police, has said investigators found no link between Pressly and Vance, and they do not believe Pressly's being on TV had anything to do with the killing.

"I think he saw her someplace, probably followed her home with intention of robbing her. And then went from there," he said.