TV Anchor's Brutal Beating Puzzles Cops

Ark. Morning Show Personality Found Bloodied At Home; Remains In Critical Condition

(CBS/AP)  Anne Pressly's personality made her a hit with television viewers. Now, police want to know whether her celebrity made her a target.

The popular KATV anchorwoman, who had a small part in the new Bush biopic "W," was in critical but stable condition Tuesday after a severe beating in her home. Investigators aren't sure whether she was the random victim of a home invasion or a target because of her high-profile job.

"(It) is possible that it is something other than robbery," police spokeswoman Cassandra Davis said. "Our detectives are talking with co-workers because she was a public figure, because she was on the news, in the media."

Pressly, 26, was found Monday a half-hour before she was due on the set of "Daybreak," a morning mix of news and features on Little Rock's ABC affiliate. Her mother discovered the anchorwoman battered and bloodied after she didn't answer a wake-up call.

Pressly was in her bed, unresponsive and bleeding from her head. Davis described the injuries as "severe wounds" and said Pressly had been stabbed. KATV, citing investigators, said her injuries were from blunt force trauma to the head and upper body.

Pressly's purse was missing, and police said she may have been beaten during a robbery, though there was no sign of forced entry into her home. Asked whether Pressly may have been targeted because of her job, Davis said officers were talking to station employees to determine whether Pressly "has had any problems." Davis would not discuss specifics.

In a statement Tuesday, Pressly's family said she has a "long struggle of recovery ahead of her."

"She is a fighter, a strong, healthy and physically fit young woman," said the statement, released by KATV. "We expect her to recover completely. We ask that you continue to pray for Anne and for us."

The family thanked people who had donated blood in Pressly's name, and asked for privacy.

Joey Sabb, Pressly's neighbor, told CBS' The Early Show Tuesday that he was unaware of any trouble she faced. "Everyone's in shock," Sabb said of the neighborhood, calling Pressly a "first-class girl" with "a heart of gold."

KATV president and general manager Dale Nicholson said the anchorwoman "simply lights up the room, by just walking in."

"The KATV family is having to deal with a personal crisis in our lives with the senseless brutality last night to one of our Daybreak anchors, Anne Pressly," Nicholson said in a statement Monday.

The last known contact with Pressly was between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

A friend and colleague at KARK-TV, Mallory Hardin, said she had dinner with Pressly that night, then later went to see "W" with other friends. Hardin said she and Pressly exchanged text messages about the film afterward and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Pressly sent her a "bubbly, wonderful text," Hardin told NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday. She said news of her friend's attack was surreal.

"If there's one person that doesn't have an enemy, it is Anne Pressly," Hardin said. "She's wonderful to everybody. She's the most loving girl that anyone could ever meet."

Police said Pressly's mother, Patricia Cannady, regularly gives her daughter a wake-up call and went to her home Monday when Pressly didn't answer. A man who answered Cannady's phone said the family had no comment.

Pressly won a small role in the new Oliver Stone movie after traveling to Shreveport, La. - where much of the movie was filmed - to work on a story on the region's film industry. The movie's casting director noticed her and cast her to appear as a conservative commentator who speaks favorably of Bush's "Mission Accomplished" event on an aircraft carrier shortly after the start of the Iraq war.

Kate Hubin, a spokeswoman for the film company Lionsgate, confirmed Pressly's role but declined further comment.

KATV's Web site notes that Pressly's most notable interview was with Vice President Dick Cheney. Traveling through an Arkansas town, the anchorwoman found the highway blocked in front of a hunting goods store because Cheney was inside. Pressly asked for an interview, which she conducted in the ammunition aisle.

[barbaram99]

No dear ye did not but some fool did and i hope they catch him/her. I said it a guy. We live in Seattle they aired on the TV here. Why some one would this is beyound me. I HAVE SEEN ALOT IN MY 54 YEARS. It worse today. I hope they find the sicko that preyed on her. IT HAD TO BE A GUY. iF ANOTHER WOMAN DID THIS I CAN''T BELIEVE IT. iT IS AWFUL.

[smurfcrusher]

No more "warbabys" brdliky6 ? Idiot

[nothappyatall]

A man who answered Cannady''s phone on Monday said the family had no comment. "

What the hel1 freaking comment does anyone expect from her family?? what a moron reporter calling her family up like that, geez, anything for a dam story!

[barbaram99]

Rudy, ARE YE A WOMAN BEATER AND A MAN WHO BOSSES A WOMAN ABOUT. I told a man to walk. See that door mister. Ye turn around and grt the hell out. nO WOMAN HAVE TO PUT OUT WITH SHIIT. Saw that story on TV. I was pissed at the bas-****. Men should know better. I am appalled at the way men trart women. No man will ever abuse me again. Ladies be careful.

[tnz650-2009]

OMG you people are psycho. This didn''t have anything to do with politics. You have gone off the deep end! Republicans hated her because she was in "W." Democrats hated her because she played a conservative. Will you people take a second to listen to yourselves? Please, PLEASE all you psycho''s, PLEASE don''t vote at all!!! May this dear gal recover quickly and may her family and friends have peace.

[tubuletastic]

For God''s sake, I will throw up if you show pictures of her after her attack. I can see that she is a smart girl that was unfortunately in the path of a lunatic. God Bless her I am very glad that she is alive. I hope that her pain that she is in subsides as soon a possible. My heart is broken that this happens at all to anyone, it does seem that when it happens to a beautiful celebrity that it is published much more.

[slim1h2o]

There, a conspiracy theory that is as bullet proof. Just try & punch a hole in that one!!


Posted by Questionnews at 02:27 PM : Oct 21, 2008

LOL....

I heard it was Count Chocula looking for some chocolat. But was surprised when she suddenly awoke in the middle of his bungled break-in...

[timetravelr]

I believe this had EVERYTHING to do with her role on ''W'', and also her interview with Cheney. She played a CONSERVATIVE commentator in the movie.

Why would a Republican do something like this to her, after she played a part, speaking favorably of Bush? This wasn''t a Republican attack on her, because she is in the media. This was an attack on her, because ''someone'' out there, hated her that much for being a CONSERVATIVE in the movie, AND for interviewing Cheney.

Prayers to her and her family. She''s a beautiful and talented woman, who did NOT deserve this.

[questionnews]

I see the paranoid conspiracy theorists are getting themselves all frothed up & reaching deep into muck bucket.

Let''s try my theory:
The Keebler Elves executed this attack in response to a bias KATV article that praised Snap, Crackle & Pop for their efforts to dominate the snack pack market. The elves were questioned about why small green pointy hats were found at the scene among discarded crow bars & baseball bats. Keebler Elf spokesman Ernie Keebler denies that they had any involvement in the attack.

There, a conspiracy theory that is as bullet proof. Just try & punch a hole in that one!!

[pjc27]

Awe, the work of some of the McPalin crowd, isn''t that sweat? Rile ''em up and send ''em out to slice tires, beat reporters into oblivion and shoot baby bears in the head, wrap em in Obama signs and dump them at colleges.
These followers are SICK!

[oxmounter]

I am amazed by how much lipstick some women wear.

[khadilov]

I really am not what some would say a ''religous freak'', but I truely believe that a spirit of evil has been release(?)/ or growing in our world. The level of violence, sexual preditors, and prejudice, seems to be growing and growing. Just hold fast to whatever you think is good (except of couse evil). I pray everyday, but things of pervertion, evil, and violence seems to me are only getting worse. Maybe I should take a break from the news. It is very depressing.

Please pray truely for this family and community and for all of us!

[antoniof123]

I heard a very chilling comment about this last night from an ultra-conservative McCain supporter. He said "this is just the beginning." He meant that the far right wants to go to war against the media! He actually thought that it was OK that this woman was beaten because she''''s a member of the press!
Posted by sunspro at 09:03 AM : Oct 21, 2008

If what you say is true then they will be treated like the terrorist they are.

[gmond]

Hmmm.

[luvny-2009]

Sadly this poor girl probably didn''t see them as it was dark. Hope they catch them and beat the cr@p out of them!

[jydavis1]

MOssad ?

[luvcanines]

how horrible. i hope she fully recovers and can identify her attackers. she''s a lovely young woman with a very bright future. i wish her and her family the best.

[smurfcrusher]

Hopefully she will tell the police everything they need to catch the perpetrator.