Mourners Pay Tribute To Dead TV Anchor

No Evidence Brutally-Beaten Reporter Was Targeted, Little Rock Ark. Police Say

(CBS/ AP)  Mourners left flowers, stuffed animals and other mementos outside the home where a TV anchorwoman was found brutally beaten, as tributes poured into the Web site of the Little Rock station where her colleagues mourned her death.

Anne Pressly, a 26-year-old anchor for KATV, died Saturday night in a hospital. Her mother found her beaten Monday after the journalist didn't answer her regular wake-up call. Authorities have said they have no suspects.

Pressly worked as a reporter for WBBJ-TV in Jackson, Tenn., in 2004 and had attended Rhodes College in Memphis.

In front of Pressly's house, still wrapped with yellow crime scene tape, mourners passed by throughout the day Sunday, some leaving bouquets of flowers or other tokens to express their unity with Pressly's grieving family, friends and co-workers.

Hundreds of comments flooded the station's Web site from across the United States, including messages from loyal viewers accustomed to seeing Pressly on TV to those who said they'd never heard of her before the attack.

"Although I didn't know her or ever see her on the news I was very touched when I read the first article about her brutal beating. I do hope the person who did this is caught and punished to the full extent," a Connecticut woman wrote.

Frequent viewers of the ABC affiliate's "Daybreak" program recounted how Pressly had affected their lives.

"We never met Anne in person, but she was indeed part of our family as we invited her into our lives and into our living room everyday," wrote a couple from Quitman, Ark. "She stole our hearts with her beautiful smile and bubbly personality."

A makeshift memorial of flowers, candles and teddy bears lay near a tree outside the anchorwoman's home Sunday.

KATV has established a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Pressly's killer. The station Sunday said the fund had reached $30,000 and that Pressly's family asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the reward fund. The station said Pressly's family plans to establish a scholarship fund in the slain woman's name.

Police have said they had no indication Pressly was targeted for the attack. Little Rock police spokeswoman Sgt. Cassandra Davis didn't return phone messages Sunday from The Associated Press.

Melissa Dunbar-Gates, Pressly's best friend who was at her bedside when the anchor died, told CBS' The Early Show Pressly gave no indication that she was ever in danger.

"Anne would never complain about anything," Dunbar-Gates said. "She never did."

A statement issued by Pressly's parents, Guy and Patti Cannady, asked for privacy but also for support.

"Our lives will not be the same without her. We ask that you continue to pray for us as we struggle to move forward without our dear sweet daughter," the statement said.

KATV on Sunday continued with tributes to Pressly, showing examples of her reporting and offering recollections of working with her. As weekend anchorwoman Pamela Smith did Saturday night, she read messages from friends and strangers that were posted to KATV's Web site.

The site continued to teem with messages well into Sunday night. One, from a man in Hope, said, "My heart goes out to each of you. It is my prayer God's love and grace will comfort you during this time. The only thing you and I have in common (is) I have a daughter that is 26, too. Just goes to show us that Arkansas is a small state, what effects one of us, effects us all."

Pressly was born in South Carolina and moved with her family to Little Rock while she was in high school.

She had a small role as a conservative commentator in the new Oliver Stone movie "W.," which was filmed in Shreveport, La.

[ea_young]

I suppose it is asking a lot for people to treat her death with respect instead of turning it into a platform for personal neurosis. The first three comments attack blacks, the international mafia, and Republicans. I suppose as a newsperson she''d recognize the darkness from which such comments arise.

I knew her - in passing - saw her a couple of times while she was working on stories, for example. Little Rock is a small place, and one bumps into people. She seemed decent, intelligent, and one of the people you''d like your children to become. I cannot imagine what a parent must feel losing a child such as Anne, and pray that the Lord provides solace to all those whose lives she touched. She was a wonderful person in my experience and someone whose smile will be missed.

[dm502]

ea_young, you are so right! I hope they find the monster that did this soon. It is frightening that that person is still out there. It is also frightening to read the type of comments that end up on here. My prayers are with Miss Pressly''s family and friends. What a horrible tragedy!

[stevex47]

I''m so sorry for her, her family and friends.

I guess it''s not for us to understand all the anger and hate in this Country.

Why anyone would want to hurt a beautiful girl, or anyone, is beyond me.

[whatthe7700]

Godspeed Anne

[love4all2]

this is one instance that the death penalty is a good thing. i hope they catch the scum bag and fry him.
what is the world coming to? what could make someone do such a horrific thing as this?someone bright and full of promise and in an instant it is all over. Sad just very very sad

[love4all2]

BlackBabyMom Idiot
what does a liberal have to do with anything? this is a sad very sad story about a young woman cut down when she was starting to become a success?

[ustaxpayer]

I am sure her family is just in the worst place that anyone can imagine. No one deserves to experience that kind of pain.

The person who committed this act operates from a perspective that normal people can''t get in touch with. I only hope the parents don''t have to experience a trial as corrupt as the Simpson trial was years ago.

[rematenaj]

This is just so sad; I can''t imagine the pain her family is going through. I think I would literally lose my mind if anything happened to either of my (grown) children. On another note, bridlky14, something is wrong with you. Try to stay on topic.

[aaabee-2009]

what does a liberal have to do with anything? this is a sad very sad story about a young woman cut down when she was starting to become a success?
Posted by love4all2 at 01:09 PM : Oct 27, 2008

Just ignore her. They have to work hard to get liberal hate into every article, but they manage.

Tragedy doesn''t ask what political, religious, or race you are before it hits you, and neither should sympathy, empathy, and caring.

[aaabee-2009]

TV personalities do take a lot of risk being on TV. They become the focus of some mixed up people.

In Memory:
Jodi Huisentruit, TV personality in Iowa is still missing and presumed dead.

[denn034]

No one deserves to be treated like that and die of it. Here''s hoping the person(s?) that did it gets punished. News reporters are trained in self defense and jujitsu so, whoever did this had to have equal or great defense training and that suggests former military. Hopefully, that observation helps catch the moron that did this dispicable deed.

[dickbash]

Tragic loss. Please consider your position on the death penalty carefully. It deters not one single act. But it takes such idiotic killers out of the gene pool. And deservedly so.

[ksemasterson]

This is so very sad my thoughts and prayers go out to her family. But to the person who did this and you know they know what everyone is saying on this topic...your day is coming even if u get away with it somehow you still have to face your maker and theres no getting away from him!!! YOU WILL GET WHATS COMMING TO YOU ONE WAQY OR THE OTHER!!!! RIP ANNE PRESSLY THERE WILL BE JUSTICE IN THE END NO MATTER WHAT!!