Parents: Slain Anchor Sexually Assaulted

Family Of Fatally Beaten Ark. Woman Says Evidence Shows Attack Was More Than Robbery

(AP)  The parents of an Arkansas television anchorwoman who was beaten to death say there's forensic evidence their daughter was sexually assaulted as well, and she broke her hand fighting off her attacker.

Guy and Patti Cannady talked with the "Today" show's Matt Lauer on Monday, five days after suspect Curtis Lavelle Vance was arrested in the Oct. 20 beating death of KATV anchorwoman Anne Pressly.

They said while the police were investigating the case as a homicide, there's a lot of evidence that there was more to it than that.

"This monster stole my daughter's innocence," Patti Cannady told NBC's "Today" show. "He took her life. He took her identity. He took our lives. Our lives have radically changed as a result of what's happened to Anne."

Patti Cannady said her daughter suffered a broken left hand in the attack. "She fought for her life, she fought her attacker," she said.

Patti Cannady went to her daughter's Little Rock home after she didn't answer a wake-up call and found the 26-year-old had been beaten beyond recognition. Every bone in her face had been broken, Cannady said.

"Her jaw pulverized so badly that the bone had come out of it," she said. "I actually thought that her throat, it possibly been cut, but that was possibly the first knockout punch. Her entire skull had numerous fractures from which she suffered a massive stroke."

Pressly died in the hospital five days later without regaining consciousness.

Police did not return a call Monday morning seeking comment on the Cannadys' comments.

Guy Cannady said the family still has many questions about the murder. He said the police theory is that Pressly interrupted a random robbery, but he isn't convinced of that.

"Well, it's just unbelievable that a random robbery like this would involve the brutal slaying of Anne in this way. There just seems to be a lot more to the whole story than just a robbery gone bad," he said. "I think he could have been a stalker."

An arrest affidavit filed Monday morning in Little Rock District Court shows police believe "several items belonging to Ms. Pressly were taken from her residence during this attack." In Marianna, police said Vance is a suspect in several burglaries in the eastern Arkansas city, about 90 miles from Little Rock. A detective there said Vance became a suspect in the burglaries after his girlfriend sold reportedly stolen items to a Helena-West Helena pawn shop.

Little Rock police Detective Tommy Hudson wrote in the affidavit that Pressly died after suffering "blunt force trauma" during the attack. Hudson wrote that Vance denied being in Little Rock the day of the attack on Pressly and allowed detectives to swab a DNA sample from his saliva.

"It was confirmed with all scientific certainty that Mr. Vance is the DNA contributor of the suspect in Ms. Pressly's murder," the affidavit reads.

Guy Cannady said they had mixed feelings about the arrest.

"Obviously, good news for us, but bittersweet in the sense that now that exits from the first chapter of this, her attack, and now into the next chapter, which is the capture of the suspect and into now the trial phase."

Vance is being held without bond at the Pulaski County jail. He is also accused of raping an east Arkansas school teacher in April.

Pressly worked as a morning anchorwoman for KATV and had a small role as a conservative commentator in the Oliver Stone movie "W." She lived alone in the city's Pulaski Heights section, a mix of mansions and bungalows near a country club.

Pressly's mother, visiting from out of town at the time of the attack, found Pressly a half-hour before the anchorwoman was due on air. The anchorwoman had been beaten severely on the head and upper torso.

[nikosk11]

Sick society. Sick, sick, sick.

[johnlloydsch]

The Courts are convinced DNA evidence is absolute certainty. IT IS NOT. The DNA profiles use a small part of our DNA.

Raymond Easton suffers from Parkinson''s disease. By the year 2000 he was so disabled that he could not manage to dress himself alone.

In spite of this he was charged with a burglary which had taken place 200 miles away from his home.

Three years earlier Raymond was involved in a family dispute. He had been cautioned and a DNA sample was taken. Raymond''s DNA matched that found at the scene of the burglary.

Fortunately DNA testing offered a way out of the situation it had created. Once a fuller DNA analysis was made, differences between Raymond''s DNA and that of the burglar became clear and the charges against him were dropped.

Despite its increased resolution, DNA profiling is often not enough.

Mark Benecke, one of Europe''s leading consultant forensic biologists,based in Cologne, Germany, said, "Wrongful convictions can only be made if DNA is looked upon as the only evidence."

The integration of different sources of forensic evidence and their combination with investigative and legal procedures are even more significant than progress in any single field, such as DNA testing.

[slim1h2o]

What a sick animal. He broke every bone in her face?

Yup,,sick sick sick.

Somehow I wonder if she had a gun in the nightstand, , would the outcome be different?

Maybe.....

[ford555551]

Hang the sick ***.

[matrixrx2003]

Charge up the Power Cells the Electric Chair will be needed soon !

Toast this Jack @$$ !

[axomomma]

This is the kind of guy that you want to castrate and emasculate, no pain killers, nothing, then later, after the bleeding stops, fry him in the electric chair. No stays, no appeals, just fry him.

[skeetchamp]

"Stole her ''innocence''?" Was she a vestal virgin? Is that what her parents are claiming? We all feel the crime was sufficiently horrible. There''s no need to make out like the victim -- a grown woman -- was a prepubescent child. There also was no need to go on television and announce to the world that she was raped. We already knew this was a gruesome crime. There''s no need to try to ''convince'' us of that. No one has been questioning that.
I do wonder why the beating was so severe. That usually indicates the killer knew the victim very well. A boyfriend or husband or other relative. We''ll never understand how someone could do that to anyone.
I wish for their own sake the parents would stay away from the press from now on. Once you invite the media into your private life, you can''t set boundaries. Most people end up regretting it. On the other hand, they may be setting us up for a book or movie deal they''ve got in the works. I''d like to think that''s not the case, but we''ve been such examples of incredibly bad taste before.

[eraser8818]

Posted by skeetchamp at 01:28 PM : Dec 01, 2008

You mean there is no place in the U.S. where you can find a 26 year old virgin?

I agree 100% on the media. Stay away from them.

[clathrate]

This is the kind of guy that you want to castrate and emasculate, no pain killers, nothing, then later, after the bleeding stops, fry him in the electric chair. No stays, no appeals, just fry him.


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Posted by axomomma

Oh no. No no no. This *** needs to suffer for more than just a few hours. I''d say the best thing to do would be to allow fire ants to slowly infest his cell. Over time, he would slowly lose body parts to the stinging bite of the ferocious ants. Put a mirror in the cell so he can watch as his body is slowly eaten away over the period of a month, knowing full well that he is going to die, that the pain will be unrelenting, and that the only thing to be buried will be his dry bones.

[mswolfestock]

This animal should never see the light of day again. Lethal injection is way, way too good for him. Convict him and then put him into the prison yard and let the cons give him some Prison Justice. I can''t stand the idea that they are spending tax money feeding and sheltering this animal while he awaits the trial.

[eraser8818]

This is the kind of guy that you want to castrate and emasculate, no pain killers, nothing, then later, after the bleeding stops, fry him in the electric chair. No stays, no appeals, just fry him.

Posted by axomomma

Oh no. No no no. This *** needs to suffer for more than just a few hours. I''''d say the best thing to do would be to allow fire ants to slowly infest his cell. Over time, he would slowly lose body parts to the stinging bite of the ferocious ants. Put a mirror in the cell so he can watch as his body is slowly eaten away over the period of a month, knowing full well that he is going to die, that the pain will be unrelenting, and that the only thing to be buried will be his dry bones.

Posted by clathrate at 02:49 PM : Dec 01, 2008


No, no, no. That''s not good enough. Someone needs to peel his "you know what" like a banana, first. Then sprinkle some salt on it.

[clovernyc]

What a surprise... a black man is accused in Arkansas no less of brutally murdering and raping a blonde blue eyed white woman described as ''innocent'' and who ''broke her hand fighting off her attacker.''

Guess there is no possibility on earth that a white man killed her... a white man who was possibly her lover?

No way. It had to be a black man. Had to be.

[cwbyht]

It was a black man you stupid libtard **** A black man was caught. You sniveling enabaler. This por gals blood is on your hands too.

[cwbyht]

In my neck of the woods this animal would be strung up, and his ***** stuffed in his mouth. How bout a little old fashioned southern justice?

[questionnews]

What a surprise... a black man is accused in Arkansas no less of brutally murdering and raping a blonde blue eyed white woman described as ''''innocent'''' and who ''''broke her hand fighting off her attacker.''''

Guess there is no possibility on earth that a white man killed her... a white man who was possibly her lover?

No way. It had to be a black man. Had to be.

Posted by CloverNYC at 04:02 PM : Dec 01, 2008

Don''t worry! This guy is just as innocent as O.J. Simpson. I''m sure it''s just another case of the white man puttin down the black man!!! Oh when will a black man catch a break & get a chance to hold some real power???

[neonink]

There are too many vicious animals among us. They must be put down. Hard and quick. Kill the SOB.

[aldon61]

In my neck of the woods this animal would be strung up, and his ***** stuffed in his mouth. How bout a little old fashioned southern justice?


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Posted by cwbyht at 04:30 PM : Dec 01, 2008
+ report abuse
It was a black man you stupid libtard **** A black man was caught. You sniveling enabaler. This por gals blood is on your hands too.


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Posted by cwbyht at 04:26 PM : Dec 01, 2008
report abuse


Just want to remind you and others, this IS America! The accused stands innocent until guilt is PROVEN; then we sentence them. I admit, the evidence isn''t good in this case, but let the legal system play out. Vigilanty justice is not the rule of law.

[clovernyc]

Questionnews, the answer is on January 20, 2009 a black man with real power will take his place as the POTUS.

Yeah.

[aldon61]

Questionnews, the answer is on January 20, 2009 a black man with real power will take his place as the POTUS.

Yeah.


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Posted by CloverNYC at 04:44 PM : Dec 01, 2008

There''s a lot of us that are looking forward to that date, not because Obama is black, but because he was the right choice for our country. PS: It helped that his name was not BUSH!

[clovernyc]

All it takes is a raped, dead blonde blue eyed woman and a black suspect to bring you backwoods rednecks out from under the chicken coop.

If she had been an inner city black anchorwoman, you would not be on this board talking about castration and referring to the accused as an ''animal''

Hypocrites.

[aldon61]

All it takes is a raped, dead blonde blue eyed woman and a black suspect to bring you backwoods rednecks out from under the chicken coop.

If she had been an inner city black anchorwoman, you would not be on this board talking about castration and referring to the accused as an ''''animal''''

Hypocrites.


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Posted by CloverNYC at 04:49 PM : Dec 01, 2008

You know buddy, I had to step back and look at your post. I''m a 66 year old white guy living in the state of Texas. After due consideration, I tend to agree with you, sadly though.........

[Krazcarl]

You know I''m a white guy raised in a all white town but moved south and lived there 25 years. You ignorant fools trying to prove your not racist by saying it might be a white gut HIS DNA WAS THERE I would dought she had a drug addicted thief over for tea. I''m so sick of folks giving black scum a walk to prove there not racist {YES there''s white trash to}. Folks that try to disprove there racist end upproving they are. This sick piece of trash thought it would be fun to mall a white women if your interested in truth he was and is the ultimate racist.

[missybelle-2009]

If she had been an inner city black anchorwoman, you would not be on this board talking about castration and referring to the accused as an ''''animal''''

Hypocrites.


Posted by CloverNYC at 04:49 PM : Dec 01, 2008

Are you pretending to be clairvoyant? Because, you know, how do you know this? It''s criminal no matter the race.

[missybelle-2009]

See, what I blame is the black man''s hate for whites, and who better to take out rage and hatred on than a woman who can''t fight back? Maybe it would be better not to perpetuate the race card as an excuse for just getting by.

[clovernyc]

To outlive your children is the universal nightmare of every loving parent.

May God comfort their hearts.

[clovernyc]

Missybelle,

The chicken coop is calling you. Please crawl back under it and leave having an opinion to someone with a brain.

[clathrate]

If she had been an inner city black anchorwoman, you would not be on this board talking about castration and referring to the accused as an ''''animal''''

Hypocrites.


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Posted by CloverNYC

Not true. I want this guy dead and to suffer because he is an evil SOB, regardless of his race or that of his victim.

[clovernyc]

Clathrate,

In America the accused is innocent until proven guilty but obviously not where you come from.

[cwbyht]

I don''t care if it was a white guy named Whitney Ellingsworth III from Exeter and Harvard. HANG THE ***!!

[clovernyc]

All it takes is a raped, dead blonde blue eyed woman and a black suspect to bring you backwoods rednecks out from under the chicken coop.

If she had been an inner city black anchorwoman who was raped and brutally murdered, you would conjecture it was a drug deal gone sour or baby mama drama - you would not be on this board talking about castration, hanging and referring to the accused as an ''animal''

HYPOCRITES.

[airboatboy1]

What a surprise... a black man is accused in Arkansas no less of brutally murdering and raping a blonde blue eyed white woman described as ''''innocent'''' and who ''''broke her hand fighting off her attacker.''''

Guess there is no possibility on earth that a white man killed her... a white man who was possibly her lover?

No way. It had to be a black man. Had to be.


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Posted by CloverNYC at 04:02 PM : Dec 01, 2008

You would have to be racist or not to intelligent to post a comment like this.

[jetsetter08]

Crime is crime, rape is rape, murder is murder, scum is scum. It is what it is, lets keep race out of it.

[clovernyc]

In my neck of the woods this animal would be strung up, and his ***** stuffed in his mouth. How bout a little old fashioned southern justice?

Posted by cwbyht at 04:30 PM : Dec 01, 2008
----------------------------------------------------

No, you ninny. This is racist. Note the difference.

[clovernyc]

Jetsetter08,

I see your point but consider this, please

In an ideal world race would not be a factor but the fact is that her blonde hair and blue eyes are prominent in the color photo that has been clearly posted at several news sites for all the world to see.

The photo of her alleged attacker who is black is also posted for all the world to see. These facts make it difficult to leave race out of it.

Then there is the additional release of information that she was raped, the subtle like a sledgehammer implication that she was a virgin, and that her hand was broken when she supposedly tried to defend herself all add fuel to the racist fires.

Explain, if you dare, how anyone can leave race out of it?

[airboatboy1]

Explain, if you dare, how anyone can leave race out of it?


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Posted by CloverNYC at 06:00 PM : Dec 01, 2008

A white woman allegedly got raped and killed by a black guy. I would like to see the black guy hung if he is found guilty. I didn''t leave race out of it. Doe''s that make me racist?

[apitaly]

He is just a SCUMBAG that happens to be black.... too bad his MOMMY didn''t flush him down the toilet when she had the chance.....

[cwbyht]

A libtard is someopne who wants to understand some animal who rapes and kills.

A conservative understands an animal who rapes and kills, needs to be wiped off the face of the earth.

[cwbyht]

Also this woman was an active member of a Christian church, who lived her beliefs. Is it really so hard for some to beleve that a few women still save themselves for marriage?
Her virginity though not really anyones business, is not some made up fairy tale.

[axomomma]

OK, I did not read the article with the picture of the suspect yesterday.
So the suspect is black? So what?
IF he is guilty, then castrate and emasculate him, no pain killers, nothing, then later, after the bleeding stops, fry him in the electric chair. No stays, no appeals, just fry him.
Now, to all the Libtards out there, now that I know the suspect is black, and I feel the exact same way about him that I did before I knew his race, am I a racist for thinking he should be castrated and emasculated before being fried in the electric chair?
Like a previous post said "I don''t care if his name is Charles Emerson Winchester III from Harvard or Exeter" chop off his junk and fry him!
Whoever brutalized that woman is a monster and should die a horribly painful slow death.