Advertisement

CONVICTED:  Curtis Vance led from court after verdict.

Curtis Lavelle Vance has been convicted on all counts in the beating death of KATV’s Anne Pressly.

Advertisement

The Pulaski Circuit Court jury, which got the case at 12:45 p.m., returned shortly after 3 p.m. with the required unanimous verdicts on all counts: Capital murder, rape, theft of property and residential burglary.

The jury will reconvene Thursday morning to continue hearing arguments for and against the death penalty for Vance on the murder conviction. The only alternate sentence is life withhout parole.

Advertisement

Pressly’s badly beaten body was found in her Heights home early Oct. 20. 2008. She died several days later of the injuries, never having recovered consciousness. Police were led to arrest Vance, of Marianna, after DNA testing of evidence found in Pressly’s home matched DNA evidence gathered in a Marianna rape case. Marianna police identified Vance as a potential suspect in that rape and Little Rock police detectives obtained a DNA sample from him that matched crime scene evidence. Over a period of several months, Vance gave a series of statements to police, often conflicting, but in several he admitted the crime.

During the penalty phase, the defense will renew its arguments that Vance’s mental capacity and his difficult family situation should mitigate factors arguing for the death penalty.

Advertisement

David Koon reports that there was a lot of huggng and crying among Pressly’s friends after the verdict.

During deliberations, Judge Chris Piazza had the jury in to answer questions about Vance’s statements. Twitter accounts say the judge told them that transcripts of Vance’s statements weren’t admissable, but the recordings could be replayed for them.

Advertisement

Going into the courtroom before closing arguments this morning, Vance told Fox 16’s David Goins, “I feel pretty good.”

Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson closed for the state with an almost cinematic narrativeof Curtis Vance’s nighttime prowl through the Heights looking for homes to burgle. He called Vance a scavenger who became a predator.

Advertisement

 

Said Johnson of the victim: “She could have been any one of us who was doing everything right … the Anne Presslys of the word ought to be safe. But when Curtis Vance is in the neighborhood and your’re a woman and you’re alone, you’re alone except for Curtis Vance.”

 

Johnson emphasized the strength of DNA evidence and  endeavored to explain away what the defense had depicted as inconsistencies, particularly one piece of evidence that could only be traced to Vance paternal heritage. Johnson noted that Vance’s brother, to whose home Vance went the night of the crime, had a different father.

Advertisement

50 years of fearless reporting and still going strong

Be a part of something bigger and join the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been tackling powerful forces through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 email subscribers, it's clear that our readers value our commitment to great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating – as little as $1 –, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Take a stand with the Arkansas Times and make a difference with your subscription or donation today.

Previous article To-Do List, Nov. 12 Next article Dwight David Honeycutt has the biggest dreams and strongest hands in this g-d state!