Man gets life without parole in Arkansas TV anchor's murder

A jury sentenced an Arkansas man to life in prison without parole for killing a television anchor, officials said Thursday.

The Pulaski County, Arkansas, jury on Wednesday convicted Curtis Lavelle Vance, 29, of capital murder, residential burglary, rape and theft of property in the October 2008 slaying of Anne Pressly, 26.

Pressly, the morning news anchor for CNN affiliate KATV, was found beaten and unconscious in her home. She died five days later.

Vance's sentencing phase began after he was convicted Wednesday of capital murder, rape and burglary.

Jurors were tasked with deciding whether the aggravating circumstances in favor of the death penalty outweighed the mitigating circumstances.

"Tonight, they have come back with a sentence, a sentence that they believe, and we share with them, is the harshest possible sentence for this gentleman going forward, where he will now spend the rest of his natural life in a 6-by-9 cell with nothing to think about but what he has done," said Guy Cannady, stepfather of the victim.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/12/arkansas.anchor.slain/index.html

I'm glad this animal won't be able to hurt anybody else.

That's why prison cells look like cages...cuz they ARE...God Bless her family and friends and all the people who were touched by this beautiful soul! I wrote something else but I erased it....it was too hateful!!!!!

I watched this heartless murderer's reaction the other night on TV. His arrogance was beyond belief! I'm only sorry that the jury didn't see it. He should have gotten the Death Penalty. He thought nothing of brutally beating, & raping his victim. Why in Hell should his life be spared? He claimed that he only intended to steal a laptop, & yet he viciously beat, raped and murdered his helpless victim!!!! Sparing his life is a huge mistake, and a big waste of time. Too bad he can't share a cell with Charles Manson or Richard Ramirez.

Or Casey Anthony

I agree...... why should this credent's life have been spared?

But at least Anne and her family finally get the justice they so deserve.... Anne was murdered in October of last year and her murderer is already convicted...... why is KC STILL in protective custody instead of general population with Big Bertha... or better yet, HELL....

Sometimes the worst punishment you can give someone is to put them in prison in general population for the rest of their natural life... however long (or short) that is....

Rest in peace, Anne.

Dis wrote:Or Casey Anthony

Hi, Dis! Now wouldn't that be the couple from Hell? They certainly would deserve each other.

Snaz wrote:I agree...... why should this credent's life have been spared?

But at least Anne and her family finally get the justice they so deserve.... Anne was murdered in October of last year and her murderer is already convicted...... why is KC STILL in protective custody instead of general population with Big Bertha... or better yet, HELL....

Sometimes the worst punishment you can give someone is to put them in prison in general population for the rest of their natural life... however long (or short) that is....

Rest in peace, Anne.

Hi, Snaz! I think that's true sometimes. Then there are the other times when I'm not so sure about it. I believe the world would be a much better place without people like Casey, & the vicious beast who murdered Anne. It would be two less threats to society, that's for sure. After what they did, they definitely do not deserve to be alive.