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AR State Treasurer Arrested

UPDATE: DNA links Vance to Pressly murder, Marianna robbery assault

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Reported by: David Goins

Email: dgoins@fox16.com

Contributor: Kelly Dudzik

Updated: 12/01/2008 9:36 pm

Published: 11/26/2008 8:49 pm

Marianna Police investigators confirm DNA links Curtis Vance, 28, to the murder of KATV anchorwoman Anne Pressly and to a robbery and sexual assault in Lee County seven months ago.

FOX16's David Goins first reported early Friday afternoon that Vance voluntarily submitted a DNA sample at the Marianna Police Department on Tuesday.

Marianna detective Carl McCree began working a robbery and sexual assault of a high school teacher, 32, in her home on April 21. McCree says they submitted the crime scene kit to the state crime lab the following day. Detectives did not recieve results back for seven months due to a backlogged caseload at the crime lab in Little Rock.

"The crime lab informed us on Monday that DNA was found, but not for the person we thought was our suspect, so we had to start over." McCree told FOX16 News. "Then Little Rock detectives called us and said unidentified DNA in our case matched the Pressly case."

Detectives brought Vance in for questioning, in part McCree says, because of the alleged actions of his girlfriend Sheanika Cooper, 25. Cooper was charged with two counts of felony theft in Lee County earlier this month for allegedly pawning stolen goods in West Helena, AR.

"That was enough for us to bring him in for questioning on those burglaries," McCree said Friday.

Both Marianna and Little Rock detectives were present when Vance submitted his DNA sample. McCree says the crime lab informed him on Wednesday that the sample Vance submitted matched DNA recovered in the Marianna robbery and sexual assault and the Pressly crime scene.

Little Rock police are not commenting on any evidence, maintaining forensics link Vance to Pressly's murder and that more will be revealed when an arrest affidavit is released next week.

Vance made his first appearance Friday morning. It was not in court but at the Pulaski County detention facility. No cameras and no one from the public was allowed inside. He made no plea and the judge ordered Vance held with no bond.

McCree says Vance had worked at Murdock Enterprises, a contractor for construction projects in Marianna. Reached by phone, Reginald Murdock tells FOX16 News that Vance did temporary work about 10 years ago cleaning up sites after projects were completed.

"I'm saddened by the news of his arrest," Murdock says. "I fell terrible for both sides. I followed the Anne Pressly case from a far, like everyone did. And then to learn someone that grew up in your hometown might be responsible is really tragic."

Police make arrest in Anne Pressly murder

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Curtis Vance

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LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS -- Little Rock police are preparing for the first court appearance for the man accused of killing KATV News Anchor Anne Pressly. A murder warrant was issued for Curtis Vance, 28, late Wednesday afternoon. Hours later vance was arrested.

Just before 4AM, police walked Vance out of police headquarters charged with capital murder. When asked if he killed Anne Pressly Vance just shook his head and was silent. Pressly’s friends and co-workers were not.

Little Rock Police believe Pressly's murder is solved. "The information that led us to this individual and to obtain the warrant came within the last week," LR Police Chief Stuart Thomas said.

After a short 10 o'clock press conference to get the word out, a suspect had been identified.
Vance was found at a house at 24th and Cross an hour later. Other people were inside when he was arrested, but no one answered the door on Thursday.

A quiet Thanksgiving Day, few people out and about. Even fewer talking about Vance's arrest. Thursday afternoon, a driver stopped only to say he's relieved and hopes police have their man..

Pressly's case was featured on America's Most Wanted and there was a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, however the police chief tells me those efforts did not lead them to Curtis Vance. Instead its forensics and what he says, is old fashioned investigative police work, something that will be critical if this case goes to trial.

Police Chief Stuart Thomas updated reporters just after midnight. And said detectives are working to see if anyone protected Vance over the last month. "If there are individuals that have hindered the investigation in any way or have harbored him in any way shape or form, we'll charge them," Thomas said.

If there is a motive, police aren't saying, other than robbery and murder. Vance has no prison record and apparently lived in multiple locations. "We're trying to resolve that now but we know that he's lived here previously because I believe in 2002 he had a traffic citation that showed a Little Rock address."

Right now his address is the Pulaski County Jail. Vance is being held in the county detention center on no bond. He is scheduled to make his first appearance Friday morning at an arraignment inside the jail.

VIDEO:
RAW: Curtis Vance perp walk
Anne Pressly Police News Conference
Pressly's father reacts to suspect news
Live interview with LR Police Chief about arrest of murder suspect
Pressly's father at press conference
RAW: Q&A with Chief Stuart Thomas

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oopie - 6/17/2009 4:44 AM

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I think they are just pointing fingers now. They really don't know no who killed this woman. b/c when he went to court on 6/16 once again so many questions and not enough answers. even her parents didn't have anything to say about it as to what taking so long with the results. I really think he did not do this and those results are going to tell it all. but if they really wanted to the person that did this why didn't they get samples from the unborn child that she was suppose to have be bearing? why would a man want to mess up her face like that or cut her in her Abdomen area of her body. and break so many bones in her body like someone stated earlier the LRPD know a lot but they are just not saying. and i think they know who did this to this woman what is the hole up on this case..

MandyGz - 3/17/2009 2:13 PM

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A lot of people seem to have different feelings about this case. All I can say is I really hope the right person is convicted. I think the LRPD knows more than they are letting on. As far as race being an issue....I totally agree that race is an issue. Not just in this case but in so many others. Don't get me wrong, if Vance is did this I think he should suffer the consequences to the fullest extent. But I have to agree with a lot of others and I wonder...what if he did not do this to Anne Pressly?? What if it was a black lady?? Would the LRPD have "been on their job"? I read that Vance is a suspect for assaulting a teacher some months ago and they never caught him because the crime lab didn't do what they were supposed to do. It's sad that it happened to that teacher. Since when do these DNA samples get sent to the crime lab to get put on the back burner??????? That is ridiculous!! It really is. I feel sorry for that teacher and her family that have to see this. It really is a shame.

lars siler - 1/9/2009 5:12 AM

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In Chicago,a 39 year old black women was found raped and drowned in her bathtub.The main suspect was a Comcast cable man,whom was at her house to install cable that day.His DNA sat for 3 months at the lab,untested.Comcast let him keep working,going into people's houses.While on the job,he struck again,raping and drowning,a 24 year old Polish girl,with beauty that was as stunning as Anne Pressley had.Of course this time the tests came back real fast. But another life was needlessly lost,and Comcast,was extremely negligent and not looking out for the public welfare.Especially when you consider that they have you wait for their service in 4-hour time slots.Kind of hard for a women to know when to have someone there for safety purposes.

Kaitlyn - 12/10/2008 12:53 PM

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This seems to be an act of anger...with the attention the "man" paid to ruining Anne's beauty. He sounds like he had a lot of pent up frustration and a sick mind...he had been caught masturbating by another woman (passer by in public). He almost sounds like he was jealous of Anne...In regards to the racial comments: The fact is that Anne was a beautiful “white” woman that got a lot of press coverage because of her role in the media, and also because of the fact that she was strikingly beautiful… There are a lot of similar crimes that happen every day, unfortunately, that don’t get as much coverage: I daresay, it is more because it seems to be human nature to feel a crime is more awful and memorable when made against a beautiful person, than someone who does not have such a memorable beauty. I think the prejudice we see here is that, more than race. In today’s society, we seem to place more value on a beautiful person, than someone who is not. Her killer appears to be this “black” man. And he does appear scary. Once again, we can look at him versus, say, another black man, example: Will Smith. This “black” man is attractive and not scary in the least. I believe that there is beauty in black or white, it is who a person becomes or how they carry themselves that begets this “stereotyping”. The true prejudice American’s display is putting a value on how beautiful a person is. May God rest Anne’s soul, and give her family comfort in knowing this VILE person has been captured.

RobertBooth - 12/1/2008 10:38 AM

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I've been in Arkansas for 30 years, We are very slow when it comes to seeing the real problem. Which is a lack of equal justice in homicide cases.How can a police department have D.N.A. to link this suspect to Nona's murder,but still be allowed to roam the towns of our state freely and then end up several months later being a prime suspect into another murder case. People, if you have the evidence on hand,then take the suspect out of the picture, to prevent this person from possibly harming anyone else.I have a question...WAS NONA NOT FAMOUS OR WHITE ENOUGH TO GET A SPEEDY AND FAIR INVESTIGATON LIKE HER PEER CITIZEN ANNE?(may both of these wonderful women rest in peace and love) See, this is the real underlying issue that many of us (white,black and other) have a problem with in this: slow, tired, behind in the times,don't wanna' have a Casino, or own a pro sports team so we route for the Cowboys,no selling alcohol on Sundays like we are still in prohibition,lack of activities for the youths to do,don't wanna' pay workers what they are worth,Good old boy-mind state,Sad excuse for a State that I have endured optimistically for many,many years. I hope that one day soon, our law enforcement will begin to start from the top (the Boss) and do a thorough overhaul of the L.R.P.D. Because these murders aren't the first incidents as to where the Police have not done the best job that they could have.All the real and honest people reading this should know that when the head is sick, the rest of the body follows suite. We are sick as a state ,All departments needs to wake up,Arkansas needs to get in better touch with the times of now and the need of change.From the terrible roads, to the below than national level scores being achieved by our youth. the Natural State needs to wake up. Or you can do like I did and find somewhere else to reside, a place that operates like the 21st century.I'm not dissing Arkansas,I 'm just saying what alot of readers were already thinking period.

Garnetfire - 11/29/2008 6:04 PM

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rhondar501 wrote...I am very thankful for the fast capturing of this man so he can not hurt anyone else. Seriously??? This man supposedly raped a woman in April of this year and because of the length of time it took them to process the DNA at the Ark Crime Lab, Anne Pressly was brutally raped and murdered. Something needs to be done about this. It absolutely should not be swept under the rug. Yes, everyone is relieved that they caught the man they think committed this crime but I can't get over the fact that Anne Pressly would still be alive if the crime lab wasn't BACK LOGGED. I don't know who needs to step up and see that this NEVER happens again. Maybe the Governor, but someone needs to make sure that no one's case is put on the back burner because of an agency that is over worked. This school teacher and her family should be outraged. It took them seven months to get DNA in her case yet they had the DNA in Anne Pressly's case in a week. I know that some cases do take precedent over others but you can bet the teacher that was raped felt it was just as important that the man that attached her was identified and caught. My heart goes out to this teacher just as it did for Anne and her family. I hope that someone is held accountable for letting this man run free for seven months. God be with whomever is responsible for this.

merlin - 11/29/2008 6:06 AM

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kganus, give justice a chance. You already have him tried and convicted. Maybe an independent DNA test should be done, not one tied to the crime lab. I think sometimes the police just grab a handy suspect and charge with these crimes to be able to say they have solved the case. I hope he gets a good lawyer.

ADK969 - 11/29/2008 1:40 AM

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SO let's look at this DNA testing time line? IF the State Crime Lab had worked up the DNA from the April rape in a timely fashion, maybe Vance would have already been in jail for that crime and Anne would still be here? Hello? Am I misreading this story ? Did anyone else catch that part?

SaraLee - 11/28/2008 10:23 PM

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My prayers go out to Anne's family, but let's not forget what happened in the Nona Dirksmeyer case. The police and prosecuter were positive they had the right person. Her family was extremely upset after he got off, but it turned out that he really didn't do it. We have to be careful about charging someone before we have concrete proof of their guilt. Although I understand and agree with the police withholding evidence, they need to do that for every case and not just a high profile one. However, it makes you wonder what kind of evidence they really have. There doesn't seem to be a motive, no murder weapon; only DNA (supposedly matching his). I have children so I'm learning to hold my opinion about someone's innocence or guilt until after the trial. Please remember there are many people spending a lifetime in prison for crimes they didn't commit. Let's just pray that the police have the right person and didn't get over anxious and grab a seemingly good suspect. If he did do it, then yes, he should get life in prison, but if he's innocent, would you want that on your hands..........

ahatfield - 11/28/2008 10:11 AM

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Hopefully they have the right person. This guy doesn't have a record and the police have been keeping their mouths shut. Many people wonder what kind of evidence did they have. The people are not giving much information. But if it is him then he should be in jail.

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