Anne Pressly Murder: Timeline Of Events  

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THV11 Staff, news source 3:39 p.m. CST November 11, 2009

Anne Pressly mother finds her beaten in her home. Police took bloodied bed sheets, pillows and cushionsfrom furniture inside the home. Doctors listed her in critical condition.

Police said the beating was being treated as a random incident, in the course of a robbery. Pressly\'s doctors announced they were cautiously optimistic. Her parents issued a statement: "Anne has a long struggle of recovery ahead of her. She is a fighter, a strong, healthy and physically fit young woman. We expect her to recover completely. We ask that you continue to pray for Anne and for us."

Friends and family held a candlelight vigil. The group sang and prayed for Pressly\'s health, and for the speedy arrest of her assailant.

KATV and Little Rock Police Department Crimestoppers set up areward fund for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person(s) involved in the attack of Anne Pressly

Little Rock police searched main roads near Pressly\'s neighborhood for clues and for the blunt object used to beat her.

Pressly\'s family released a statement saying, "Theswelling in her brain is beginning to subside," the statement said. "Doctors are encouraged by her progress at this point."

Nearly 100 friends and family gathered to pray for Anne\'s recovery. They held a candlelight vigil in Conway.

Pressly\'s father Guy Cannady speaks with reporters. He says, "We have already seen tangible results in the magnificent power of prayer and are steadfast in our conviction that our Heavenly Father\'s hand is on Anne," says Cannady."She suffered an unbelievably vicious attack which has resulted in massive injuries to her head, face, neck, and hand. Anne fought back heroically with an attempt to fight off the attacker and save her life."

Anne Pressly passes away. Her parents released this statement. "We are profoundly saddened to tell you that our dear Anne has lost her struggle for life. It was our hope, as was yours, that Anne would overcome the injuries inflicted upon her in the brutal attack at her home. We were with her in her last moments, and although our hearts are broken, we are at the same time comforted by our faith knowing that Anne is now with our Heavenly Father."

Little Rock Police are searching for a suspectand issued a statement about misleading information.

More than 800 people attended Anne Pressly\'s funeral; including employees from all the Little Rock television stations, police officers, those who never knew Anne, and countless family members and friends.

Curtis Vance is arrestedin Little Rock and charged with capital murder.

New allegations came out thatVance attackedKristen Edwardssix months before Pressly\'s attack. Marianna police say Vance\'s first victim was a Lee County High School teacher at the time of her attack. She was allegedly raped in her home and DNA evidence was left behind and prosecutors say that evidence linked Vance to Pressly\'s attack.

Vance pleads not guiltyto raping and killing Pressly. He told reporters that he didn\'t kill her and they have the wrong guy. His family shouted "we love you" as deputies escorted him back to jail.

The home where Anne Pressly livedand was attacked was demolished.

Vance\'s capital murder trialbegins with jury selection. Out of 125prospective jurors, 108 potential jurors were left after initial questioning. They sent half of the group home until Tuesday as they continue interviewing the remaining group. Eight jurors were selected.

The second day of Vance\'s murder trialcontinues with jury selection. People are brought in and interviewed one at a time, and asked about what media coverage they have watched. The process continues until a group of six is formed, then the group is interviewed as a whole. Three more jurors were selected.

The 12 jurors seated and two alternates were selected by Wednesday afternoon in the third day of Vance\'s murder trial. There are six women and six men on the jury. After opening statements were made by both the state and the defense, the prosecutionstarted calling their first witnesses. They included police officers, an ER doctor and Pressly\'s mother Patti Cannady.

It was first full day of testimony in the fourth day of Vance\'s murder trial. The prosecution called lead investigator Detective J.C. White with the Little Rock Police Department to the stand while one of Vance\'s taped statements was being played. Also taking the stand was Kristen Edwards. She described her attack that Vance allegedly made in Marianna.

Little Rock police technician Stuart Bartlett described evidence for the jury.

Testimony about DNA evidence collected was the focus for the better half of the fifth day of Vance\'s murder trial. Chief criminologist at the Arkansas Crime Laboratory Lisa Channel and State Crime Lab chief forensic DNA examiner Melissa Myhand took the stand and talked about the one strand of hair that met the accuracy threshold in DNA testing to scientifically prove that it is Vance\'s. The prosecution rested their case.

Prosecutors continued to call witnesses in thesixth day of Vance\'s murder trial. Detective J.C. White testified thatVance initially denied being at Pressly\'s home, but then said he had been there.Also a taped statement Vance made to police was played for the jury. In the taped statement, Vance describes how his DNA could have been left at the crime scene.

In the seventh day of Vance\'s murder trial, the defense started its case in part by following the trail of witnesses laid out by the state. The defense questionedwitnesses about their handling of the case, the evidence and the testing of trace evidence. The jury was sent home late that afternoon, and the defense told Judge Chris Piazza they planned to rest their case the next morning.

On the eighth day of trial, both the prosecution and the defense made their closing statements.Jury find Curtis Vance guiltyafter 2 1/2 hours of deliberation. Vance, 29, was convicted of all four counts; Capital Murder, Rape, Theft, Residential Burglary.

Sentencing began at 3:45 p.m.with the prosecution calling witnesses to give sentencing testimony, followed by the defense. Judge Chris Piazza says it will likely continue into the next day.

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