GUILTY AR - Anne Pressly, 26, raped & murdered, Little Rock, 20 Oct 2008 #2

[chicagofa13]

Wow, that's a lot to digest on Topix.

I've always felt that Anne's family was building themselves up for heartache if something bad came out about her life in LR. No one is perfect. As we all know the public image is very important for celebrities (and I use that word loosely since she was clearly only a local celebrity). The news station obviously doesn't want a scandal, I'm sure in some places it would cost a person their job, so I'm figuring if she had any boyfriends she kept it very quiet and low key. She knew she was in the public eye and how to behave. Still people are human, we all do stupid things and make mistakes. She didn't deserve what happened, and the guilty, ALL those who are guilty, should be punished.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

All I can say is we will have to see what comes out in court.


Murder for hire is a CRIME but LE has said they do not expect any further arrests in this case.

The murder for hire theory doesn't really jibe with what is now known about Vance... that he cased neighborhoods, masturbated in public, would try to get into houses, is suspected in another rape just a few houses down from where he lives...

Aparently JT and Anne's parents were together at an Xmas Karaoke show, and I don't think they would have appeared together if JT was really a suspect. As for JT not "defending" himself (and I do not know anything about this person) it takes courage NOT to mouth off in self defense. Its really hard to defend yourself against a lie, like when someone asks, "have you stopped beating your wife yet?" Sometimes just laying low is better rather than stooping to the level of the rumors. So I don't see his not making a big public fuss as a strange thing.

I don't know Anne's parents either, but you can take things said very literally or figuratively. To me Anne seemed pretty innocent, and being raped and beaten to death in bed would make me say or believe her innocence was taken. That doesn't have anything to do with her personal relationships. When anyone thinks of Anne they will always have the mental picture of Vance and what happened to her pop into their head instead of the vibrant, funny, much loved person that Anne was.

Sure there are some holes in the case, but hopefully those will be filled in during the trial... If you look at Vance as a stalker, crime of opportunity, escalating rapist/sex offender, then the crime makes a lot of sense and there really aren't any huge loop holes to the theory. It is when you start to try to figure in various rumors that things get weird or make much less sense. I could be wrong but I still think Vance is the one and only guy involved here.

The funny thing with the rumors too is that there are so many variations. And if you read posts on various logs, blogs, boards, etc. it becomes aparent that Anne and JT had a gazillion best friends, neighbors, etc. and that everyone knows someone in LE, someone in the Hospital, someone in the medical examiners office, etc. I'm not saying all of them are lying or making things but, but I have probably seen at least 100 "my friend was a nurse in that hospital" or "my friend was the EMT that went to Anne's house" type of post. Its hard to sort the real ones out from the rumor spreaders. If all the people that claim to live a few houses down from Anne really did there would be more people in the Heights than in Bombay, India.

I think I said before maybe people WANT some big, complicated exposee type bomb shell revelation. Its a high profile murder of a popular person, yet the crime itself and the guy that aparently comitted it are pretty much "run of the mill" sadly. It could happen to you (almost happened to me) and if it did, unless you were a high profile person, it wouldn't attract much fuss at all, sadly.

 

[GoodGirl38]

All I can say is we will have to see what comes out in court.


Murder for hire is a CRIME but LE has said they do not expect any further arrests in this case.

The murder for hire theory doesn't really jibe with what is now known about Vance... that he cased neighborhoods, masturbated in public, would try to get into houses, is suspected in another rape just a few houses down from where he lives...

Aparently JT and Anne's parents were together at an Xmas Karaoke show, and I don't think they would have appeared together if JT was really a suspect. As for JT not "defending" himself (and I do not know anything about this person) it takes courage NOT to mouth off in self defense. Its really
hard to defend yourself against a lie, like when someone asks, "have you stopped beating your wife yet?" Sometimes just laying low is better rather than stooping to the level of the rumors. So I don't see his not making a big public fuss as a strange thing.

I don't know Anne's parents either, but you can take things said very literally or figuratively. To me Anne seemed pretty innocent, and being raped and beaten to death in bed would make me say or believe her innocence was taken. That doesn't have anything to do with her personal relationships. When anyone thinks of Anne they will always have the mental picture of Vance and what happened to her pop into their head instead of the vibrant, funny, much loved person that Anne was.

Sure there are some holes in the case, but hopefully those will be filled in during the trial... If you look at Vance as a stalker, crime of opportunity, escalating rapist/sex offender, then the crime makes a lot of sense and there really aren't any huge loop holes to the theory. It is when you start to try to figure in various rumors that things get weird or make much less sense. I could be wrong but I still think Vance is the one and only guy involved here.

The funny thing with the rumors too is that there are so many variations. And if you read posts on various logs, blogs, boards, etc. it becomes aparent that Anne and JT had a gazillion best friends, neighbors, etc. and that everyone knows someone in LE, someone in the Hospital, someone in the medical examiners office, etc. I'm not saying all of them are lying or making things but, but I have probably seen at least 100 "my friend was a nurse in that hospital" or "my friend was the EMT that went to Anne's house" type of post. Its hard to sort the real ones out from the rumor spreaders. If all the people that claim to live a few houses down from Anne really did there would be more people in the Heights than in Bombay, India.

I think I said before maybe people WANT some big, complicated exposee type bomb shell revelation. Its a high profile murder of a popular person, yet the crime itself and the guy that aparently comitted it are pretty much "run of the mill" sadly. It could happen to you (almost happened to me) and if it did, unless you were a high profile person, it wouldn't attract much fuss at all, sadly.

Very well said..............as always!! You are a very level headed person. I always agree with and enjoy reading your post. God bless you Carla, and have a great day.

 

[tezi]

Carla, I agree with your post. I don't think spreading unsubstantiated rumors is in anyway helping Anne's family. I can't even imagine how they must feel reading that their daughter was "supposedly pregnant" with Jermaine Taylor's child and either he or his wife had her killed. If the autopsy report were to be released it would help shut up some of the rumors that are being spread about Anne.

Vance is responsible for the murder. Plain and simple. He went in raped, robbed, and beat Anne. I don't think anyone put him up to it. The next thing we will be hearing is that Jermaine Taylor was having an affair with the other woman that he raped, and Vance was hired to rape her also.

 

[Ruflossn]

All I can say is we will have to see what comes out in court.


Murder for hire is a CRIME but LE has said they do not expect any further arrests in this case.

The murder for hire theory doesn't really jibe with what is now known about Vance... that he cased neighborhoods, masturbated in public, would try to get into houses, is suspected in another rape just a few houses down from where he lives...

Aparently JT and Anne's parents were together at an Xmas Karaoke show, and I don't think they would have appeared together if JT was really a suspect. As for JT not "defending" himself (and I do not know anything about this person) it takes courage NOT to mouth off in self defense. Its really hard to defend yourself against a lie, like when someone asks, "have you stopped beating your wife yet?" Sometimes just laying low is better rather than stooping to the level of the rumors. So I don't see his not making a big public fuss as a strange thing.

I don't know Anne's parents either, but you can take things said very literally or figuratively. To me Anne seemed pretty innocent, and being raped and beaten to death in bed would make me say or believe her innocence was taken. That doesn't have anything to do with her personal relationships. When anyone thinks of Anne they will always have the mental picture of Vance and what happened to her pop into their head instead of the vibrant, funny, much loved person that Anne was.

Sure there are some holes in the case, but hopefully those will be filled in during the trial... If you look at Vance as a stalker, crime of opportunity, escalating rapist/sex offender, then the crime makes a lot of sense and there really aren't any huge loop holes to the theory. It is when you start to try to figure in various rumors that things get weird or make much less sense. I could be wrong but I still think Vance is the one and only guy involved here.

The funny thing with the rumors too is that there are so many variations. And if you read posts on various logs, blogs, boards, etc. it becomes aparent that Anne and JT had a gazillion best friends, neighbors, etc. and that everyone knows someone in LE, someone in the Hospital, someone in the medical examiners office, etc. I'm not saying all of them are lying or making things but, but I have probably seen at least 100 "my friend was a nurse in that hospital" or "my friend was the EMT that went to Anne's house" type of post. Its hard to sort the real ones out from the rumor spreaders. If all the people that claim to live a few houses down from Anne really did there would be more people in the Heights than in Bombay, India.

I think I said before maybe people WANT some big, complicated exposee type bomb shell revelation. Its a high profile murder of a popular person, yet the crime itself and the guy that aparently comitted it are pretty much "run of the mill" sadly. It could happen to you (almost happened to me) and if it did, unless you were a high profile person, it wouldn't attract much fuss at all, sadly.

Very well written, as always. I agree w/ your post 100%.
Be safe my friend~
Flossie

 

[Mishleen Ross]

We will see when the trial start. I thought it was just Vance too, but it's too many credible sources here in Little Rock saying that it does involve Taylor or his wife. And that "Chris" guy on topix.net is actually JT's friend, he comes on there and changes his name and defend Taylor to make it seem like it's different people defending Taylor, when it's really him, you can tell if you read the posts from the very beginning. He asked me if I was a scorned ex lover of Jermaine Taylor, and if I dated Jermaine while he was married, I said no, because I used to work for Jermaine in 2000, he hired me as a hostess at his sportsbar. This "Chris" guy had even posted rude comments using my name. He is either a friend of Taylors or his on his management team, it's obvious that he is close to Taylor. This case is so messed up because her parents don't really know who Anne was dating, so they can't see what's really going on. All I have to say is Vance has already told the LRPD that he was paid to beat up Anne, that's what prompted LE to question Taylor and his wife. Anyone who had anything to do with this need to be punished. I met Anne's parents at her funeral, and I'm sorry but I can tell that they are a bit clueless when it comes to Anne's personal life. This is pitiful, but I believe it will come out. Vance has been seen kicking it with Taylor at Legends on Rodney Parham Rd., it's closed now.

 

[Mishleen Ross]

This was a personal attack on Anne, it was not at all random, she was tageted, and this was very personal. One of Anne's friends works with my friend at Baptist Medical Center, and Anne discussed her relationship with Taylor with her herself, she was dating him, it's a fact, she had been dating him on and off since high school. And Little Rock is not that big, the judges and lawyers and nurses and doctors and LRPD working this case all know somebody here in Little Rock, they've got kids here, friends here, etc., and they have talked, it's obvious. Anne's parents themselves even said this was a personal attack, on the Today Show with Matt Lauer, they also said they just don't know why and they said they want to know why.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

I don't know. The JT hit story just makes so little sense (at least to me). Since murder for hire is a crime yet LE says NO further arrests are expected... that sort of seems to kill that theory right there. I have heard that Vance has basically said nothing and that he was not in Little Rock at the time of the killing, although some reports have him saying he was in the house but didn't kill her. Plus why would a boxer need to pay some low life, neigborhood stalking rapist to BEAT SOMEONE UP especially if it was someone the boxer was familiar with. If you were involved with someone you could just to their house yourself, and that would be far less suspicious than hire the guy that prowls around neighborhoods and masturbates outside the gym. Usually a hit is just that too... a hit, not a brutal assault, rape and petty burglary.

Ultimately it doesnt matter who Anne was dating or not anyway as the crime is horrible and there is no justification at all for what happened. Im not sure how credable someone posting on another forum is if they change their name around to make a point.

I still think these are just really weird rumors. Plus the rumors arent all even consistent... JT had the hit put out, his wife put the hit out, Anne was pregnant with his baby OR Anne was a man in disguise and tricked JT. Too weird, if you ask me.

I still stick with Vance as the only suspect and that he wasnt part of some big James Bond sized international scheme.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

T... One of Anne's friends works with my friend at Baptist Medical Center, and Anne discussed her relationship with Taylor with her herself, she was dating him, it's a fact, she had been dating him on and off since high school....

Since you posted that I am just pointing out that there is SO MUCH of this... my friend knew so and so ... That wouldn't be admissable in court. Its hearsay. All these sites and blogs have the same basic thing... "I know this person who said this EMT told her that..." Im not saying I don't beleive you, just pointing out what jumps out at me.

Will have to see what comes out in the trial. I could be wrong but I really don't see any big bombshells... just more fill in the blank details from Vance.

 

[Mishleen Ross]

Hey Carla, I understand why you feel that way. And none of this change the fact that Anne was a sweet girl, and funny, I miss her, she was a fun person. It's just sad that this had to happen to her, she was a inspiration to me being a 26 yr. old female, independent, smart, and handled her business. She will never be forgotten, I wish this never happened. Well, whatever the truth is I want it to be told and the right person or people punished. I just think there is definitely something definitely involving Taylor or his wife. Channel 7 is not the same without Anne or Jason. I wish this never happened. She did not deserve this. It's just sad, and I hate that it happened on my birthday! October 19. It's a damn shame.

 

[OkGrace]

Super post Carla, the only thing I disagree with is him being "run of the mill" I think he is pure trash.

You have a way with words, I cannot express myself as well.

I want to add that I know of a group of nurses (and not all are this way, I know many that are professional) and they gossip about anyone that anyone knows that is admitted, sometimes I want to turn them in. I think the nurses in the case should face criminal charges, I hope they are never allowed in any profession in which they are allowed access to confidential and personal info.(I realize they are probably working as I speak)

 

[Carla Lashelle]

Hey Grance thanks for the kind words. Yeah Vance (if he did it) is just evil scum. But, sadly, the crime seems "run of the mill" in that its some low life robber/rapist looking for easy pickings and finds an unwary target. That kind of crap plays out all over the country, sadly. No big conspiracy, no greater meaning, etc. Just a simple, sad, crime.

And yeah, Mishleen, I wish this never happened either. Not to Anne or anyone else. I did not know of her until this horrible crime made the news but it instantly stunned me. I haven't felt the same since. I was struck when my partner pointed out I have the exact same birthday as Anne. Weird. Stuff likes this make me feel guilty and wonder why I survived an assault a lot like this and she, who was probably much more popular and deserving, didn't.

No matter how it all plays out in court, at least they have SOMEONE and some measure of justice will be metted out. It would be unbearable if the case went cold and no one was brought to face the law here.

 

[chicagofa13]

All I can say is we will have to see what comes out in court.

Murder for hire is a CRIME but LE has said they do not expect any further arrests in this case.

...SNIP

It wouldn't be the first time LE lied to the public to further a case. Get someone comfortable, relax a little bit, they loosen up, start to talk, maybe a phone tap or two. Not saying in this case, but it CAN happen!!

 

[chicagofa13]

I have no idea if this is a simple crime Vance did alone, or a more complicated murder for hire. Unfortunately most murder victims know or are related to their killer(s). My cousin was murdered in Oregon last April and the stats just came out for his county, which is a suburb of Portland. He was one of six killed, and the ONLY person who did not know his killers. All murders are sad. But I find it worse that stranger-to-stranger crime is more rare. You're more likely to die at the hand of your mother/father/brother/sister/aunt/uncle/cousin/best friend/acquaintance.

Since there is a gag order in Anne's case I don't think any of us can know if there is more or less to the case. Some things should be easy to sleuth.

Did JT go to school with Anne? Yearbooks can clear that up.

Is Vance's wife a cousin of JT's wife? Genealogy websites can answer that question.

Others questions are more difficult but not impossible. Did Vance "hang" with JT? Was Anne still involved with JT? You would need pics and/or eyewitnesses to make that connection, unless there are familial relations in play. As for Anne/JT, more pics/witnesses needed.

Until the autopsy comes out (if it does) we can't know about a pregnancy, nursing gossip isn't fact.

I'd like to see more "facts" before I jump to any conclusions other than Vance acting alone.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

That's just it... Based on FACTS that are known publically the Basic Vance story makes the most sense. Also the gag ordercwas aparently requested by Vance's lawyer not the prosecution to help him get a "better chance of a fair trial" vs the state clamping down to build their case against Vance.

 

[tezi]

I don't know. The JT hit story just makes so little sense (at least to me). Since murder for hire is a crime yet LE says NO further arrests are expected... that sort of seems to kill that theory right there. I have heard that Vance has basically said nothing and that he was not in Little Rock at the time of the killing, although some reports have him saying he was in the house but didn't kill her. Plus why would a boxer need to pay some low life, neigborhood stalking rapist to BEAT SOMEONE UP especially if it was someone the boxer was familiar with. If you were involved with someone you could just to their house yourself, and that would be far less suspicious than hire the guy that prowls around neighborhoods and masturbates outside the gym. Usually a hit is just that too... a hit, not a brutal assault, rape and petty burglary.

Ultimately it doesnt matter who Anne was dating or not anyway as the crime is horrible and there is no justification at all for what happened. Im not sure how credable someone posting on another forum is if they change their name around to make a point.

I still think these are just really weird rumors. Plus the rumors arent all even consistent... JT had the hit put out, his wife put the hit out, Anne was pregnant with his baby OR Anne was a man in disguise and tricked JT. Too weird, if you ask me.

I still stick with Vance as the only suspect and that he wasnt part of some big James Bond sized international scheme.

I agree with you Carla. Plus, if this person at Baptist Hospital is really a friend of Anne's she wouldn't be telling anyone but LE what she knew. That is not what a true friend does. It makes me sick to think her parents are hearing this garbage. It's bad enough that their daughter has been murdered, but now her reputation is getting murdered too. All because people have to add more drama to the situation, as if there isn't enough already.

Seriously, was JT having an affair with the teacher that Vance raped? I look for that to be the next rumor to come flying around.

Vance isn't smart enough to be part of a grand scheme like the one being thrown about. Plus, you'd have to worry about what his gf knew and who she might tell. Usually, the most simple explanation is the one that makes the most sense. And in this case, I believe it was Vance who acted alone, although his gf probably had some insight into the crime.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

Usually, the most simple explanation is the one that makes the most sense. And in this case, I believe it was Vance who acted alone, although his gf probably had some insight into the crime.

You hit the nail on the head there. A lot of the rumors started BEFORE LE had Vance as a suspect and in custody. Maybe people wanted more to be to the case? There is a lot of rumor crap on the Topix forum. Lots of JT and Vance conspiracy junk but just as much outcry against it as being just a harmful, false rumor. Its really rediculous. I also can't picture Vance and JT hob nobbing around on some country club golf course. :waitasec:

Perhaps some info will come to light tomorrow with the Arraignment.

In my own situation when my sister and I were assaulted, people talked and said a bunch of crap. Its a real lonely feeling when your "friends" deny the truth about what happened to you and make up some hurtful fantasy world of lies as if you won't hear them yourself? Thats why the rumor stuff bothers me so. I can deal with my stuff beucase im alive. But dead people can't defend themselves or tell the truth. We have to be their advocates not spread hurtful things about their private lives that may not even be true or have any basis in fact.

 

[tezi]

You hit the nail on the head there. A lot of the rumors started BEFORE LE had Vance as a suspect and in custody. Maybe people wanted more to be to the case? There is a lot of rumor crap on the Topix forum. Lots of JT and Vance conspiracy junk but just as much outcry against it as being just a harmful, false rumor. Its really rediculous. I also can't picture Vance and JT hob nobbing around on some country club golf course. :waitasec:

Perhaps some info will come to light tomorrow with the Arraignment.

In my own situation when my sister and I were assaulted, people talked and said a bunch of crap. Its a real lonely feeling when your "friends" deny the truth about what happened to you and make up some hurtful fantasy world of lies as if you won't hear them yourself? Thats why the rumor stuff bothers me so. I can deal with my stuff beucase im alive. But dead people can't defend themselves or tell the truth. We have to be their advocates not spread hurtful things about their private lives that may not even be true or have any basis in fact.

Carla, I am truly sorry for what has happened to you and your sister. I totally understand what you are saying about rumors and lies. My BIL can't refute things because he's not here, so it falls to his loved ones to do so. And I hate having to refute gossip. I am forever going to be known as "the woman whose BIL drowned in the river, because he couldn't swim." And other such nonsense. My ultimate favorite one is the sister-in-law who can't accept this was just a drowning with no one else involved, when clearly someone else was there. It goes on and on....

I guess people have to bring Jermaine Taylor into things because he's not defending himself. How is he supposed to act, he can't defend something that didn't happen, can he? I truly feel for JT and his wife. Whether or not he and Anne were having an affair, does that matter because she is now dead? The only way it would matter if JT was in on the murder which I highly doubt.

The Topix site makes me sick. I can't read there because I want to throw something at the posters who make such outlandish comments. It would help a great deal if the site was moderated, but apparently it isn't.

Again, Carla, I am truly sorry for what has happened to you and your sister. Thank you for being so candid in sharing. (((Hugs)))

 

[nomad]

Here's this. Early on, around Oct. 21 or 22 it was reported on the local news that LE was asking whether or not Anne owned a baseball bat. I was watching that news, and heard it. Maybe someone else here caught that, as well. Anyway, soon after, an email was distributed to news media requesting to please not reporton a particular item of evidence, as to not jeopardize the investigation. One station had already done so, but pulled it. No others reported it. Later on it was said that the evidence was the credit card lead.
Not that it bears signifcance now but it would've been stupid to post about it then, And I still have not ever heard anything about a bat, so I wonder about that still.
Also, as far as the rumour mill, according to everything I've googled, Dec.2 seems to be the common date on every single board, blog, ask yahoo, hogwired.net etc. I, personally don't think JT hurt Anne.
BUT as I searched for my reasoning skills, trying to grasp what happened to Anne, the first thing I could think of was someone hired someone to do this, and I still lean towards that, for now. I would like to know more about ol Curt and his car. All I do know about him is that his birthday was within 2 days of the attack. real friggin nice...
The arraignment is tomorrow, and the days to come will provide us with more facts, but no matter what, this will never ever make any sense.

 

[Carla Lashelle]

Yeah Nomad you are right... such a senseless crime. I remember one of the interviews with a neighbor where LE was asking about a bat. I assume some sort of weapon was used in the assault. You can do that kind of damage with a fist but its hard, honestly, without messing up your own hand in the process. I can understand LE wanting to be quiet about particular details like a weapon. Perhaps it was even located...

On another board with a ton of the JT caca del toro, it was said that a lot of the rumors were started by some women that had unsuccessfully sued JT for sexual harassment and were disgruntled and trying to smear him.