Forensic expert testifies in anchorwoman’s death

By The Associated Press Comments 0
Published: November 8, 2009

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A single hair found in the bloody bedroom of television anchorwoman Anne Pressly bore the genetic signature of the man charged with raping and killing her, a crime lab expert testified Friday.

The root of the hair contained DNA that placed Curtis Vance at the scene, said Melissa Myhand, the chief forensic DNA examiner for the Arkansas Crime Laboratory.

Vance, 29, of Marianna, Ark., has pleaded not guilty to capital murder, rape and burglary charges. His lawyers say police picked up the wrong man as they rushed to solve the murder of a local celebrity. Prosecutors say DNA evidence drew police to Vance and that his taped confessions will help convict him.

Myhand said the profile from the hair found in Pressly’s bedroom was entered into a national crime database Oct. 31, 2008, 11 days after Pressly was attacked. There was no match until almost a month later, when DNA evidence obtained during a rape investigation in Marianna was added, Myhand said.

Little Rock police have said they focused on Vance after Marianna police identified him as someone who had been seen loitering near homes that had been burglarized. After giving a DNA sample to police, Vance was arrested in both the Pressly case and the rape case in his hometown.

Pressly, 26, died Oct. 25, 2008, five days after the attack in her Little Rock bungalow. Police say Vance confessed in three taped interviews and willingly submitted a DNA sample. Defense lawyers say officers tricked Vance into making incriminating statements and giving up the sample.

DNA collected on the back of Pressly’s left hand and on the forceps and scissors used in her rape examination were "consistent” with Vance’s DNA profile, said another DNA expert, Mary Robinette of the state Crime Lab.

Robinette testified that she used a form of DNA testing that looks at the male Y chromosome, while traditional DNA testing looks at every chromosome. She said that testing can’t conclusively pinpoint one person; men have identical profiles with their fathers, sons and other male relatives.

"They match, but not with all scientific certainty,” she said.

Defense attorney Katherine Streett sought to emphasize that it’s hard to say how many men have that DNA profile.

"You have no idea, do you, how many people are walking around with that Y chromosomal DNA?” she asked.

Robinette responded that she didn’t know how many people had that profile, but genetic mutations are common throughout generations, which cuts down on the number of people with identical profiles.

During the testimony, Vance paid close attention and took notes. At one point, he leaned back in his chair and loosened his tie. He could face execution if convicted.

Streett also noted that the DNA of more than one man was found in some of the samples. Prosecutors argued that police officers and emergency workers at the scene could have left DNA there.

Prosecutors will continue presenting their case Monday.