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First Degree Murder, Arson Indictments In Beating, Burning Death
April 25, 2013
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted Anthony Pressley, Kiesha Pugh, and Gregory Williams for arson and first degree murder in death of Melinda McCormick.
McCormick’s body was found beaten and burned on March 31, 2013, at Melei Apartments on Mobile Highway.
Deputies say an autopsy shows McCormick was hit 40 times with a hammer, lead pipe and crow bar. She was still alive when her bed sheets were set on fire, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
All three defendants have confessed, investigators said. They were caught on video headed to and away from the area of the apartment.
Comments
12 Responses to “First Degree Murder, Arson Indictments In Beating, Burning Death”
I agree with all the post….Burn In hell
My deepest sympathy to the family ……………
You might or might not find the following of interest:
http://www.adl.org/combating-hate/hate-crimes-law/c/hate-crimes-faq.html
“Sometimes especially serious offenses like murder or attempted murder that are motivated by bias are not charged as hate crimes. Why not?”
“In many states, the hate crime charge only applies to certain offenses such as assault, battery, and criminal damage to property. The purpose of the sentence-enhancing feature is to attach more serious penalties to bias-motivated crimes in an effort to demonstrate the seriousness with which we, as a society, address hate violence. Higher-level felonies already have serious consequences regardless of the offender’s motivation. A murder based on the victim’s race, for example, while certainly a hate crime, would likely not be charged as a hate crime under a penalty-enhancement statute. The criminal penalties for murder are already the most severe, so it would not make sense from a prosecutor’s perspective to also charge the perpetrator with lesser included penalties. However, this crime should still be classified and reported as a hate crime for HCSA purposes.”
“Do hate crimes laws violate the First Amendment or punish thought?”
“No. Hate crimes laws punish violent acts, not beliefs or thoughts — even violent thoughts. Hate crime statutes do not punish, nor prohibit in any way, name-calling, verbal abuse or expressions of hatred toward any group even if such statements amount to hate speech. It is only when the perpetrator crosses the line from speech to criminal action that hate crime laws might come into effect.”
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2011/narratives/incidents-and-offenses
Racial bias
“In 2011, law enforcement agencies reported that 3,465 single-bias hate crime offenses were racially motivated. Of these offenses:”
72.0% motivated by anti-black bias.
16.7% anti-white.
4.8% anti-Asian/Pacific Islander.
4.7% bias against groups of individuals consisting of more than one race (anti-multiple races, group).
1.9% anti-American Indian/Alaskan Native
SO GLAD TO HERE THE GOOD NEWS ON THESE 3 MURDERS
I cannot imagine the sheer terror this young lady experienced during this horrible act.. It is so sad that we live among people that are that uncaring, and have no more regard for human life.. I agree with previous posts that this was a hate crime.. This girl was hit 40 times with hammers and pipes and burned alive!
Oh no, this is horrible, I have been seeing the pics of these 3 people that did this cruel act and I had no idea who it was they did it too until this pic of this young woman was posted, I knew her and she was a very nice and friendly person and just to imagine the pain this poor woman endured even life won’t due these criminals justice they should have to endure what this victim went through . An eye.for an eye right ??
Mr. Godwin, have you ever seen a hate crime when the victim was white? And you probably won’t until white people start fighting as hard over being discriminated against as the minorities do. We can’t do that though…can we? Society and our gov’t has taught us that it’s impossible to be a victim of anything unless you are a minority.
Death penalty can only be sought if grand jury indicts.
Now they have.
David for better people
less hatred
fewer crimes
From the first arrest interview the charges should be listed as a hate crime.Where are the feds?
Let us hope the victim gets justice!
Look out Satan, you have three new recruits coming your way.
So much hate praying for justice I just dont understand how people could do such a horrific thing without a conscious
May they burn for the crime they committed….. I hope they all get the death penalty. They deserve no less for this!