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State To Seek Death Penalty In Beating, Burning Death (With Video)
April 9, 2013
The State Attorney’s Office may seek the death penalty against three people accused of beating a woman then burning her alive.
Anthony Lamar Pressley, 26, Kiesha LeShay Pugh, 28, and Gregory Edward Williams, 21, were each charged with homicide and robbery for the March 31 death of Melinda McCormick inside her burning apartment of Mobile Highway. All three have confessed, investigators said.
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. They were caught on video (see below) headed to and away from the area of the apartment.
Williams reportedly told investigators that he hated white people, and that was a partial reason for the crime.The trio allegedly planned to steal Social Security money from McCormick. Officials said arson charges may also be added against the men.
“This was a particular hateful crime,” Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. “One of the saddest parts of this story is that the card that they intended to steal was not even in the woman’s residence.”
Comments
26 Responses to “State To Seek Death Penalty In Beating, Burning Death (With Video)”
I would put a bullet in them now and send these animated by Satan murdering beasts direct to HELL!
i still pray that justice will be served…..Melinda may be gone but she will never be forgotten this was one of the worst murders in Pensacola….She nor anyone deserves what happened to her….and yes he did get on news and say he hated white people after what was done to her
this is her dad i have to live with this every day i hate to say thay better watch out because i might be behind them any where thay migt be
love you melinda rip
Hats off to the media and police for not ignoring the racially motivated hatred directed toward a white person. It’s about time we stopped pretending this doesn’t exist.
I am not a highly educated person, but when I read all of these coments. I will not defend myself of being seperate from feelings! For many years now I have been praying that some how! That we become a nation of no division among us as Americans. I have been for quite a few years now hoping that I could see a commng together of the African Amercian and the white people.
I know that there is some moveing forward,but I would like to see more of this! One thing I do know that we were created equeal in the eyes of God.In this case I will not justfy nor condem any one but I will pray that God forgives them and that the family of this lady sees there ways through this terable moment in there lives I also pray that meets their every need to recover from this.
Thise is something that non of us should have to go though.
For myself I will continue to push forwar in what I have been praying for I will not give up. ( By the way I happen to be white )
This is a hate crime. This person died and suffered based on the color of her skin and this was part of the cause of the murder. I remain amazed at the bias in America. If the races were reversed this would be a HUGE story. A personal tragedy opened my eyes and has made me look beyond headlines for these stories. I challenge any of you to look for stories that resemble this and look at black on white crime stats. You will walk out of your homes with more caution and watch your children closer. I don’t hate anyone, but if you care for yourself and your own children, you better open your eyes.
Why waste taxpayers money either get several court authorities or whoever & let them shoot @ 1 x like they do in some countries or just hang like in the wild west sounds crude & mean which I really don’t think I am but anything is better than what they did to her, I’m really not for any of that but what if they get out who they gonna get next. They shouldn’t have to go to court, since they already know they’re guilty. It wshould make Mr.Scott & president Obama happy for the courts to save money.
When you consider the long term exponential aspects of this case, there is cause for optomisim.
Elayne, I take issue with your comment. You have claimed that I am racist – you said EVERYONE. Nowhere in my post did I mention ANYTHING that could be inferred as racist. As a matter of fact, I just commented that the government would be amiss if they didn’t treat this a hate crime. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. I can say, though, that your post alone shows that your are very prejudicial in your thoughts and comments/actions. . . . And before you get defensive, be sure to make certain you know the WHOLE definition of “prejudice.” Then maybe you can figure out what I mean.
Gigi: Because the perpetrators are black and the victim white. According to the new Orwellian 1984-laws It is only hate-crime if it is the other way around and the victim is non-white.
It does not help that one of the attackers, Gregory Williams, *specifically* stated during his confession that one of the reasons for the deed was because he, quote, “hate all white people”. That’s right, he said specifically that he hates white people and that that was one of the reasons he did it.
How come so many newspapers are silent about that, one might ask?
CONTEMPLATING:
“I noticed everyone posting about hate crimes. Yes, this may be one, but to state that they should be hung before sunset shows that in each of you there lies hate.”
A statement by one person or by several people doesn’t tell you what “each” of us feels. Nor does it necessarily mean hatred is based on race. It could be based on the heinous crime — beating, robbing and burning a helpless woman to death out of professed racial hatred. To assume otherwise is simply prejudice. Maybe they hate prejudice.
“To live in the deep South must be pretty hard.”
Naw, it’s not so bad.
Some of us do it effortlessly — literally effortlessly.
“It is said that no one thinks of the victim, but only mentions their blood thirsty racist insights.”
I suspect you meant “sad” rather than “said” since nobody said such a thing or gave such “insights.” Well, nobody else, anyway. In fact most seemed concerned for the victim and any possible future victims especially since the accused killers don’t seem too smart and claim to be motivated by hatred.
Your prejudice is somewhat reasonable, though. You’ve probably been taught to think all hangings were lynchings and all lynchings were against black people. You haven’t seen the (usually all-white) Westerns in which hanging was the means of killing killers the way we were.
“I am not one to damn anyone to hell or place anyone in heaven so I wouldn’t dare make those types of comments.”
Other than to judge the TRUE intents of the hearts of each and every last one of us?
David for introspection
How about this; it doesn’t matter WHICH way it goes, a hate crime is a hate crime. EVERY individual convicted of a hate crime should be hung at sunrise. Who’s got a problem with that? Am I a “racist” towards the HUMAN race, now? The political correctness BS is SOO played out. ANYONE who burns a human being alive because of WHATEVER the color of their skin actually deserves the SAME method of death. PERIOD.
Roll one one, roll on two, may god have mercy on your soul..click buzzzzzzzz
i think that im pretty safe in saying- we WONT be seeing the famous rev. jackson and rev. al sharpton here (in pensacola) firing up a rebel rousing protest march for “justice to be done” for this victim of admitted racism. **shocker**
So happy Elayne is here condemning EVERYONE (so she wrote). If it wasn’t for the self-proclaimed righteous liberals from up north guiding our lives we would be lost. I sound like her don’t I? By putting down the Deep South like she did, she has become what she hates. A true blue discriminator. Good job lady.
Elayne – if he admitted to the crime, and also provided a reason for comitting the crime, then he is guilty and his consequence should fit the crime. No one is spewing hatred; how do you think things were handled before all these soft-hearted judges were in place? Many people were probably convicted and punished for crimes they didn’t do, but for those who were guilty justice was swift and fast – acually PUNISHING the perpetrator for the crime committed. Now, they will sit in jail (or post bail and get to hang out on the streets again – can’t wait for that) until it is their turn to go to trial, we will pay for their attorney (which they don’t need if they have already admitted to the crime, and attorneys who will represent people like this make me sick), then they will get a slap on the hand, maybe a little probation and some fines they won’t pay, and they will be back on the streets with no punishment, no justice for the girl who was killed…If they do get convicted (which I pray they do), they will either get to sit in jail on my dime, or get put on death row for 20 years or so, claim they are too fat, sick, old, mentally incompetent, or other asinine explanation to be put to death and will either rot in jail or be released because they are “see inserted reasons above”
There are no racist comments here. Everyone has been quite nice thus far, in my opinion. People don’t need to pull the racist card – all it does is get people riled up.
My prayers go out to the victim and her family.
Everyone calm down . With the liberals and their overwhelming intelligence helping and guiding us, we will be alright. It’s not a hate crime according to our previous northern poster . In case you haven’t noticed, a war is being waged against non- blacks.
I feel as the three should suffer the consequences for their actions. However, I say that I noticed everyone posting about hate crimes. Yes, this may be one, but to state that they should be hung before sunset shows that in each of you there lies hate. To live in the deep South must be pretty hard. Racism is racism regardless of whom the perpetrator identifies with racially. It is said that no one thinks of the victim, but only mentions their blood thirsty racist insights. I am not one to damn anyone to hell or place anyone in heaven so I wouldn’t dare make those types of comments. Maybe some of you should check your “accidental racist” behavior. Especially when you call yourself a Christian.
Sounds like a hate to me also. I can’t posibly write what should be done to these three outstanding individuals ,or what I think of them, “Brecause” my posting would be pulled. You fill in the lines yourself !!
REGARDING:
“I don’t understand why this won’t be considered a hate crime?”
Assuming all the facts hold up as given, it will be, required by law to be classified as such per:
http://flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/775.085
“Evidencing prejudice while committing offense; reclassification.—
(1)(a) The penalty for any felony or misdemeanor shall be reclassified as provided in this subsection if the commission of such felony or misdemeanor evidences prejudice based on the race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, mental or physical disability, or advanced age of the victim:”
Note: It would help greatly if the interviews and confessions were recorded at the time and if there were rock solid proof all information was gathered lawfully.
Sometimes people say things sarcastically, not meaning them. Sometimes people lie, especially criminals.
It would be bad if the innocent were convicted wrongly.
It would be terrible if the guilty were to walk to do it again.
David for t crossing,
and i dotting
This guy williams should be hung before the sun sets. According to the article, he stated he hated white people and that part of the reason for the murder. But he will be tried and some bleeding heart judge will free this thing to harm the public again.
Yes, this definitely sounds like a hate crime!
This is, beyond any doubt, a hate crime – at least on the part of one of the assailants. If the State treats it as anything else, they are not properly seeking justice.
If this had been 3 white people doing this to a black person, it would be a hate crime and would have made national news. Tell me now who is discriminated against in this country!
I’m not trying to start an argument with this comment. I’m just stating my observations of fair and equal treatment that is supposed to be given to all Americans no matter what color your skin is.
I don’t understand why this won’t be considered a hate crime?
MAY ALL THREE BURN IN _ _ _ _