FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
November 19, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES THAT COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
UPHOLDS MOBILE COUNTY MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) -Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld the murder conviction of Willie
Daye Vance Jr. Vance, 32, of Saraland, was convicted in the Mobile County Circuit
Court in January of 2014 for the murder of his mother Gloria Vance.
Evidence was introduced at trial indicating that Willie Vance Jr. had shown
mental instability for several years before the murder and that he had undergone in-
patient treatment. On May 11, 2012, emergency medical technicians and the Saraland
Fire Department were dispatched to 836 Second Avenue in Saraland where they found
Vance’s mother, Gloria Vance, dead from strangulation. Vance told the Fire Chief that
he and his mother had gotten into an argument about food and that the argument had
turned physical. He further stated that he had choked his mother to get her off him.
Conflicting evidence was presented during the trial as to whether Vance had mental
illness.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Mobile County District Attorney Ashley
Rich’s office. Vance was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, the sentence was split to
serve five years, with five years probation thereafter. The trial court ordered Vance to
undergo mental health treatment. Vance subsequently sought to have his conviction
reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals
process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the conviction.
The Court did so in a decision issued on Friday, November 14.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General Yvonne Saxon
of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division for her successful work in this
case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
