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Portland man pleads not guilty to strangling girlfriend to death

Gregory Vance, 61 pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the strangulation death of his girlfriend, Patricia Grassi.

PORTLAND, Maine — Gregory Vance, 61, pleaded not guilty to the strangulation death of his girlfriend, Patricia Grassi.

Grassi, 59, was killed in the apartment that Vance and she shared on Cumberland Avenue March 17. An autopsy revealed Grassi was strangled to death after police found her during a well-being check. 

Gregory Vance, 61, of Portland was taken into custody at the scene and charged with Grassi's murder. Vance entered the not guilty plea Wednesday, May 29 in Cumberland County Court. 

According to the Associated Press, court documents show that Vance strangled Grassi. He reportedly told police he did it because she was "tormenting" and "slapping" him. 

Court documents indicate Vance confessed to the murder during phone calls to his daughter and ex-wife, according to the Associated Press.

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