OPTOMETRIST'S BODY FOUND

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 10, 1992                   TAG: 9201100382
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINCHESTER                                LENGTH: Short
OPTOMETRIST'S BODY FOUND
A missing optometrist was found dead Thursday, the apparent victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
The body of Erica Lynn Johnston, 38, was found at 12:54 p.m. near the Winchester-Frederick County line in a wooded area.
A search team of police officers and fire and rescue personnel also found a shotgun with the body. A preliminary investigation revealed that she shot herself, said Capt. Preston Jolley with Winchester police.
Johnston was reported missing Wednesday night by her parents, Charles E. and Irene Johnston, who feared for her safety when she failed to return to the home they shared.
They had last seen their daughter about 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jolley said. Irene Johnston said she was afraid her daughter had been abducted because she left her handbag, car and car keys at home, and her calendar had activities scheduled.
But Jolley said there was no evidence that the victim was abducted or that foul play was involved.
The family worked together at an optical practice that Charles Johnston opened in 1959. Erica Johnston had been employed there as an optometrist for 15 years after graduating from the University of Alabama.
Irene Johnston said her daughter had planned to be married on Jan. 18, but had decided on Monday morning to postpone the wedding and canceled her order for a cake and other arrangements.
No new date for the wedding had been set.
Keywords:
FATALITY "SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN REALLY BRILLIANT," SHE SAID OF HER DAUGHTER. ERICA JOHNSTON GRADUATED FROM JAMES WOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND RECEIVED A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR HAVING THE SCHOOL'S HIGHEST SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST THE YEAR SHE GRADUATED.
FIRE CHIEF LYNN MILLER SAID TWO DOG TEAMS TOOK PART IN THE SEARCH, COVERING A 75-ACRE WOODED AREA NEAR THE WHITTIER ACRES SUBDIVISION.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB