Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 30, 1994 TAG: 9401300153
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ADRIENNE PETTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Michael S. Swaine, 24, apparently used an assault rifle to shoot Levi Henry Montgomery in Montgomery's home in the Red Valley community, then abducted and shot Parthenia Jane Montgomery and killed himself, according to Franklin County Sheriff W.Q. "Quint" Overton.
"Nobody can put their finger on what caused him to snap like that," Overton said.
A man who rode to the Montgomery home with Swaine but did not go inside is being investigated for involvement in the incident, Overton said. His name was not released.
Swaine and Parthenia Montgomery, 21, had lived together in Boones Mill, but when they began having domestic problems, she and their two children moved in with her parents.
Just before 8 p.m. Friday, Swaine went to the Montgomery home on Virginia 687, demanding that his estranged girlfriend come with him, Overton said.
Levi Montgomery, 68, apparently tried to intercede, and Swaine shot him several times with an assault rifle, Overton said.
Swaine then told his companion to take the couple's children to Swaine's father's house, the sheriff said.
Swaine then abducted Parthenia Montgomery and had her drive her car about five miles down Virginia 792 toward Boones Mill, Overton said.
Swaine apparently shot Parthenia Montgomery, who was in the driver's seat, and then turned the rifle on himself, Overton said.
The couple's bodies were found in the car in the middle of the gravel road.
It is unclear whether the couple's children, Christopher Lee, 4, and Sabrina Nicole, 2, saw the shooting of Levi Montgomery, Overton said. The Montgomery family is taking care of the children, a family member said.
Levi Montgomery's wife, Lydia, was not home when he was killed.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB