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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994                   TAG: 9411030100
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WOMAN FOUND IN TRUNK WAS BEATEN

An autopsy determined that Virgie A. Green, 44, died of a blunt-force injury to her head.

Police would not say if they have any suspects in the killing, but a news release said investigators are "very interested" in talking with two men who had been living in Green's Woods Avenue home in recent weeks.

The two men are missing, as are two of Green's vehicles that were parked in her backyard before she was reported missing Friday. Green's body was found Tuesday afternoon by the boyfriend of one of her daughters.

Authorities believe the men may have taken Green's vehicles, described as a gray Dodge Ram pickup with a camper shell and licence number ZUC-6035, and a blue Nissan with a license number VIU-637.

The men, described as in their 20s, had been living at Green's home on and off for the past two weeks, according to family members and neighbors.

Police said one of Green's daughters met the men at a Salem restaurant and allowed them to stay with her for several days. When the men were asked to leave the daughter's home, police said, Green decided to take them in.

Neighbor Charles Ballard said he became concerned last week when Green, who was outdoors nearly every day walking her beloved wirehair terrier, was not seen for several days. "Everybody was wondering what had happened to her," Ballard said.

On Tuesday afternoon, the body was discovered by James Witt, the boyfriend of one of Green's daughters, when he noticed a foul odor while putting some tools away in the car.

Authorities would not say how long they believe the body had been left in the blue Buick. The car remained in Green's back yard Wednesday afternoon, its trunk still open following the grisly discovery.

Witnesses said her body had been wrapped in a blanket, and that a plastic bag had been placed over her head.

Even before yellow police tape was drawn across the front porch columns of Green's home at 421 Woods Avenue, the house stood out from all the others on the block.

With its peeling paint and a porch littered with old furniture, the house contrasts sharply with other newly painted and renovated homes that have become increasingly common in Old Southwest.

One resident said that Green, who apparently had little money, received no attention or sympathy from her neighbors, many of whom considered her house an eyesore.

"This woman had been pretty much shunned by the entire neighborhood," said the Old Southwest resident, who asked not to be identified.

"The sad thing is that if any one of us, myself included, had had the courage to put aside our bias, our prejudice, or whatever it is that keeps us from reaching out to other people, maybe this would not have happened."

But people who did know Green - even if it was only to wave at her from a distance - described her as a caring and honest person.

"She would try to help anybody," Ballard said. "If you were hungry and she didn't have but one can of beans, she would give it to you."

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