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

DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994                   TAG: 9412020040
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: FLOYD                                 LENGTH: Short

FLOYD WOMAN CHARGED WITH ARSON|

Patricia A. Athens was indicted on the arson charge by a county grand jury on Thursday, said Commonwealth's Attorney Gino Williams. Her age and address were unavailable.

Williams said a joint investigation by the county Sheriff's Office and Virginia State Police revealed evidence that led authorities to believe the woman set fire to a Virginia 681 house that belonged to the estate of the grandmother of Albert Smith, Athens' estranged husband.

Smith was living at the home, which is less than a mile from the Floyd town limits, said Jerry Yopp, an investigator with the Sheriff's Office.

Timothy Vest, assistant chief of the Floyd fire department, was injured when the front wall of the burning house tumbled down on top of him. Vest was the first firefighter to approach the house.

Vest sustained a crushed vertebrae and was told to stay in bed for six weeks.