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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 16, 1995                   TAG: 9506190045
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROBE OF SUSPECTED SUICIDE IS STILL OPEN

An investigation is continuing into the death of a Roanoke woman found shot in a Bedford County house two weeks ago.

Loria Thurman Sluder, 31, died June 4 of a gunshot wound to the side of her head. Dr. David Oxley, deputy chief medical examiner, said he has not determined whether the death was a suicide.

The head injury was inflicted from close range, similar to a suicide, Oxley said, but she also had other injuries. He would not describe the other wounds.

Bedford County Sheriff's Lt. Faye Massie said the case initially looked like suicide but still is under investigation. No arrests have been made, she said, and the Sheriff's Office has not called the death a homicide.

by CNB