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

DATE: SUNDAY, November 19, 1995                   TAG: 9511200046
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WOMAN CHARGED WITH ABDUCTION

A woman was charged with abduction and a probation violation Saturday after she was found sitting in the car of an 83-year-old, partially paralyzed Roanoke man who was locked in the car's trunk, city police said.

The man, Vernon Laughon of Patterson Avenue Southwest, was reported missing by someone at his residence Thursday, police said. Police said they were told Laughon had left his apartment with a woman and that the woman later returned alone.

Police said they received another call about 9 a.m. Saturday about the location of Laughon's car. They said they found the car parked on Sixth Street Southwest, just south of Highland Park, with the motor running.

Mitzi Horton, who was being sought on a probation violation, was found sitting in the car, police said. Horton refused to talk with investigators and would not give an address, police said.

Police said Horton told them Laughon had allowed her to use the car. Officers found the trunk key in Horton's pocket; when they opened the trunk, they found Laughon inside, lying in a fetal position, police said.

Laughon was unable to move without pain and was taken by ambulance to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, police said. A hospital nursing supervisor said Laughon was in stable condition Saturday night.

Besides the probation and abduction charges, police said they would confer with the Roanoke commonwealth's attorney's office about bringing additional charges against Horton.

by CNB