ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996              TAG: 9608150082
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-5  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: AFTON

DEATHS BELIEVED MURDER-SUICIDE

Investigators are trying to unravel the details of an apparent murder-suicide on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The bodies of Heather Marie Meadows, 18, and Kevin Ray Meadows, 26, both of Waynesboro, were discovered by tourists about 10 a.m. Wednesday near an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Nelson County Sheriff Ronald Wood said.

Both victims had been shot once in the head, probably late Tuesday night, Wood said. He said a 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene.

Wood said the two were married, but he thought they had separated.

An investigation was under way into the circumstances leading to the two deaths. Wood said the scene looked like a murder-suicide, but investigators weren't certain.

``We are not calling it anything right now, but the weapon was found near him,'' Wood said. ``The appearance seems to indicate a murder-suicide.''

The bodies were sent to the Richmond medical examiner's office, where an autopsy was to be performed today, the sheriff said.

- Associated Press

LENGTH: Short :   31 lines
KEYWORDS: FATALITY