* River search launched in Clarke for missing woman

By Elizabeth Wilkerson -- ewilkerson@nvdaily.com

(11:35 a.m.) WINCHESTER -- Authorities are searching the Shenandoah River in connection with Kayleigh Marie Plamondon's disappearance, Clarke County Sheriff Anthony "Tony" Roper said Friday.

Plamondon is the ex-girlfriend of Justin Shane Slater, 24, who is wanted for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a murder in connection with his brother's slaying. Slater, of 117 Buffalo Trail, Shawneeland, has a history of "psychiatric evaluation" and should be considered armed and dangerous, according to information from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

Slater's brother, Gregory Scott Slater Jr., 28, was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound at about 3:45 a.m. Thursday at his home at 293 Valley Mill Road, Frederick County Sheriff's Maj. Robert "Robbie" Eckman said Thursday.

Plamondon, 22, was last seen Tuesday and is listed as missing under suspicious circumstances through the Clarke County Sheriff's Office. Eckman said authorities in Clarke and Frederick Counties are treating the homicide and Plamondon's disappearance as being related.

On Friday, Roper declined to elaborate on the evidence of a "crime of violence" that was recovered during a search of the Clarke County residence where Plamondon was last seen.

Authorities searched the river with a helicopter Thursday, Roper said, and will search it with "personnel and dogs" today.

"Until we have her in person or we locate her body, we're just exhausting all possibilities," Roper said.

Plamondon is described as white, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 125 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes, the release says.

Justin Slater, whose nickname is "Pi," is described as white, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 170 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair and green eyes. He may have a white dog and a black dog with him, according to a press release from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

He should be driving a brownish-gold 1999 Jeep SUV, with Virginia tags XXG 3569 and "flaring on all the wheel wells," the release says. The compartment window on the back driver's side is broken, it says, and windows on only the right side of the vehicle are tinted.

Anyone with information about Plamondon may call the Clarke County Sheriff's Office at 955-1234. Investigators say anyone who sees Slater should call 911.

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