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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 8, 1993                   TAG: 9307080221
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CATAWBA HOSPITAL PATIENT STILL MISSING AFTER 2 MONTHS

Roanoke County police resumed a search of the Catawba Hospital grounds Wednesday for a woman who disappeared two months ago, and planned to continue the search today.

Julie Sullivan, 27, a patient who was committed by the state in March, disappeared May 9, Roanoke County Detective S.C. Sturgill said. At that time, police and hospital staff combed about 50-75 acres of the hospital's 750-acre grounds.

No more searches were made until Wednesday evening, and all clues led to dead ends, Sturgill said. Sullivan, who apparently left with no money and just the clothing she was wearing, has not contacted family members in Montgomery County and Vinton.

Sturgill said police had no new leads, but wanted to search areas farther from the main grounds, "so we could say that we did cover that." Police have no evidence to believe Sullivan may have wandered into the woods behind the grounds.

"It's one of those cases where she just simply disappeared," Sturgill said. To follow up, police searched about 150 acres with dogs Wednesday. If their efforts continue to prove fruitless today, Sturgill said, they have no more plans to continue unless new leads come up.

Sullivan had a pass to wander freely about the grounds, and Sturgill said she was not considered a danger to herself or others.

by CNB