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Family remembers slaying victim as 'free spirit'
“Live the Life You Love.”
That's the motto Kayleigh Marie Plamondon had tattooed on her arm, and it's a philosophy the 22-year-old lived by.
“She was a tremendously free spirit,” said Trina Plamondon, Kayleigh's older sister.
On June 13, police found what is believed to be Kayleigh Plamondon's slain body in a vacant home in Lost River, W.Va.
For several days, family, friends and concerned community members had searched for the 2005 Loudoun Valley High School graduate after she disappeared June 9 from a Clarke County home where she had been house sitting.
Her family became suspicious and reported her missing when she did not answer phone calls.
This was unlike Kayleigh, who was very family-oriented.
According to Trina, Kayleigh called their mother, Deb Plamondon, of Bluemont, every day just to say hi and that she loved her.
Although Kayleigh grew up in Loudoun County, she lived on a farm in White Post at the time of her death.
“Her mother and sisters were her best friends,” Trina said, adding that Kayleigh could often be found visiting her for dinner and a movie or going out dancing with their sister Rachel Plamondon.
While searching for Kayleigh last week, several of her friends and family, including her mom, appeared on local news and radio programs to make everyone aware of her disappearance.
A break in the case came June 11 when the brother of Kayleigh's ex-boyfriend was found shot to death in his Frederick County, Va., home.
The ex-boyfriend, Justin Shane "Pi" Slater, 24, of Winchester, was taken into custody June 13 and charged with first degree murder in the death of his brother, Gregory Scott Slater, 28. Scott Slater was also Kayleigh's friend.
After he was captured by police, Justin Slater led them to a body at a home his parents used to own in Lost River, W.Va.
The body has not been identified yet by the West Virginia medical examiner, but it is believed to be Kayleigh Plamondon's.
Her family is planning a memorial service June 17 at the farm where she lived in White Post.
It was fitting for Kayleigh to live on a farm because she loved animals.
That's why she and Justin Slater were still in contact with each other – they shared custody of a dog.
Kayleigh loved her dogs, Gracie and Polo, and she also loved riding horses and hanging out at her mom's house to spend time with pets there, Trina said.
Kayleigh's free spirit shone through in her diverse tastes in music -- from bands like Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd to Sublime, Bob Marley and Shinedown, Trina said.
Kayleigh often traveled to music festivals, from Starscape in Baltimore to All Good in West Virginia, and even as far as Rothbury in Michigan.
“Just as her taste in music was very diverse, she had a very diverse group of friends who love her and miss her dearly,” her sister Trina said.
Kayleigh would make friends with anyone – it didn't matter if they were young or old, male or female, according to her sister.
“She had such a dynamic personality that people were automatically drawn to her,” Trina said.
A memorial fund has been set up for Kayleigh Plamondon at the Bank of Clarke County.
Donations can be dropped off at any of the bank's branches or mailed to the Bank of Clarke County, P.O. Box 391, Berryville, VA 22611.
Contact the reporter at jwagoner@timespapers.com
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