ROCKBRIDGE CO., Va. (WFXR) — Stormie Markland, 38, was found off Hoppers Creek Road, lying over a hillside in the Jefferson National Forest.
Virginia State Police say her death was violent, and they’ve arrested Leland Johnson for second-degree murder.
VSP confirmed to WFXR that this was a domestic incident.
“We just want to bring a highlight to her because her life did mean something,” said Michele Clark, who works with the Buena Vista Victim Assistance Program, and co-found Jaclyn’s Hope.
The organization was founded in memory of her friend, a healthcare worker who saw repeated domestic abuse play out in the lives of her colleagues. Clark says Jaclyn knew four healthcare workers in Rockbridge County alone who died from domestic abuse, and she made it her mission to help end the violence.
Jaclyn’s Hope posted about Markland’s death on Facebook, offering prayers and calling for an end to domestic violence. Clark says one in four women are abused at some time in their life.
“With Jaclyn’s Hope, we are community-based, and we really are informative,” she said. “Whenever they’re ready to tell us or disclose what’s going on, we can get them the help that they need.”
She says they’re working to learn more about Stormie’s story to make sure she’s remembered as a person, not a victim.
“We wanted to showcase her and just let her family know that there are people in this community, that there are people thinking of them and working diligently to save the next girl,” she said.
The medical examiner is still working to learn how Markland died.
