The home of Rodney and Donna Pleasants is sprinkled with solemn reminders of a young woman described as energetic and full of life. A picture of a young dancer sits as the centerpiece of a photograph collection that tells the story of a girl with the energy and ambition to try just about everything once. A large paper butterfly sits perched outside the kitchen as a symbol of someone whose friends knew her as the “butterfly girl.”

Sadly, the wings of this butterfly no longer flutter with the carefree spirit and genuine compassion that was said to bring out the best in everyone she met. The life of 23-year-old Lori Pleasants ended last June in what is still an unsolved case for the Radford City Police Department.

With the investigation at a near standstill, Radford Police have joined with the Pleasants family to post a $10,000 reward for information that will help solve the killing. The Pleasants hope their newly offered reward will finally bring their daughter’s killer to justice, while remembering her life and the many wonderful times they shared.

“From a very young age she was in dance like ballet, jazz and tap,” said Rodney Pleasants, holding a small picture of his daughter in a blue, ballerina style mini-dress, one of many dance costumes she wore during various recitals. “Dancing took up a lot of her time, but she was very athletic. She loved to ski, snow skiing, water skiing, swimming, roller skating.” Donna Pleasants proudly displays an album of photographs taken during yearly trips the family took to Bermuda, where Lori’s grandparents lived for a time. The pictures reflect the energy that was said to be an ever-present aspect of Lori’s personality.

“When we went to Bermuda she did helmet diving and parasailing,” said Donna Pleasants. “She wasn’t afraid to venture out and try new things.” “She was just very excited about everything.”

The Pleasants say Lori’s excitement and enthusiasm remained constant as she journeyed into college and life at RU, a school Lori is said to have chosen for its small population and picturesque mountain setting. “She was so excited about getting away from home, getting out of Danville and experiencing life a little,” said Donna Pleasants. “She was very excited even from the first day of orientation, about the people she had met and who she would be rooming with.”

As a student at RU, Lori’s parents say she searched to find her calling in life. “She never was quite sure what she wanted to do,” said Rodney Pleasants. “I think at first she wanted to do something with marine biology. At one time she was interested in fashion/design, but she never really found anything that kept her interest.”

“She would have been cut out for just about anything,” said Donna Pleasants. “She was so compassionate with people and animals and very sensitive. She was just an outgoing, very friendly person. She never walked, always ran. We used to get after her all the time because she was just so energetic.”

While the Pleasants openly discuss the life of their daughter, they chose not to comment on the investigation at this time, saying only they hoped the new reward coupled with increasing media attention on the case would speed up the process of finding the person responsible for their daughter’s death. With the posting of the new reward, Radford police are hopeful that previously unreleased information will lead them to more viable suspects. “I think perhaps the reward will bring forth some information that’s not been previously offered to the police department; either by individuals we have already talked to or by individuals we have not located yet,” said Sgt. Scott Schwartzer, a Radford City Police Investigator working the Pleasants case. “I think the other thing it will do is speed up the investigation somewhat.”

Paul Wojdala, a former friend of Pleasants, hopes the reward will bring about new information in the case, but fears that too much time has passed since the crime for anyone who hasn’t already spoken to police to come forward. “The police have already talked to everyone involved,” says Wodjala. “I don’t think there is anyone left who hasn’t come forward to speak on behalf of Lori or the people who were there the night she was killed.”

Police say Pleasants, a former RU student who worked as a waitress at the Alleghany Inn on Grove Avenue, was strangled to death in her Clement street apartment June 15. Investigators know that Pleasants had been at the downtown Radford sports bar “Riley’s” on the night before her death. According to eyewitnesses, Pleasants was seen leaving Riley’s in the early morning hours of June 15 with three men. Friends of Pleasants believe that the three men from Riley’s spent the night at Pleasants’ apartment. The three men were the last people to have any social contact with Lori, however at this point police do not suspect any of the three men as being involved with the murder.

Name: CD
Year: graduate
Major: crju
Comments:
Thank you so much for writing this article Tim. As the other girls have mentioned, we spent June 16th and 17th with Lori's family and most of her closest friends in Danville, VA. The trip started out with clouds and rain, but the sky opened up once we reached Danville and the beautiful sunshine shone through...Even in her absence, Lori still finds a way to brighten any day. We shared in her memory with videos provided by her family, stories told by all, and her presence we felt while visiting her grave site. Even her father spoke highly of you, and we all appreciate you taking the time to know our sweet butterfly, Lori. Everyone who knew her understands the incredible pain and frustration we all have been feeling over the last year, but I, as well as the rest of BFWS believe that her killer will be brought to justice. Whether it be this life, or the next, the person who stole our Lori will suffer... !!!BFWS 4 Eva!!! We love you Lori and miss you so much...

Name: Laura
Year: grad
Comments:
Thank you so much for writing such a great article about a girl we all loved so much. Many of her friends gathered this weekend in memory of Lori at her home in Danville. It has been one year since she passed away and we all miss her so much. We spent the weekend laughing, remembering and sharing all the wonderful times we had with Lori. I hope that this article can give anyone who may not have known her well, a little glimpse into how amazing Lori was. BFWS!

Name: Mike Regan
Comments:
I was not a Radford student, however, I was a high school friend of Lori. This article was a nice reminder of one of the kindest and most special people that I have ever known. Thank you.

Name: Kat
Comments:
I am a former Radford student and friend of Lori's. We all miss her dearly. I am appreciative of the articles sensitivity to the family and friends of Lori, who are in so much pain. It was nice to see someone take the time to write an article about Lori that goes beyond the details of the crime and inside what a beautiful person she was. Futhermore, I was touched that someone took the time to speak to Rodney and Donna so they could share their memories of Lori. I still have faith that the person responsible for this will be brought to justice, so that some sort of closure can be made for all the people that loved Lori.