Portsmouth police identify 16-year-old girl found slain in home

PORTSMOUTH

A 16-year-old Woodrow Wilson High School sophomore found slain in her single-family Simonsdale home Thursday night has been identified by police as Meghan N. Landowski. 

Investigators today are trying to figure out who killed her and why. 

Landowski was described by a neighbor as a typical “all-American girl.” She lived in the first block of Roberts Court West, said Det. Jan Westerbeck, a police spokeswoman.

A vigil for Landowski is planned for 9 p.m. tonight on her street, said Paul Culbertson, who is the director of student ministries at Pinecrest Baptist Church. People will pray, lean on each other and share memories, he said. He said Landowski was not a member of the church but frequented its youth group at times.

Westerbeck said Landowski’s stepfather came home, found the body and called police moments later at 4:09 p.m.

John Kauffman, whose home is across the street, said he saw him arrive home just after 4 p.m. Within moments, he said, “there were police cars all over.”

Westerbeck said the stepfather, whose name was not released, was interviewed by detectives along with other family members.

Police in Norfolk staked out a home and a man was questioned but later released, authorities said this morning.

Officer Chris Amos, a Norfolk police spokesman, said officers assisted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in staking out the  address on Kirby Crescent off  Thole Street, just off Tidewater Drive. “They were waiting for someone to come home,” he said. 

Amos said he could not release the person’s name or offer any further details. 

Susan Melow, a public affairs officer with Military Sealift Fleet Support Command, said the man works for the command.

Westerbeck said Landowski was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

“We don’t know how she died yet, but it has been ruled a homicide,” she said. Westerbeck would not provide any details on the condition of the victim’s body or describe the crime scene.

Landowski’s body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Norfolk to determine the cause of her death.

The community of small homes with well-kept lawns just off Portsmouth Boulevard “is a beautiful, nice quite neighborhood,” said Kauffman, a 48-year resident.

It also was an area with “no crime problem whatsoever,” he said.

Word of the killing spread quickly and many residents said they knew Landowski. They were shocked and visibly shaken.

“She was just a sweetheart; she was a good kid,” said Melissa Harden, who lives a few doors down from the victim’s home.

Harden said her son called her with news of the slaying. She rushed home.

“Her and my daughter swapped clothes,” said Harden.

Charlie Humphries,15, who lives in the Park Manor section, said she had known Landowski since sixth grade.

She said her friend, a sophomore at Woodrow Wilson, had spoken with her earlier in the day and had asked if she could come to Humphries’ home after school.

She cried as she recalled Landowski’s request.

On a MySpace page that seems to rain small hearts, Landowski, who listed he nickname as “Mini,” described herself as being interested in “guys, fashion and dance.”

She said she didn’t watch television much. When she did, it was to see "American Idol" or "America’s Next Top Model," she wrote.

Under a listing for personal heroes, she wrote: “My friends that are always there for me!”

Some of those friends had already begun to post notes in her memory Thursday evening.

“R.I.P Lil Meghan,” one wrote, “we will all love and miss u.”

Kimana LeMaster, another neighbor, said Landowski’s family was friendly.

“We just talked to them last week about having a block party,” she said.

While she didn’t see the victim or her family often, LeMaster said Landowski had seemed every bit a typical teenager.

“She’d wave, she’d come over and pet our dog,” she said, adding that she believed the girl had been active in karate and dance.

“She was a very nice girl from a very nice family,” LeMaster said, “sweet 16 and an all-American girl. It’s just tragic.”

Steve Stone, (757) 446-2309, steve.stone@pilotonline.com

Matthew Roy, (757) 446-2540, matthew.roy@pilotonline.com