Police Search For Clues In The Fatal Stabbing Of Pierce County Pair

PIERCE COUNTY - Search-and-rescue volunteers today combed the area where the body of a 19-year-old Spanaway woman was found yesterday.

The body of Rochelle L. Robinson was discovered around 5 p.m. lying under cardboard along a private road off 66th Avenue East in rural Pierce County. She had been stabbed to death.

About 4:45 a.m. yesterday, a Pierce County resident found the body of the man with whom Robinson was reportedly romantically involved. Michael A. Johnston, 25, of Tacoma, was found dead of multiple stab wounds along a heavily wooded mile-long road near the 16000 block of Canyon Road that leads to the Tacoma Sportsman's Club.

The attack on the two is believed to have taken place there, although Robinson's body was found about four miles away.

Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Curt Benson said this morning that detectives have no suspects, no weapon and no motive.

Johnston's body was discovered by a woman leaving the Sportsman's Club, a shooting range, after spending the night there on campgrounds, Benson said.

Johnston, married and a father of two, and Robinson last were seen at 11:30 p.m. Sunday a few miles away at a house where they played cards with friends.

Johnston's car was found in Spanaway about five miles from the murder site and a mile from where Robinson lives, Benson said. Police think the two met there and left in her car, Benson said.

Robinson's car, a 1988 gray Mazda, was found at the scene of Johnston's murder.