Slain soldier from Atlanta was AWOL

NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA - A Fort Eustis soldier found slain in his car on a city street had been absent without leave since Aug. 13, the Army said. <br> <br> Joshua Bickford, a 19-year-old private from Atlanta, had been shot twice in the back of the head and neck, according to a search warrant filed in the case. <br> <br> Police have no suspects. <br> <br> Bickford had been stationed at Fort Eustis since May 3, when he arrived after basic training for an 18-week course in aviation maintenance. <br> <br> Soldiers are declared AWOL after they are missing for 24 hours and are considered deserters after 30 days, said Fort Eustis spokeswoman Cindy Your. <br> <br> The Army doesn&#39;t know why Bickford disappeared, she said. <br> <br> Police discovered Bickford early Wednesday lying on the passenger side floorboard of his 1998 Saturn. Neighbors said they heard what could have been gunshots shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday.

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