Morgan Harrington Case: State Police Say She Was Hitchhiking
Charlottesville, VA– In the latest release from Corrine Geller, spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, it has been confirmed that the VSP have independent accounts of Morgan Harrington hitchhiking on the Copley Bridge.
Also in the latest release, is a picture of the Swarovski necklace she was wearing.
Virginia State Police are also asking if anyone loaned their cell phone to Morgan that evening.
“Anyone who might remember seeing a vehicle randomly stopped in the roadway on Copeley Road bridge that night is also asked to contact investigators,” the release said. “Investigators are also hoping to hear from anyone who might have loaned their cell phone to a young woman fitting Miss Harrington’s description to make a call that night.
“We don’t have any evidence she made other calls,” Geller says, “but we’d like to know.”
Also confirmed, as reported exclusively on blinkoncrime.com; The last people to interact with Morgan Harrington were players from the UVA Men’s basketball team.
According to several sources, members of UVA’s men’s basketball team were among the last to see Harrington in the grassy, tree-shrouded parking area. Emails sent to numerous team members were forwarded to UVA spokesperson Carol Wood, who directed the inquiry to State Police, but Geller declines comment on the identity of any witnesses.
“We leave it to them whether they want to speak publicly,” she says.
The Full News Release From VSP:
STATE AND LOCAL POLICE STILL SEEK PUBLIC’S AID IN LOCATING MORGAN HARRINGTON
RICHMOND – As the search and investigative efforts continue for missing college student Morgan Harrington, state and local investigators are now able to release additional details concerning the night of her disappearance. Miss Harrington disappeared Oct. 17, 2009, during a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena on the University of Virginia (UVA) campus in Charlottesville, Va.
During the course of the investigation, police have been able to establish a timeline of Miss Harrington’s movements once she ended up outside of the arena at approximately 8:30 p.m. After talking to her friends on her cell phone, she then walked through the parking lot of University Hall and was also seen in the Lannigan Field athlete parking lot, which is also used for RV parking. At around 9:30 p.m., she was seen walking on the Copeley Road bridge near Ivy Road.
Based on independent witness accounts, investigators are confident that Miss Harrington was hitchhiking for a ride while on the Copeley Road bridge. If anyone recalls seeing a young woman hitchhiking that night on or near the Copeley Road bridge, then they are asked to please contact police by phone or email. Anyone who might remember seeing a vehicle randomly stopped in the roadway on Copeley Road bridge that night is also asked to contact investigators. Investigators are also hoping to hear from anyone who might have loaned their cell phone to a young woman fitting Miss Harrington’s description to make a call that night.
In addition to Miss Harrington’s black T-shirt with the word “Pantera” spelled out in tan letters, black mini-skirt, black tights, and knee-high black boots, she was wearing a distinctive necklace. It is a Swarovski Crystal necklace made up of large crystal chain links. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 120 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.
The search and investigation are still being actively pursued by Virginia State Police, University of Virginia Police, Charlottesville Police, Albemarle County Police and the FBI. The public has generated close to 400 leads in the case. Anyone can call the Virginia State Police Tip Line at (434) 352-3467 or email State Police at bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov. UVA Police can be reached at (434) 924-7166. Anonymous tips are welcome.
Also accepting tips is the Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000. A reward of $150,041 is available for information that leads to the location and recovery of Miss Harrington.
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Red herring, George, agreed. I would even imagine there was less traffic leaving the arena, than arriving.
Morgan may not have had a credit card and her bank account was overdrawn. I believe her friends withheld her keys because of intoxication (“no, you’re not getting your keys”) which is why someone else was driving the car to start with.
Guilt may have kept her from calling home to confess her predicament. I’m guessing she didn’t know that Dad could give his CC to a cab company or pay Pop-A-Lock to let her into the vehicle–at 20…i dunno.
As someone mentioned, she was bridging (sorry) that vast divide between independence and family, and felt she had to ‘do it herself.’ No matter that. In the end, Morgan went with someone she felt she could trust. And she couldn’t.
Could these basketball players be what lured her out of the concert ?
Maybe the friends don’t want to admit that she was toasted and went away the the players. Same thing with the parents. No one wants to accept certain things about their children.
I’ve said from the beginning that this story was fishy and it’s getting even fishier.
Of course I know she did not hitchhike -that’s absurd.
LC, #81
This scenario of the friends not bringing Morgan the keys because she was drunk and they were trying to keep her from driving. This seems plausible. Although, if they knew she was too drunk to drive and they were afraid for her well-being because she may do something stupid like DUI then I can’t understand why one of her friends didn’t go out and watch over her- call her a cab, something.
With all this new information brings new questions and few answers. I can’t imagine what the family must be going through. My prayers are with them.
With the concert that night, would security have blocked main traffic access to the arena? If she had called someone to pick her up, that might explain her having to walk to meet them. I don’t buy the hitch-hiking story at all. I am sure she had money on her, and I am sure that she would have paid for a cab before letting a random person pick her up.
I also agree with a previous poster about the functionality of someone who is drunk. If she were drunk, she couldn’t have been that drunk to be able to walk such a distance.
As to the friends, I’ve got a couple of scenarios playing in my head – all of which involve a new love interest and a lie about being able to meet the band backstage. The meeting the band part is the only thing I can come up with as a reason she left her friends. Other than that, she was too excited about the concert. I made friends with not very attractive security guard just for the chance of getting close enough to the stage to touch Steven Tyler’s leg DURING a concert. I was about 20 also, and it was huge deal. If I thought I had the chance to go backstage, I would have definitely pretended to be interested even if I wasn’t. I don’t think the friends were happy that Morgan had the chance to go backstage and they didn’t, and I don’t think they were happy about her leaving but only because she was getting to do something they weren’t. And I think they are probably feeling very guilty about feeling that way now.
wait a minute!
does anyone else remember being told or hearing that the necklace that LE showed in the photo was not an exact photo or one similiar. if i am not mistaken i heard similiar. i just looked at the backstage metallica video on youtube and tried desparately to see the necklace that the young girl was wearing in the background. she is always in the doorframe. maybe not Morgan but i do think that someone should look into who that is. maybe the perperator took the necklace and gave it or sold it to someone. just a thought! and then maybe the necklace is one that looks so close to the photo. do not believe everything you are told and as Blink said so wisely put it…”we are not eating what we are being served!”
i know for one, that my time in charlottesville meant something to me. i am calmer now and want so badly to believe that it meant something to LE and UVA too!!
Blink, No knocks for the school, just for the lack of security..we pay for our children to go to college, unless they receive funds from scholarships..Whay would make me send my child to this college if they can’t offer more security? Lots of our children come right from senior year to first year college..no flandering in between..my last was a grad last year from Cal-Poly. He was very imature when he left high school…The last of seven…It was extremely important for me to know that he was safe and the school offered security in the dorms. This college is one of the most diverse in the USA, yet very little crime..No, the school is not responsible for the crimes, but they are responsible to the families that send their children, and IMO, they are responsible to keep our children out of harms way!
It is our responsibilty to protect the rights of others..did you know that under the ADA, it is a punishable crime if you do not assist a disabled person in need, help cross the road, help enter a building, etc. Why should we not all be held to this responsibility? Morgan deserved better.
Blink, I just went back and read recent comments from your earlier articles on Morgan’s disappearance. I think the posts that Observer and others are posting are very important to read. Is there a way to bring Observers posts to the new thread? I think most people assume with a new article you move on to posting to it, at least I did. Any way it could just be me. From now on I’ll be reading the comments from each article.
Thanks for all you do Blink. Try to enjoy your weekend.
Cut and paste away Mom of 3. I respond to posts as they appear, not necessarily by article.
Thanks
B
Blink, A few days ago I said that I had found this blogger that gave a review of the show from the parking lot..The kid said he could not afford a ticket, but his mother drove him around the parking lot, so he could listen to the music..Tried to find it again, and it appears that the review for 10/17/09 has disappeared. This was the other review at the time.so nothing on 10/17..review..10/8 and 10/22
http://www.ticketsnow.com/metallica-tickets/?GCID=S16598x033-mo_metalic&keyword=metallica%20tour%20dates&s_kwcid=TC|7247|metallica%20tour%20dates|showhype.com|C||4093515710
I found this earlier this week, at one time it had a review for 10/17 from a kid that said he could afford a ticket, but his mother drove him around the parking lot to listen..if you can get into sites, maybe you could ask them what happened to the 10/17 review posted..only 10/8 and 10/22 now.
http://www.ticketsnow.com/metallica-tickets/?GCID=S16598x033-mo_metalic&keyword=metallica%20tour%20dates&s_kwcid=TC|7247|metallica%20tour%20dates|showhype.com|C||4093515710
I have tried two times to post this..this is where I found the post from the kid without a ticket and said his mother drove him around the parking lot..10/22 & 10/8 reviews are still posted ..10/17 is gone
http://www.ticketsnow.com/metallica-tickets/?GCID=S16598x033-mo_metalic&keyword=metallica%20tour%20dates&s_kwcid=TC|7247|metallica%20tour%20dates|showhype.com|C||4093515710
I did notice on the Harringtons page (findmorgan.com) that they have the hitchhiking news linked at the bottom of the front page as a recent development.
It is actually the entire release from VSP, as is on this site
B
#90: I don’t understand why you mention VT security when this happened at the University of Va., which is 2.5 hours away.
#105: In the youtube video from the Charlotte concert (the next night), the blonde woman you’re referring to is Emma, the tour manager.
Where would Morgan be hitchhiking to? According to her friends, Morgan said she would get a ride “home.” Does that mean home to Blacksburg? In that case, she’s assuming the roommate will drive her car back by herself. Same scenario if she meant home to Roanoke. If she planned to meet up with them at JMU the next day, she wouldn’t have said “home.”
comment by Observer — November 13, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
A few minor points of clarification:
To cmaissol: There is a much quicker route to Harrisonburg from Cville: Take 29North to Ruckersville, and take a left onto 33W straight to Harrisonburg. This route brings you over a mountain. It is quite steep, dark, and desolate. [This route leads you from Albemarle into Augusta and finally into Rockingham County where Harrisonburg is.]
I still do not believe that the basketball players had anything whatsoever to do with Morgan’s disappearance. I also do not believe that the perpetrator of this crime had any links to LE. I do believe, however, that the suspect lives in and is very familiar with the area. Criminals who perpetrate such crimes are typically familiar enough with a community so that they can quickly and easily enter and exit an area. The last thing a criminal wants to do is become disoriented in an unfamiliar area when he has a victim with him, whether or not the victim still alive.
to suzeeB:
1. My understanding is the Morgan had attended concerts in the past at JPJ. [JPJ opened in August, 2006.] Almost all major concert venues have an established no-return policy that has been in place for a number of years. For JPJ, the no-return policy is posted prominently on each ticket. I believe Morgan knew–or, should have known–that she would not be allowed to re-enter. This may or may not go to Morgan’s state of mind on the evening of October 17, 2009.
2. The Lannigan RV lot is not heavily patrolled by security, nor are there video cameras in that lot. My understanding is that there was at least one, large Klieg light operating that evening.
Re: security in general: During the time-frame in question–8:20-9:30–most of the UVAPD and concert security would be focused and detailed in the area inside and immediately outside the arena, rather than the vast parking areas adjacent, e.g., UHall. Inasmuch as most of the concert-goers would be inside by that time, the focus of the security detail would be within the building and the areas just outside. These were where the crowds would be greatest and would require the most attention from security.
IMP. note to follow:
Media outlets report this afternoon the following press release from VSP:
“As the search and investigative efforts continue for missing college student Morgan Harrington, state and local investigators are now able to release additional details concerning the night of her disappearance…Based on independent witness accounts, investigators are confident that Miss Harrington was hitchhiking for a ride while on the Copeley Road bridge. If anyone recalls seeing a young woman hitchhiking that night on or near the Copeley Road bridge, then they are asked to please contact police by phone or email. Anyone who might remember seeing a vehicle randomly stopped in the roadway on Copeley Road bridge that night is also asked to contact investigators. Investigators are also hoping to hear from anyone who might have loaned their cell phone to a young woman fitting Miss Harrington’s description to make a call that night.”
This latest release underscores my original belief that Morgan entered a vehicle–either by enticement or hitchhiking–on or near the Copeley Bridge. This supports LE’s original ground search that was limited to the areas immediately adjacent to JPJ, UHall, Lannigan, and Copeley–all in very close proximity to one another.
The final appeal in the last statement of the release is quite telling: The police are actively seeking anyone who may have loaned their cell phone that evening to someone matching Morgan’s description. This tells me that LE has reason to believe that at some point that evening Morgan made–or attempted to make–a call to someone (perhaps a friend) from someone’s cell phone other than her own. This would indicate that Morgan had either lost her phone or it was no longer functional, e.g., the battery had died.
Right, but Observer, if they know that, then they know who the phone belongs to.
Are you aware there is someone is security claiming to have spoken with Morgan that evening?
B
# Comment by Observer — November 13, 2009 @ 5:57 pm
Blink: LE would know who the phone belongs to only if it has an account associated with it. If it is a throw-away phone, they do not.
I’m not certain what you’re asking in your second sentence. Please re-state and I’ll attempt to respond.
Possibly yes, but there is some red flag phone number somewhere for that issue to even come up, imo. Could be a prepaid someone recently got rid of, of course.
I was asking if your aware that there is a security employee that claims to have spoken to Morgan the evening of the concert and “wished he had helped her more.” ?
# Comment by Observer — November 13, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
FWIW to all: I state again that I do not believe that the basketball players have anything to do with Morgan’s disappearance. For any poster here to impune the integrity of these individuals at this juncture is folly at its very worst.
Furthermore, I do not believe that LE–including UVAPD–are attempting in any way, shape or form to cover up wrongdoing. Politics aside, they have far greater motivation and pressure to bring this case to closure than to expend valuable energy attempting to hide facts.
LE has shared the information it has to the public, when it has, for investigatory purposes. To assign nefarious intent undermines LE’s sincere efforts.
We Agree . I don’t think anyone was saying there is nefarious intent on behalf of LE, that is unfounded. I think for the most part we are saying whatever those investigative reasons are, are not jiving with known information.
I will take this one further with the utmost respect to Ms. Geller. It is commonly known in LE that not everything they know is shared with the PIO. Not everything they provide in the form of “ok to release” is for the public to consume necessarily. It could be for a perp, and the PIO may not even know it. As a matter of fact, if it is critical to the investigation, most times they will not share it with the PIO lest they get asked the question..
B
# Comment by Observer — November 13, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
My perspective is that we are witnessing again what we have been witness to often over the past almost four weeks now: the public’s understandable thirst for more information and greater detail. The public is frustrated by their desire to assist in resolution of this case and simultaneously feels thwarted when information is made public in only a piece-meal fashion–as is the case in many investigations.
I repeat my earlier cautionary note: none of us–myself included–should jump to conclusions. We need to methodically take each piece of the puzzle as it is revealed to us until we have assembled a complete picture upon which to base a conclusion. Any action otherwise is misguided and ill-advised.
Blink, re: your earlier question: I had heard earlier that there was a security guard who suggested that he “wished (he’d) helped her more”. I cannot, however, assert validity.
Observer, I think you make a valid argument. However, I would just like to insert a component of what I think you are also seeing here. The contributors and posters of this site, as presumably you saw for yourself, are not really a fair cross section of Joe Public because by it’s origin, it attracts true crime followers who have what I will call advanced degrees in analysis and investigative techniques for the most part. So while your points are very valid, there is also an undercurrent here of folks that function in the advance of what is coming out, and simply are focused on finding Morgan yesterday.
For Example, if you review the comments and outrage about the hitchhiking information in chronological order ( and I will state for the record I did not delete a word). You see that reasonable people, in an astronomical percentage, understand that the reconcilliation of released information does not even match known facts in this case and it is as some posters put it, insulting to them and to Morgan and her family. Like it or not, that absolutely is part of the dilema for LE.
So for me, I get it is simply a matter that they are not even talking to us. They are talking to whomever told them that story about the hitchhiking. They are saying to that individual (s) “We believe You, tell us the rest.”
# Comment by sherlock — November 13, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
Good post #185 Observer, and your point about the fall leaves and the many rural back roads is well taken. Still, I believe it is unlikely that anyone would have done so without having first pre-meditated plans to kill her or some victim. In other words, not an amateur but a pro perp who preys on young girls.
With date rape drugs, or the possibility that she was knocked unconscious by an abductor, it would have been easy for him to transport her across state lines, possibly hold her captive for a time, then kill her days later. There are many serial killer cases where this was the case. So her body is not necessarily in a 25 mile radius. Again, go research the green River case in WA.
As to her runaway scenario, I do not believe it has been definitely established that she tried to re-enter the arena. Has it?? Maybe someone has said they remember someone that looked like her trying to re-enter, etc. but so far no video footage exists of her attempting to re-enter. Am I correct? So that argument doesn’t fly. Neither does the belief she was wearing all black. We do not know this absolutely. The backpack (containing extra clothes perhaps) opens up the possibility that she changed clothes at some point, before or after arriving at the arena or parking lot. Since no video seems to exist, we don’t know what she was wearing, especially if she was killed – her body may be nude as they often are in such cases. So we cannot assume to be looking for a body dressed all in black at this point.
Finally, this was a girl from a conservative religious family. I do not know for certain that she had family conflicts. But neither can anyone else on this forum state that they know she did NOT. We simply don’t know the personal details of her family life, or her inner thoughts.
We do know she liked to wear tie dye shirts, was likely acquainted with Mr Tie Dye (she bought his products), went to rock concerts.
I have a 20 year old nephew myself, he’s a good student and son to his mom, a good kid. However, I can tell you with certainty he does and has done things that he doesn’t want his mom to know about, including moderate drug use (pot).
I think it is extremely likely that Morgan also (based on all we do know about her social life) does use drugs – pot, maybe some psychedelics occasionally.
My point is this – it is not a great leap of reason to assume that she had a lifestyle, or friends that would put her in conflict with her parents. And that she had a motive to run away, especially if a boy was involved as a love interest. This happens to “nice” families, believe me. Some of you seem to be living in the Andy Hardy era. Hello?
Having said that, I still admit that many things about this case suggests foul play, and with just a little more evidence, I will quickly change my theory. Because let’s face it, in most cases of missing young girls – abduction or murder, not runaway, is the unfortunate truth.
If she was murdered by a serial perp of some kind, then he has likely stashed her body in a very concealed place and manner. And I will have to stand by my earlier prediction that we won’t find her body for a very long time, if ever.
I sincerely hope your last sentence is wrong. That is the cruelest of outcomes for any person and their family.
B
# Comment by Observer — November 13, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
Sherlock: Good observations. Following are my related thoughts.
1. Pre-meditation or not: It’s difficult to conclusively determine whether or not Morgan’s disappearance was a result of: a) premeditated; or b) random impulse abduction. I’m definitely open to both options at this juncture.
2. Inter-state transport or not: Again, it’s difficult to say; however, just as you’ve suggested, an assailant could indeed disable a victim, transport them over state lines, and at some point later murder the victim and dispose of the body at a distant location. My point only was that abductors typically do not like to transport their victims too far away from the point of abduction for the obvious reasons, e.g. being discovered enroute with either an obviously disabled victim or body. [The manner in which Ted Bundy dealt with his victims continues to come to mind; however, I will refrain from certain graphic detail here for the sake of the readers. I had occasion to attend a presentation by the SAIC of that investigation and heard first-hand from him certain things that were not widely-known by the public.]
3. Re-entry attempt(s): As of yet there has been no announcement of footage verifying Morgan’s entry or exit from the JPJ venue. Even absent that evidence, I am of the mind that Morgan did indeed arrive safely in Cville, did enter the JPJ arena, and exited same. [I believe many people are under the mistaken assumption that video footage would provide a very clear and distinct image of Morgan's entry and exit. I submit that such footage would be grainy at best and clear and definitive identification would be challenged by the number of people entering the arena prior to the event. There are literally hundreds of concert-goers who are being simultaneously shepherded through the portals. To pick any one individual out of a crowd would be no easy task. This is not like the CCTV cameras that are trained on customers as they approach a bank teller's window or individual passengers passing through airport security. Instead, imagine a camera farther away from the point of focus, capturing hordes of bodies moving relatively quickly in a confined area.]
4. Wearing all black: I have offered no commentary on Morgan’s attire that evening, as I believe it’s immaterial–with the express exception of the fact that a predominantly dark outfit (as she’s purported to have been wearing–and that I believe she was wearing) would make it more difficult for alleged eye-witnesses to see her in the dark of night. I do agree with you completely that, regardless of what Morgan was wearing that evening, we should not assume at this point that we should be looking for a body dressed in black.
5. Backpack: To the best of my knowledge, no one has alleged that Morgan was wearing or bearing a backpack on the night of her disappearance. The mention of a “backpack” was originally made by someone when describing the type of purse she possibly carried that evening; that is, there are several styles of purses that have small, thin straps and may be worn as one might wear a backpack. I believe Gil Harrington was reported as saying that the purse Morgan intended to carry that evening was vey small.
5. Morgan’s familial relationships and state of mind: I agee completely: Not a one of us here can possibly know what type of relationships Morgan truly had with her parents or brother. We might assume certain things based on family interviews and accounts from friends who knew her and knew the family well; however, one never really knows. While many of us (myself included) may assume that Morgan was under the influence on that evening, again, we do not know.
A general comment, re: hitchhiking: The suggestion by LE or others that Morgan may–emphasis on the word “may”–have tried to hitchhike that evening is not intended as a character indictment. Posters take umbrage and issue with the idea that Morgan may have attempted to hitchhike and translate that suggestion to a character assault on her by LE or others. That is by no means the intent of LE or others who propose or support that suggestion. I might suggest again that if Morgan were under the influence on the evening in question she–like any other young person–might be inclined to do something that she would otherwise consider ill-advised. There is no implied indictment of Morgan in this matter.
might it be that Morgan was offered a ride back to VTech or JMU by the BB players? Or asked the BB players for a ride back? (perhaps that’s what the BB players have told LE?) So in essence she hitched a ride but didn’t necessarily have her thumb out. Maybe that is where this new info is coming from. Did the statement say she was actually hitching on the bridge???
I can see someone playing her… “oh yeah, our friend goes to school at ____________, we’ll take you back there no problem”. Whether it was the BB players or someone else, she trusted the wrong person.
# Comment by Hokie Man 24 — November 13, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
This girl loved her family. No way was she trying to run away and start a new life. I helped search for this young lady with someone that is best friends with the Harrington’s and he was telling me how much love this family had for one another. Breaks my heart and I was hoping for a happy ending to this story as well, but I have to be honest I don’t think we will get that happy ending. The questions I have it seems everyone else has been thinking the same thing. Why did the friends allow her to go looking for another ride that night?? They may have a very good reason but to me I am not sure what that reason could be unless she made them feel secure as to how she was getting home. It could have been they were all intoxicated but I don’t ever remember being that drunk I would let my friend find their own way home. Again, just questions I have from what could have happened that night.
I know. I know. Please stay strong for this family.
B
# Com
I was afraid you were gonna say that Blink…LOL I tried to bring over the comments that were made from Friday the 13th after this article was first posted.
Blink
Will you clarify for me please? The girl that was escorted out of the arena,WAS NOT MORGAN,correct? It was someone who resembled her? And around the same time. Or am I getting that confused. If it was someone who resembled her,how did we become aware of this incident? And could it be relevant?
Not Morgan. JMU student named Dee according to LE
B
One, was she necessarily hitching a ride to VT? Perhaps she had friends on campus, and needed a ride there? Two, in a place heavily populated by students, hitching a ride doesn’t seem like as big of a deal as people are making it out to be. Other students *seem* safe, so she could have been looking for a ride from someone in her peer group. Perhaps she didn’t find a ride, turned back from the bridge, and walked to the RV lot where there were people, probably ~50 yards away.
Charlottesville is, generally, a very safe place with a small-town feel, and she probably felt comfortable here.
Hello Blink and friends!
My name is Natasha and even though I have followed Blink and Scared Monkeys for a long time, this is my first time to leave a comment.
I want to say that Blink and her team are awesome. The information they provide is so invaluable. Like everyone else on this site, I am furious over all the senseless kidnappings, rapes and murders that happen everyday.
I often ask older people if there has always been this much evil in this world or if it just more widely known due to the internet, media, etc. Either way it has to stop and today is the day that we have to take a stand.
Our Precious Heavenly Father never intended on it being this way and I want you to know, I stand with you in fighting this battle.
All that being said, I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes but if
in deed Morgan was intoxicated she probably would not be acting the way she normally acts. As we all know alcohol and drugs greatly impair your judgement. So some of the things that people insist she would never do (such as hitchhaking, etc.) are exactly the types of things an intoxicated person would do.
When I was in my early twenties my roomate and I went clubbing one night. After several hours of drinking and dancing it was time to head home. I was more than ready to leave but my roomate was determined to party all night.
When I finally talked her into leaving we head for my car. Once we were at my car I leaned across the front passenger seat to unlock her door. When I raised back up she was gone. I immediately started looking for her.
After approximately 15-20 minutes of searching with no luck, I called her sister who worked at a nearby hospital. She preceded to tell me that when I turned my head to unlock the door, that my roomage ran across the street and got in the car with 3 or 4 men who were complete strangers.
They did take her to her sister and she was unharmed but we all know how horrible this could have turned out. Normally she is a very smart, loving, caring, well educated person who would never in a million years do something like that but out of drunken anger toward me for making her leave, she put her life in great risk. Morgan could have done something similar due to being angry from not getting to see the concert and her friends not coming back out to help get her back in.
While we don’t know for sure if Morgan was intoxicated,as we try to retrace her steps we should do so through a sober thinking mind and a non sober thinking mind because the path she chose to take could very greatly depending on her state of mind.
Thank you for your time. I will continue to pray for Morgan and her family and all that are missing. God Bless!
Post # 112 Bobdog….Thank you for letting us know that this girl has a name…I was hopeful that Morgan had ran away…even though I know better..my heart wishes for the her safe return…we all who have blogged seem to agree on one thing: Morgan did not hitch-hike and would be really out of scope for any girl these days.
Sorry for the triple post! It did not show on the screen and I keep on thinking I had deleted my text.
Isn’t those kind of necklaces called “chokers”?
# 106 debi…. there is no “lack of security” here, we’re not talking about a kid being taken from the dorms, or a UVA student that was harmed in the normal day to day college operations…. we’re talking about a non-college oriented outside event held at the brand new arena on the campus (and it was UVA, not va tech as you alluded to in an earlier post). No law enforcement in any jurisdiction can 100% protect us from harm, they can only attempt to capture the guilty parties after the fact.
Hitchhiking?? Oh boy, that really takes the cake Blink. While it is tempting to say “see, that proves my runaway theory” reason guides me otherwise. To briefly sum up what others have said –
1. If she was sober enough to walk, she was sober enough to know better than to HH.
2. We still have the purse (with other important personal items no doubt) left behind with cell, in the parking lot. Why?
3. Kids today may be wild, but they no longer HH like we used to in the 70′s. No way.
4. The bridge would not be a choice location to HH, harder for a car to pull over.
5. Many other options available, i.e. help from security, a pay phone, use of credit or debit card, or just simply wait inside the arena for a ride after the concert where it’s warm and safe.
The ONLY scenario that makes sense, and I welcome feedback here, is that she had called someone she KNEW for a ride and may have been waiting for such person on the bridge. But then – why there? Why not wait somewhere closer to the arena in safety?
Maybe LE is throwing up a big red fishy here Blink, for reasons only they know. But something is beginning to smell about this investigation.
And I STILL say that this was a college AND a rock concert and I don’t buy a positive ID that it was Morgan on that bridge. Lots of young women could have fit her description. And, you have to be pretty close to a girl to positively ID a necklace – possibly partially obscured by long hair or clothing. And if you’re a guy like me, we’re clueless about jewelry!! Hard to ID one from another.
My take on the hitchhiking is that they are building a case and showing that they pursued all leads.
They haven’t found key pieces of evidence OR Morgan (or worst case scenario) her remains.
They are in talks with someone(s) and turning up the heat.
I actually hope there were more than one person involved because it becomes more likely someone will find his or her conscience.
I agree Lily 2 ( thanks!). After I got over my initial reaction to that announcement, and a “systems check” from mjh, I truly believe the information released yesterday was “tactical.”
B
Between the interviews of the friends she traveled with to the concert and the basketball players we talked with outside we could at least get a good idea of how impaired (if at all) Morgan was at the times she was last seen. But we don’t even have that from law enforcement. It reminds me of the sniper case in northern Virginia. LE had everyone hunting for a white van. When they finally released the real description of the sedan a citizen turned in the snipers he saw sleeping in the sedan at an Interstate rest stop within a day or two, if not hours, of getting valid information.
This is an important issue you touched on. If LE does not have at a minimum, a solid POI, we have a predatory situation on a college campus potentially. That’s not ok. This is a fair and solid question for students and parents. I won’t lie, I berate my nieces regularly on campus safety, and blinkette is convinced there will be a secret dorm room on her floor for MommaBlink to live when she goes, but seriously, the safety ramifications of this incident need to be addressed.
B
The only way the “hitchhiking on the bridge” story would be plausible would be IF Morgan was trying to flag down a car with one or more college-age females in it with the intention of asking them to take her somewhere close in Charlottesville.
Hitchhiking?? That just doesn’t fly. Even though it would support my theory of running away, it’s too far fetched. The only way you would know someone was HH was if they had their thumb out, or you stopped and offered them a ride yourself. Which we don’t know the details yet about these so called witnesses. The only way she was on that bridge was –
1. She knew a student at the college and was walking to their dorm. Might be worth checking to see who she knew at this school??
2. She had called someone she knew for a ride and was meeting them somewhere in the direction of that bridge and Ivy Road, since she was too messed up to drive.
Kids today may be wild, but they, and certainly Morgan was smart enough to know not to HH in these scary times. If she was sober enough to be walking that distance, she was aware enough to be safe.
Would she have accepted a ride from a stranger, keeping in mind she was likely somewhat drunk or high? If it was a single male driver – very unlikely if not impossible. However, what if it was a girl driver, or a car with two or three people her age in the car?
I don’t like this idea either, but reason demands it be considered.
Feedback anyone? They took her to the mall or some other fairly safe place – and then the trouble started after she left their company.
Possible.
And again, this is a college and a rock concert. It is too possible that many young women would match her description that night. Well-meaning witnesses make mistakes often in cases like this.
I keep coming back to two key points. The purse and cell left behind (thanks for clearing up the backpack error folks). Why would she leave these with likely other personal objects inside?? This is a major stumbling block. A killer perp would have just left it with the body. Why take it back there?
The other point is crucial to me. Why did she leave the arena, and did she or not try to re-enter?? The re-enter would establish clearly her motive to rejoin her friends. If she didn’t, it would establish a motive to leave and/or run away.
I’m sure she had gone to concerts before and was very aware of the no re-entry rule. I believe someone posted that these rules are also on the tickets. So – if she left that arena (and we can assume so) she must have had a very good reason and motive to risk doing so, go out into the cold, and miss the concert. This is the turning point in this story. If we could know why she left (as the real Sherlock would say, this is “singular”) we would begin to unravel this whole case.
One last point I don’t think anyone else has mentioned. Dr. H has stated he talked to Morgan around 2PM when she arrived at her friends house. At what time did they actually leave to drive to the concert?
Did they arrive at the concert or Cville 2-3 hours before the show?
There is a missing block of time here that may hold some clues. Can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks.
Blink-
I still question why their is no video of Morgan at the concert.
Either entering or her many attempts to re-enter?
The battery scenario, If her battery was going low I can definitely see her taking it out and trying to reboot her phone in an attempt to
get more use. Maybe became frustrated and threw battery away on her own.
The basketball players, if they have not been named as POI isn’t it possible that they all have iron clad alibi’s as to their whereabouts
say at 9:45.
However, I do find it very questionable why her purse was found in the parking lot if she walked to the bridge on her own free will.
One more thing, if Morgan was indeed intoxicated I am appauled that the security (when she tried to re-enter)would send a young girl in that condition off to fend for herself on a cold dark night and didn’t at least take her to the medical station, that most venues of this type have.
One more thought-
Did they serve alcohol in at this concert? I don’t know about Virginia, but in Oregon if someone gets intoxicated at a bar (or any other place that serves alcohol including a residence) and goes out and has an accident; the persons who served them are responsible.
Blink: I’m puzzled about how the Blink on Crime site works. [I am admittedly a newbie and only became aware of this site approximately 72 hrs. ago, so please be patient with me.]
My posts above were time-stamped at 4:55pm, 5:57pm, and 6:24pm–all keyed-in by me originaly on 11/13—but were instead posted on this site at 1:29am, 1:32am, and 1:33am on the following day (11/14).
All three were re-posted by “Momof3″.
1. Blink: Along with being the moderator of this site, are you also “Momof3″? If so, please help me understand the delay in posting the above comments. [Again, I confess confusion regarding how this site operates, as cyber technology is not my forte.]
2. Blink: You mention in an earlier response that this site “…attracts true crime followers who have what I will call advanced degrees in analysis and investigative techniques for the most part.”
What specific “advanced degrees in analysis ad investigative techniques” are held by certain of the respondents here? [Please know that my question is not intended as "snarky"; rather, I am interested to know and appreciate the license, credentials, or educational background of the respondents.]
3. On a related note: I understand from this site that there is a “think-tank” of sorts. In the most general of terms, how does the “think tank” operate?
Thanks in advance for your clarification on the above.
Observer- I moderate comments for the most part exclusively when I return comment. On occasion they are moderated by my admin, but in that case it would simply be approved.
NO, I am not momof3. Mom of 3 is a poster here, who felt your post should be carried over to a different thread as well as the one it was on because what tends to happen is that when new articles are posted, the discussion tends to migrate, OR the post became more relevant with updates, etc..
Wrt to backgrounds and credentials, I meant that both literally and figuratively. Because some posters on here are colleagues or associates whose credentials I am aware of, I can make that statement. For those I do not, let’s say you can tell from their posts and contributions. I most certainly would never “out” a professional or private citizen when part of the reason one might contribute here freely is because of the availability of anonymity. Could you imagine the disclaimers I would have to have if some posted from their “professional perspective” ? That said, there are those on here who have put forth their occupations/credentials on their own. We also have probably as many individuals whose life paths may have nothing to do with backgrounds related to “casework” in any way. They are equally as important as contributors, imo. I would also add the cross section of participants is different in different cases. By far if I had to guess, psych professionals, lawyers, Investigators, and of course the criminal element involved, are the “constants”.
Not that any of that matters, if I had to put my finger on “the sum of our parts” I would suggest the strongest common denominators would be compassion, and an interest in justice.
The reference to think tank is the blinkoncrime team of researchers and editors that contribute to the original content of this site. If you are unfamiliar with that concept, my background is in brand strategy and development, so it is akin to the almighty creative brief, if I were to make a loose comparison.
A combination of that, and a “Situation Room” environment at times, is how we roll.
B
T think her state while talking to the basketball players is critical. If she was so impaired or confused she left her purse with the phone behind in the parking lot, I don’t think she would have had the presence to remove the battery from the phone beforehand.
On the other hand, if someone had promised her a ride to wherever she wanted to go in Charlotesville and then took her to an isolated spot for an assault, he could have removed the phone battery before returning the phone and purse to the arena grounds.
although ‘all theories are on the table’ ,luv that was said, i think the purse dropped as she exited to her final destination,i think its physcological ,she didnt really want to go,as she was at least semi forced,she grounded her external extension of herself ,her purse.or the physcological extension of herself : “the purse”,was left(grounded) at the last neutral place she visited.cuz if the perp picked her up hh on the bridge,and brought the purse back later(huh?)easier to throw it over the bridge for a myraid of reasons.
Recent interview with Dan and Gil.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com
In #116, the poster said that Morgan comes from a conservative religious family. I’m wondering where that info came from, because it’s not at all my impression. I don’t know the Harringtons, but I know plenty of people who attend their church (Unity in Roanoke), and I have gone to some special services there. I consider Unity to be a liberal Christian church. It’s very spiritual — what some might call “new age” — but it is Bible-based.
Couple of questions.
On the UVA PD page, there is a link to “Blue Light Phones” located around the campus: http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice/bluephones.pdf
If Morgan had been to prior concerts at the arena, would she have been aware of the system in place to help one out, if needed? The phones seemed to be located everywhere…
And what about the Charlottesville Transit Service or Free Trolley Service? They have hours posted that appear they run at events like this. Were they available that night, and if so, why not use the service to hitch a ride to a safe place until “the friends” came out?
Talking to my 22 yr old daughter this morning on going to events like this. Her opinion, given the situation at the time, 1st and foremost she’d be furious to be stranded outside without her own car keys while “friends” were inside having the time of their life. Why not just have a friend meet you at the door with security and bring you your keys? Secondly, if it were her, being in the company of campus BB players would tend to make her feel more secure atm, maybe to the point of letting your guard down (who on earth would attempt to bother you if you’re surrounded by these guys who are well known around campus). And 3rd, public transportation would have been the ideal alternative.
Talking to these guys for 10 minutes and then walking away, towards a lonely bridge, and then hitching a ride doesn’t make any sense. But throwing up your thumb if you recognize the car coming at you, or the person driving it, makes perfect sense…
If she spoke with the basketball players for ten minutes I’m sure at some point in the conversation she probably said “hey guys, I got locked out of the Metallica concert because of _______. Could you help me _____?” or “do you know how to get to ______?” Assuming she wasn’t so wasted she couldn’t speak, I am sure this would have come up in their 10 minute chat and they have told LE. I think LE knows exactly why she left the concert and what her intended plan of action was. The bball players know all the answers…I just hope they have told everything they know.
We know she tried to make atleast attempts to get back in the arena. We know she was locked out of her car. We know her purse , cellphone and ID (minus battery, minus her camera, possibly other things) was found in the grassy area of the RV lot. We know this is the last verified place she was seen..discounting the bridge.
We do not know If she had Credit Cards, an ATM card or money in her purse..if they werre found in the purse, if they were missing, nor if they have been used since 9:30 that evening.
I have read that a strap on the purse was broken..don’t know if that is true.
Looks to me like her prey was stalking her and waiting for the moment to mug her and abduct her..and knew where the last place she was seen was.
Also think this is a huge liability for UVA..the concert was in their arena, on their campus grounds. A beautiful girl goes missing who was locked out of the concert and her car..and had interacted with security atleast 3 times. Doesn’t UVA have a way of dealing with people being locked out of their cars and stranded? I think it is very likely she let security know she had no way to leave the area and was locked out of her car….that is the first thing anyone in that situation would say to try to gain entrance back into the concert. Isn’t campus security and arena security there to help a young lady in distress?
Another note UVA seems to have some amazing figures in reporting of incidents on their campus. Here’s a link to their stats. The figures seem to show a college of very civilized adult young people that don’t even drink much…..look at the arrests for drinking. Not making any accusations here..but they look pristine compared to the average college of their size. Not buying those figures either.
http://www.uvawise.edu/campus_police/crime_statistics.html
Blink,if this element has been brought up before, please forgive me. I know many of us have speculated about how a person might have lured Morgan away after she was outside the arena. I want to state that I am only hypothetically suggesting the following scenario, the basketball players have obvious access to areas of the arena even during events. Hypothetically speaking again, is it possible that one of these young men offered to get Morgan back inside for the concert and this is what the point where things go badly wrong? Maybe the other two players had already left, and he saw an opportunity.
He might not have had dark intentions, but who knows what happened after they were alone? Something took place in that parking lot where her belongings were found. It is also likely that she was obviously intoxicated. When you combine this with the sense of entitlement that many athletes at colleges like UVA sometimes display it does open up some disturbing possibilities. I live here in Charlottesville, and for people to ignore the power that UVA wields, and the need to present the best face for the public is naive. I realize the Duke situation calls for caution, but I don’t think everything should be easily dismissed here. This last local press release makes me even more suspicious and fearful for Morgan. Thanks again for all of your work.
George, not only were we all looking for the wrong car during the dc sniper incident, but the FBI profilers had gotten it totally wrong (not their fault, these guys just didn’t fit the usual profile).
so wonder what is le angle? perp was designateddriver, dropped offpasseng at concert,decided to pick up hot blonde,nefariuos activity took place off campus/outo-t ,perp returns to campus for passengers dumps purse, moiseees home.or perp trolls campus parking lots for poteintial victim during metallica concert returns later to dump purse.or enibriated student locked out of metallica concert ,hitchhikes home ,after dropping purse and cell phone in campus parking lot.
well, if your your looking at everyone whatabout taxi driver
Please disregard the above link for UVA crime stats and use this one instead….sorry
http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice/casisUVA1.html
Just thought of a possibility to explain the purse (but not the missing battery). She’s talking to people near their car, and she places her purse on the car – maybe she’s getting something out of it. They continue talking, she accepts a ride, gets in & off they go. She forgets that her purse was on the car & it falls off as they leave the lot.
I read this interview again and thought that this guy is kida creepy, who watches what kins car you get into AFTER a concert…Gee, was he stalking her? Video is no longer available.
http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crime-Examiner~y2009m10d23-Witness-who-spoke-to-Morgan-Harrington-prior-to-disappearance-comes-forward-video
Post#125..Thank you for the correction..I see you are a night owl like me..this case keeps me up at night..sometimes I think I feel Mongan’s mothers tears. I just want so very much for her to be found so these parents can have some closure.
I,like many here is starting to see the senario play out with the BBPlayers. How did these boys drive away? all in the same car? In three different cars? Picked up by a friend? When I first went to the Sabre site, I noticed that there were not three boys who faces had been removed, but four. Is there a fourth young man that has not come forward?
Good Saturday to you.
Blink- Do you know if the Harrington’s have hired a private investigator? After the UVA knowledge, do you think it may be wise for them to get an independant to help them?
Kelly