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.
Related Posts
Related Posts:
487 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Clarification……after the UVA BB players knowledge.
Kelly
Blink,
Sorry for any confusion my bringing over posts might have caused.
It was my intention to further the discussion not hinder it in any way.
I hope Observer was not offended as well as sherlock. If they were I apologize.
Blink
like everyone else I do not believe the hitchhiking story for a minute. Do we have proof that Morgan actually entered the building to begin with? I do not believe the story from her so called friends who would not even try to help her. I think knowing that entire truth about what really happened with the friends would be very helpful. I do not comprehend her going to the bridge either. Why hasn’t someone questioned the friends about the keys to Morgan’s own car and why she did not have them. Did any of these people that reportedly saw her say she acted intoxicated. I do believe the question LE floated about the phone call was purposeful. I hope an pray that they find an answer soon. I have much respect for the Harrington’s and pray for Morgan to be found safely.
time for a blink witness interview,who saw her hitchhiking,the le said its ok with them if witnesses make their accounts public,who missed practice the next day,who found her purse,who talked to her?
132 sweetpea… No the JPJ arena does not serve alcohol as is common with most college campus arenas, so there is no dram shop law application here… fwiw i think dram shop laws are ridicilous, while i believe in responsible alcohol service, no business has the resources to hold every customer’s hand and walk them home every single night and 100% guarantee their safety, people need to be responsible for their own actions
Like everyone else, my heart just breaks for this situation. I gave my son Metallica tickets as his high school graduation present. He is 18, and the kid that went with him is 18. We live in the Richmond area, about 1.5 hr from the arena. My son was so put out with me that I wouldn’t just hand over the car and let him drive. His friend’s parents were adamant their son wasn’t going to drive and only allowed him to go because I drove the boys. I dropped them off around 4:30-ish at the arena, and there was plenty of personnel in the parking lot that came forward to my car when I just pulled into the street to turn around. They started letting people in around 6:30. I am not techno-savy at all, and after I dropped them off, I was trying to program my son’s friend’s cell # in my phone at the stoplight on the road out of the arena area, but couldn’t get it done, so I pulled into the parking lot of a small apt. complex a couple of blocks away and just happened to notice across the street were the haulers (red semis) for the equipment, and behind them were the buses the bands were on. I walked up there to take a pix w/ my cell phone, and one of the band members from Lamb of God walked out and asked directions so he could go jogging. I took a bunch of pix, just for my son — and didn’t save them because again, I don’t know how to work the phone. I then left and drove to the pedestrian mall and went to a movie, which let out at 9 PM. I arrived back at the arena around 9:30 — I probably drove right by her — it was very cold that night, with intermittent mist and harder rain. There were A LOT of kids out on the campus, because I’m old and I remember thinking: what are they doing out here in the freezing cold. There was one young girl in a sweat jacket and SHORTS jogging alone, which concerned me — but whatever happened inside the arena — is it possible that when Morgan fell she sustained a head injury, which could impair her judgment — but I’ve always wondered if Morgan somehow ended up in that back parking lot where the haulers and band buses were — maybe talked to a roadie or band member from the first band ??? They might have told her they could get her back into the arena — invited her back to one of the RV’s ? — When I was 20 I would have gone in a second w/ someone who claimed they could hook me up with the band i was really into — And then made a move on her with some force, and because she was injured — something might have happened, and they panicked and have attempted to cover it up ? The first band is no longer touring w/ Metallica and they are from another country; so there is an altercation w/ Morgan, she is either killed or severly injured, they leave her and hightail it back across the ocean ??? There are also stories from a grandmother parked in the parking lot waiting for her grandson and heard a male and a female in a verbal argument in the parking lot aroud 9 PM,but the woman didn’t want to get involved and remained quiet — also, the sighting of a girl matching Morgan’s description at the Sheet’s gas station — I’ve also read that the JPJ arena did NOT have security cameras — so no visual of Morgan — I wonder what type of security Metallica had in place, as far as digital surveillance ?? We moved the first of Oct., and my cat has gone missing — for a month — I’ve agonized over that cat, so my heart just is in agony over Morgan missing, too — For those not of this area, in the past week we’ve had tremendous rain all over Va., and I keep wondering if her body will surface in the flood waters if she had been thrown into one of the bodies of water aroud Charlottesville — I am not Catholic, but St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost things — maybe if we all focused at a certain time and asked for God’s help in finding Morgan — also, I don’t think there’s a person out there who wants the reward money — is it possible some of those funds could be diverted to gather forensic/scientific evidence ? Since it is Sat., can we all say a prayer at 9:30 PM ET that Morgan is found NOW and that those who have knowledge of where she is and what really happened speak the truth NOW.
Thanks to all who post here and run this site — Blink, way to go !!! In a world full of so much hatred, and all of us have bad bad bad feelings that something awful happened to Morgan and that she is no longer of this world — but look at all the love focused on a total stranger — love always conquers over evil — let us all harness that love and focus it like a laser beam in concentration and prayer that those who are responsible speak NOW and that she is found NOW — Let us make 9:30 PM ET the time we all stop and pray truth and peace for Morgan — I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me, Sky …
Let me say I applaud you for NOT turning over the keys to the car.
B
The whole thing doesn’t add up.
Maybe she was asking to use someones cell to call one of local c-ville friends (and I would unsuccessful at using someones cell b/c LE would have the number by now) and then decided tried to hitch a ride from someone to that person’s place…and never made it. The perp realized where he picked her up and put the purse back there later.
Who knows maybe the perp is someone who reported a sighting or some other evidence or lead.
Could even have helped in the search.
The link above about crime statistics are for UVa-Wise, a small (approx 2,000 enrollment) campus operated by UVa in the town of Wise in Southwest Virginia near the Kentucky border. They are NOT the stats for the main campus in Charlottesville.
Here is the link for Charlottesville.
http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice/casisUVA1.html
GypsyDD, i thought a credit card was found in her purse. But who knows, there has been so much misinformation (and seems like purposeful disinformation, for good or ill) that could be false.
To M, re: your 147 comment regarding the location of Morgan’s found purse. I’ve wondered earlier about the same theory you proposed. I also offer the following for consideration:
Many have asked why, if Morgan was purportedly seen on the Copeley Bridge, would her purse and cell phone be left or found “behind” her at the Lannigan Field RV lot? Some conjectured that she dropped it there earlier, by mistake, before heading down to the Copeley Bridge. It may be worth considering this scenario: Morgan left JPJ. She walked through the UHall parking, and into the Lannigan Field RV lot–all with purse in hand (or, on her back if it’s a type of “backpack-purse”). She then proceeds to Copeley Bridge. [She is reported to have been seen on both sides of the bridge—both walking with traffic headed toward Ivy Rd. and on the other side—the only side with a sidewalk—walking facing traffic that was headed toward JPJ and the UHall area.] If the abductor is headed toward JPJ, he stops, convinces Morgan to get into his vehicle (remember, it is misty, dark and 42 degrees outside and Morgan is only wearing a tee-shirt; no jacket or coat), drives directly to the Lannigan RV lot (only feet away), disables her, discards her purse out the vehicle window, and leaves the area with Morgan.
To Momof3 and your 152 post: There’s no need for apologies; no offense taken at all. I’m glad that my posts have been helpful enough (and you felt were important enough) to copy and paste over here. I hope they are equally helpful to other readers, as well.
To Justice and your 139 post, re: transit service on the evening of 10/17/09:
As mentioned in my very first post, my office is approximately three blocks from JPJ and I go to that area daily and to the Copeley Bridge during my lunch walk. I have lived in the Cville area for 23 yrs. While I’ve never used public transportation in this area, to the best of my knowledge the CTS (Charlottesville Transit Service) does not have a route on Massie Rd. Instead, UTS (University Transit Service) serves that area and all adjacent areas “on grounds”. [In UVA venacular, "the Grounds" is akin to what other colleges and universities use to describe their "campus".] The same thing is true for the free CVille Trolley, serving the rest of the CVille community. The only difference between CTS and the Trolley is that the Trolley runs almost exclusively in the downtown area of Cville.
A point of clarification for all, re: the Copeley Bridge. Unlike the image that a bridge might conjure up for many, the Copeley Bridge is very, very short; there is nothing “lonely” about it. It’s the sort of small bridge (really more like a small overpass) used to go over the railroad tracks underneath. It is small enough that, when driving over it in your vehicle, you might not even notice that it’s really a bridge.
I offer the above for those posters who are not familiar with the CVille area and may have a mistaken impression of the vicinity of JPJ, etc. [As mentioned in an earlier post, JPJ, UHall, Lanningan, and Copeley are all quite close together and within very easy walking distance.]
Observer, thank you for that “birds eye” view, that is very helpful. As a point of clarification, can I ask what reference you are using that Morgan was seen walking in BOTH directions across the Copley bridge, meaning, she walked across the side without a sidewalk in addition to the opposite direction where there was none? That is the first I have heard that and if true, could be very important. I am only aware that WITNESSES saw her from their vehicles traveling in BOTH directions on both sides of the bridge. TIA
B
Post #156..I know there must be more mothers out there like you, that know noting about Morgan Harrington..Did you pick your boys up at 9:30? Some the the sites about the concert state it was on until 1:00 AM…this is really late for a concert to last.
More of the general public need to come forward, perhaps you can have your son pass the word..looking for anyone who drove and dropped off kids, at the concert.
The “Hook” Novemeber 13th.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/13/hitchhiking-missing-morgan-harrington-still-missing-sought-a-ride/
This is an article basically covering the same new information we already know. However, I thought the responses from the community were worthy of sharing with you. These people are very engaged, and are wounded by this incident with Morgan. I thought the comments from Dakota were especially insightful to the new Arena and no cameras or footage of Morgan.
A few years ago I was on a business trip to Gainesville, Florida,just after a UF female student had gone missing after going jogging around campus. There was a chartered airliner at the Gainesville airport on which the FBI had flown in a whole PLANELOAD of agents to search for the young lady. Since the FBI Quantico training center is just up the road and FBI HQ is in DC isn’t it time for the FBI to get off the dime and get serious?
George, the FBI is “involved” although peripherally at this juncture. Meaning, their “resources” are at the disposal to jurisdictional investigators, but they are not “investigating” this case currently. That request would need to come from Le itself, and to date, has not. That does not necessarily mean LE is against their involvement, it could also mean case specifics we are unaware of are best suited “as is”.
B
If anyone does check out the “Hook” article, relevant comments of Dakota blend in very much to most of the discussions on this board. I tried to copy and paste these comments, but I was not able to post the the text, just the link to the hook. Dakota comments quite a bit, but specially check out post Nov 13th, @ 9:35pm, and also on Nov 13th at 9:56pm. Also, check out Dakota’s post at Nov 14th at 9:01 (this morning)
Blink…..correct me if I’m wrong, but are you on this same page to?
Correction re: alcohol being sold at JPJ – yes they do sell alcohol in certain areas.
Long time lurker and have read all the posts, here are my random thoughts.
– our cell phones are very important to us, I do not believe she would have gone to the concert with a dying battery. She was looking forward to the concert and planning outfits, I think she would have also planned on a full cell battery as it was a longer trip and to be a long night. Texting wears the battery down quicker than calling but it doesn’t sound like she was doing an extreme amt. of texting as her Dad said there were “some” text to a young man. I believe it is possible that she dropped her phone and the battery fell out and she didn’t notice for whatever reason, or that it was taken out intentionally by whoever took her. (do random people at concerts really carry around cell battery chargers as some have suggested?) Also curious if her phone was in good repair. We use our phones so much that they never make it past a year, one daughter drops hers on a daily basis and has put it back together so many times that the back constantly falls off and the battery falls out. Just wondering if this is a possibility.
– If HER Dad purchased the tickets, even if they paid him back or whatever, it sounds like she was the “event planner” for this outing and I would be VERY angry with my friends if “I” planned the whole evening, organized getting the tickets, looked forward to it for months, let my car be used and then “I” was the one outside not able to get in while my friends enjoyed my show. Unsure of what to think of the “friends” wondering if they are acting odd because they ignored their very good friends plight to selfishly enjoy the show and are now ashamed of themselves? Also, If they have been friends for awhile, they probably know the parents well and are feeling guilty for not helping her. Just a thought.
-Just because Morgan is a smart girl from a good family doesn’t mean she wouldn’t get in the car with someone she didn’t know. Alcohol impairs judgement. I am a normal, intelligent person with a masters degree (from a good family) but several years ago I had a little (lot) too much to drink at the beach with my girlfriends and when the Starboard closed, I had every intention of going back to a hotel to play beer pong with some people I had just met and I am old enough to know better! I thank God everyday for good friends who would never have let me do that! Depending on her level of impairment (drugs, etoh, concussion?) if any, I do believe she could have gotten in the car with a stranger, when we drink we think everyone is our friend, especially if we are upset or dissappointed with our “real” friends.
-I also don’t think she intentionally ditched her purse as a clue. she would have wanted that with her, our purses are security, they have our “stuff” in them, even if she knew the phone battery was gone, she would have kept it with her knowing all her contacts, pics, etc. were in there and she just needed a new battery.
Blink, This just showed up on another forum. Have you heard anything about this? I tend to disregard it. It states:
I have been pretty skeptical of the hitchhiking story (and I still am) but I have heard that MH can be seen on tapes from the banks’ security cameras at the corners of Ivy/Copeley/Alderman standing at the corner of Copeley/Ivy with her thumb out, they may have seen her get into a car. When I asked if she was carrying her purse, they didn’t know …
I hope this is just more misinformation.
That is absolutely misinformation. You can bet the more of these “witness accounts” that surface now, the closer they are getting to an arrest.
B
I still think that the perp was the one who texted her friends or forced her to text her friends to say she was finding a way home. Why LE is touting the hitchiking theory, I don’t know, but it seems ridiculous to me. Even if she was blitzed out of her frontal cortex, the safety center of the brain is the last to shut down. If she was walking, she was seeking protection, shelter. She would have called her mother, for god’s sake or her friends, anyone. She did not seem like the kind of kid who didn’t have anyone to call. It is counterintuitive to think she would drop her cell and purse in the parking lot and set out on foot for the journey hitchhiking home. This is bull and I am a bit disgusted that it is even out there as a possibility. LE is hiding something if this is the best they can put forth.
Susan, does it make sense if I say I dont think they were talking to “us”?
B
I figured out how to copy paste! Here is the dialogue from Dakota on the Hook article. Thought I would share. Let me know what you all think. I do believe that Blink reflects the same sediments? Eh?
(Dakota) commenting on the Hooks aricle posted Nov 13 press release:
Amazing, after a month we hear details that should have been released weeks ago . The Harrington’s have got to scream foul, the concerned public has been doing this for weeks .
Below are my thoughts of how I would handle public relations for UVA , JPJA .
If I were the UVA police , JPJA ,or UVA considering the entangled affiliation I too would wait until a month later to “confirm” Morgan was hitchhiking on the Copeley Road bridge . Throw in the allegations some members of the UVA Basketball team were the last to have contact with Morgan ,Absolutely , Morgan can now be “confirmed” of last being seen hitchhiking on the Copeley Road bridge . Just for the record please note Morgan was not on UVA property nor does she show up on the state of the art post 9/11 surveillance system or the many of thousands of camera phones and camera’s that accompanied up to 20,000 people in the general area . Please also note JPJA has a no re-admitance policy that looks good on paper but is NOT always followed but since Morgan was last seen off of UVA property this should not come into play even if JPJA turned away an injured and possibly drugged/intoxicated /disoriented young girl and not to forget a paying customer into the cold dark of night to VANISH !
Yep that’s what I would say – just saying
Dakota (The Hook, Nov 13th 6:36 pm)
Anybody else want to help me guess why the press release was done the way it was ?
ABSURD !
Dakota (The Hook, Nov 13th 6:44pm)
Now lets make another leap . When is the last time anyone has seen a 20 something , college educated , beautiful , blue eyed blonde hitchhiking on a misty cold evening during an event she has waited for 6 months ?
Actually I haven’t seen a hitchhiker in YEARS !
WHO ARE WE COVERING FOR ?
Dakota (The Hook, Nov 13th 8:09 pm)
(Lannie speaking to Dakota)
Dakota, just because you have not seen anyone hitchhiking in years does not mean that it does not happen. It’s not suppose to happen, but I’ve even seen it on the interstate (around here, that’s 64.) Being beautiful and college educated does not mean that you are incapable of making a tragically bad mistake in judgment. Do you really believe that a grand conspiracy is happening which would have to involve not only the University Police Department, but the Albemarle County Police Department, the Charlottesville Police Department, and possibly the FBI and oh yes, every person within the arena who might possibly have caught Morgan on camera. If Morgan has been kidnapped, which is sadly probably true, then the person(s) responsible are the one(s) who took her, not the unfortunates people, including the basketball players, who some want to taint with suspicion just because it’s been reported that they saw her, not even that they spoke to her. And we wonder why people aren’t more likely in cases like this to come forward with information.
Lannie (Dakota speaking to Lanie)
If you can believe that Morgan Harrington Was at JPJA both inside and outside of a state of the art facility that included 20,000+ people in the area with what 19,999 cell phone cameras, digital cameras, FRIENDS with phones cameras and a month later we haven’t seen the first single frame of footage of MORGAN Harrington on any properly affiliated with UVA ………If you can believe that I can believe in a conspiracy .
Police in NC have clear surveillance photos of a 5 year old missing girl in under three days from a swanky motel 40 miles away from the abduction site . JPJA I remind you a 131 MILLION dollar facility doesn’t have a snap shot of Morgan and Company ?
COME ON !
Dakota (The Hook, 9:35 pm Nov 13th)
Jane (Dakota speaking to Jane)
Please take the time to look at Morgan’s pictures , Listen to her family and most of all read Morgan’s word’s to her Father in this link.http://www.findmorgan.com/letter.pdf
Morgan Harrington had absolutely no reason to run from her life .
It defies LOGIC .
Dakota (The hook, Nov 13th 9:56pm)
Jane ,
The investigators followed up on the Sheetz sighting . Surveillance video was available with no one matching Morgan’s description was seen in the footage . Ironically nobody matching the person making this claim was in the footage either . But if you want to really dig deep , go back to the article of the accounts you read at the Sheetz . Look very very very close at the women’s wording about the sighting . Want my opinion ….ALL LIES
…another person looking for 15 min of fame . (The hook, Nov 13th, 11:07 pm)
Lannie , (Dakota Speaking to Lannie)
JPJA has a seating capacity of 16,000 alone ,I believe the est. alone for concert goers was 14,900 something this does not include the arena support personnel and those traveling with the bands . Now add the general area populations alone and Morgan was in the company of no less than 20,000 people on a Sat night on UVA campus and JPJA . I feel that is a fair assumption . Now the conspiracy starts in my opinion with the “friends” !
Let’s not forget that people whom had footage from that evening that were inclined to turn it over , turned it over to investigators . Can we wonder if the information was handed to a fox guarding the hen house ?
I can most certainly say with confidence that UVA , JPJA and those affiliated from day one started damage control as I would expect from any large business. Just like those in charge of this investigation . ONLY AFTER information broke online did the VASP then come up with this absurd idea Morgan was hitch hiking .
Dakota
Blink, here’s an idea I never thought of before… Considering her being a 20 year old college student at a major university, did she have a fake ID? It would make traveling around undetected much easier, especially out of state. Also, I’ve seen a lot of posts jumping to conclusions about the purse and phone being left behind. I’ve seen comments like “she couldn’t have gotten on a train without any money” and things like that. Who says she doesn’t have any money? She could have had any amount of cash on her person, not in her purse. It is important that we don’t jump to random conclusions without the supporting facts.
In reply to post #158 VA GUY..I realized it was the wrong link in the first post and put in the right link in post 146 above. Stil one must admit for the size of UVA Char they are very low stats..
Momof3 — thanks for reposting the Observer posts. Very informative and very realistic viewpoints — I might not have seen them on the other thread. I agree with Blink’s “tell me more” conclusion.
I also appreciate the explanation of this site and general description of who is behind it and who typically contributes.
Fletch- thanks for acknowledging the contribution of others on here, I strongly value that.
B
#156 – I read your post, and I am with you. It is 9:29, and I am praying with you for this young woman to be found.
Blink,
How do I leave a private comment for you?
You may do so here. Only I see it, and will keep it that way if you request.
B
I posted early this morning. My posts are now showing that I posted at 9:00pm tonight. Several responding quotes posts were on the thread as of a few minutes ago in response to my thread, but now are gone….
Thanks Blink…….
Chad- not following. Diff Threads maybe? Posts still time stamp regardless of when they are approved.
B
Bye…thought this was a better site, but your’re all the same. Hope that they find Morgan. You just lost a fan. wont be posting again, and I will not venture to read this again…..
Thanks!
Chad, you may be unfamiliar with RSS feeds, but they will help you see where your posts are. Nothing was deleted or moved.
B
#155 gotoutofpcity-
Interesting concept, however, how many responsible drunks have you been around.
hello blink: i have seen these bank cameras and cannot believe that they would be able to pick up someone on the bridge in the dark and wearing dark clothes and with many others that may have been on that very same bridge during that very same time. maybe if you were at the bank’s atm, standing in front of it, taking out cash. i am talking about the bank that is on your left going over the bridge on the sidewalk. i think it is bb&t. the camera is above atm. the reason i say this is i truly feel that if we are now in week number four and they just now release this kind of information about hitchhiking i have to believe that this will be coming to an end soon. maybe Morgan was told to withdraw cash? possible? i do not know.
i just know that if this is an investigative technique…i for one, could do without the hitchhiking theory.
i guess it goes to an earlier post where it is explained that we feel that they (le) are taking a pot-shot at Morgan’s behavior and choices. i do not want to think that this girl who has grown up in “safety first”, “stop, drop and roll” and “don’t talk to strangers”…and oh yea, “stranger danger”!!! would throw caution to the wind and stick out her thumb. drunk or not. my money is on that she was not drunk maybe but not plain out wasted. she was trying to get back in multiple times, testing, walking, talking on phone and talking to people
(uva bb boys), no way was she out to leave a concert planned for six months. remember she lived out on her own if she wanted to “hook up” she already could do that and nobody would know. she did not need to wait for a concert.
i want to believe that we all did what we could to help her. i say a prayer that “that” someone just drops her off safe and as unharmed as physically and mentally possible.
if it has been draining for me…i can only imagine her family and then i begin to think of the law enforcement community that searches for all those who do go missing. i know that i was tough on them earlier but i just feel compelled to speak up and share what it was and is i was thinking about the choices i made to leave my life for a weekend and go help out someone i did not know. god forbid…i would want the same.
please let there be a positive outcome and Morgan walks right back into “HER BEAUTIFUL LIFE”
Blink,
Off topic for a moment, but post #31 is attributed to me and I did not write it…in fact I was out of town until bedtime last night…the post is not derogatory, but I am a little concerned about posts showing in my sign on name…what should I do? Should I change my screen name.
Thanks,
gigi
No, I will check it out, and ask if poster will add a 2.
B
I have followed this case from the beginning, and my heart is breaking for Morgan and her family. After reading Gill’s “Heartwrenching BLOGS,the letter Morgan wrote to her Dad,and the “raw pain” they are experiencing, I will never be the same.
I can’t wrap my head around the fact that MORE PRESSURE wasn’t/hasn’t been put on her “friends”. Something MAJOR is wrong with this picture from the get go! If my child were missing, I would have talked to every single one of the 9 friends myself, and then some. Then I would have had LE do the same. If I had been the “parent” of one of the 9, I would have grilled my own child until I got some answers. Why not interrogate them from the start? A friends life is at stake! Everyone knows that friends and family are always the first to be ruled out/in. It’s not even logical for LE to just believe a lame response like, “Oh, Morgan said she would find a ride 2+ hrs from home, but for us to just keep her car” WHAT???
1. Mr Harrington buys 9 Metallica concert tickets, and I only know of the 2 girls and a boyfriend that went with Morgan. Did the other friends drive separately? What happened to the other tickets?
2. Seems very odd that Morgan would say, “Hey, let’s take my car 2+ hrs to the concert, but I’m not gonna drive it. Why take HER car? Even if she wanted to “party”, I can’t imagine that Morgan said, “Hey friends,how about chauffeuring me to the concert while I drink a few beers on the way?” Then she doesn’t even get HER keys back when they arrive????
3. If there are no picturess of Morgan going into the concert, how do we know she ever made it in? It would make more sense that she arranged ahead of time to meet up with another group, and then join her friends inside, or she was out front trying to sell the extra tickets, than to think she left the concert BEFORE Metallica even played.
4. We know a call was made to her friends inside, but I’m not so sure that I even believe that she told her friends, “I can”t get in, but I’ll find a way home. NO WAY! If your own car is parked in a concert parking lot-2+ hrs from home and you can’t get in the concert, you would DEMAND that “your friends” bring you the keys ASAP or get security to go to Seat #___ and retreive them! Then tell your friends, “Sorry, I’m leaving! Hope you have fun, and that YOU three can find a ride home? No way she HITCH HIKED when she had her own car there!!
5.How do the “friends explain the fact that Morgan never made it home? How could her own roommate go to sleep knowing they went to a concert, drove Morgan’s car back, but she never made it back to their apartment? Never to be seen again.
5. The only other people that LE has acknowledged Morgan talked to that night are the BB players. If this is indeed true, Morgan would have told EVERYONE she ran into that night of her DELIMA! Morgan would have been seeking help-to either get in the concert or get her keys to her own car. It’s not like she was just cruisin around the campus chatting with people. She would have been in a CRISIS!
What did the guys say,”Oh sorry girl, we don’t know how to help you. Good luck!” See ya later” Too many things just don’t add up.
The Harringtons need NOW!
B: Apologies for any confusion. My early understanding was that a woman appearing to be Morgan was seen walking on both SIDES of Copeley–not necessarily seen walking in both DIRECTIONS on Copeley. [I was not a witness so cannot corroborate that information.]
Put another way: If Morgan exited to the right from the Lannigan RV lot and proceeded down Copeley, she is alleged to have been seen on both the right and left-hand sides of Copeley, headed toward the intersection with Ivy Rd. Walking along one side or another of
Copeley she would either be walking with traffic (on the right, toward Ivy) or against traffic (on the left, w/ the sidewalk) toward Ivy. Regardless of which side of Copeley she was on, my sense is that she was walking toward Ivy when she entered a vehicle.
Thanks Observer, are you saying you have information that she entered a vehicle? Your last line bolded by me.
B
I’m not in agreement with the LE’s hitch-hiking theory. That being said, I want to make a few observations from personal experience.
1. When I was Morgan’s age I went to see the Dead at the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ with some friends. We were staying at the Marriott in downtown Philly. At then end of the show we hitched a ride back across the Ben Franklin Bridge to our hotel. It wasn’t until later that I heard that Camden, NJ was ranked as the most dangerous city in the country. I bring this up for a reason. I was completely sober (believe it or not) at the time, had never done anything like that before and I didn’t think twice about it. And if you ever asked my parents, family or friends about it they would swear from now until the end of time that I would never hitch hike. I’m not saying it was a smart move and yes, I do consider myself very lucky but it happened.
2. I’m a gradute student at UVA and last year when I was leaving the Foxfield races I found a purse lying in the field. It had ID, credit cards and a video Ipod. I found the owner and returned it to her the next morning, turns out she got drunk, dropped it on the ground and didn’t even notice it was gone.
I’m not implying that Morgan was drunk or hitch-hiking….I’m just stating that you can’t totally rule these things out because her family states that it is out of character for her or you feel that she wouldn’t leave her purse behind.
Also, in regards to these basketball players,I don’t feel that UVA is covering for them. Honestly, our athletics program is laughable at this point with the exception of baseball, lacrosse and soccer. The basketball season would have been a wash if these players were on or off the court. I can’t speculate though as to if they are “saving face” but I would think that Dr. Harrington’s affiliation with the university and community at large would trump any intent of a cover up.
For whatever it’s worth, I’m of the opinion that she called a POI for a ride before her cell phone went dead. The sighting on the bridge either:
a)wasn’t Morgan,
b)was false,
c)was Morgan jokingly sticking her thumb out to the POI
d)was a pragmatic move by LE to build the case against the POI
At that point something goes terribly wrong and Morgan disappears. I don’t, however, believe that she is missing of her own volition.
I pray otherwise though.
My sisters will kill me for posting this, but I will remind them how lucky they were. I truly believe for some, they don’t operate in the zone of personal safety priority. Many years ago they were visiting friends at school over Christmas break in CA.
On NY eve, they ended up in Mexico and all the friends got ankle tats. Read that again, yes, that’s what I said.
B
I am sure everyone heard Gil Harrington this morning make the statement that, to paraphrase, she wasn’t comfortable with the hitchhiking angle. Which I think speaks volume.
I want to say something about why I think it is so difficult to “crack” this case. I first want to preface this statement by making it absolutely clear that I am not speaking about any one or even particular ethnic group, but rather a sub-culture that is not limited to any race, religion, socioeconomic status et all.
I think the individuals (and I do believe there is more than one) who are either responsible for or knowledgeable of Morgan’s disappearance are a part of a subculture of youths that are utterly and absolutely, 100% adamant about their belief that you never ever snitch. I have seen it in working with high-risk youths who would rather put their life in danger than tattle on anyone.
Now it all depends on how well the police can bluff, intimidate and “play” these individuals. Against each other and the “evidence.”
Agreed, and I also believe it is to LE disadvantage to avail the parents of that strategy beforehand because frankly, you can never be sure how they will react, and then LE has to deal with that issue. I support that in most cases, but due to disparity between verified info and not, I think this should have been the exception.
B
Was it here that I read that one of the band players from “LAMB”, asked someone,where he could go jogging? Perhaps there is something here that has not been touched upon..One day after Morgan went missing,Lars posted here. Just once, that I noted..but what if, these guys know something more than they are saying??No band would want this media attention…perhaps the band that went back to Europe needs to be questioned, especially the jogger.This other stuff is just not adding up.
Debi- I agree that question had to be asked initially, but the band (s) is cleared of any involvement and LOG is from Richmond, VA. I know the family is very appreciative of the reward money they put up. They put $50K in an escrow account with very open terms as far as rewards go.
B
Post # 172
Fletch,
I really appreciate your comment. It meant alot to me that you would take the time to let me know that Observer’s posts were worth bringing over. By the way love your screen name, Mr. Nugent.
Post #160
Observer,
Thank you for your acknowledgment. I am happy to see that you have continued to post. I do think your observations are important. I have learned a great deal from reading your posts.
Post # 69
Chad, You wrote:
Comment by chad — November 13, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
-It’s pretty clear that there is a devoted crowd here dedicated to finding Morgan. Whether we know Morgan or not, live in VA or not, we have all been touched by this case, and we all are just hoping for some type of break in this case! This is why so many people are posting! This is crazy not having any information at all for the family, or even any clues…….something is very wrong.-
I agree with what you wrote. It is as true today as on the day you wrote it. “It’s pretty clear that there is a devoted crowd here dedicated to finding Morgan.” I hope that you will continue to post here. I have read all of your contributions thus far, and have valued your point of view. I can tell that you are sincerely trying to help bring Morgan home, as is Blink and the rest of the crowd.
Blink,
Just wanted to say thanks, again for working so tirelessly for victims and there families. Thanks for this site. I think you are doing a great job running it, despite any quirks. Keep up the good work.
Lol, there are Quirks?
Kidding, there is learning curve and technical limitations alot are not aware of, including myself, prior to launching this site.
B
FWIW, I ask everyone to ask someone not familiar with this case to hear all the supported facts. A fresh outlook and gut instinct are usually best.
I have purposed this entire situaton to someone who has not heard of it. Their first reaction was
1. she is unfortunately not alive
2. Her friends are hiding something.
3. UVA bball players know more.
of course its the obvious but we all are emotionally attached at this point…hoping for something.
Unfortunately, immediately after hearing this, this is the first time I realized there may not be any hope her returning alive.
But still praying…
Yes, Yes and yes
B
Post #166
Amy L,
Welcome. Thank you for posting your thoughts. I agree knowing if her phone was in good shape would be important to know.
I think you are right, Morgan would have left her for the concert with a fully charged phone.(assuming it was in good shape and held the charge)
Although I agree with your point, about texting vs speaking using up the battery faster, in my experience FWIW, taking/saving pictures also uses a great deal of power also.
I just wanted to add a thank you for sharing your daughter’s experiences with her phone, it helped me to realize another reason that Morgan may not have had the battery in her phone. Thanks
I’m actually starting to buy into the HH theory and I think her parents are as well even though the say it was out of character for her. Her purse could have been yanked from her shoulder (explains ripped purse strap)and then tossed out the window of the perp’s car.It sounds like where her purse was found was in close proximity of the bridge. I’m hoping LE dusted both the phone and purse for prints.
Connie, the purse is nowhere near the bridge. A person would need to be IN the lot to leave it where it was found.
B
Did the basketball players who spoke with Morgan consider her to be impaired or not? I don’t know why this information is being withheld from the public. Among other things it goes to the possibility of her leaving her purse at the arena at that time as opposed to someone else bringing it back later.
The content of those conversations is not being released. My requests to UVA Athletic Dept were responded to by suggesting I contact VSP, and Ms. Geller confirmed there were basketball players interviewed, but would not comment publicly on their identities or the content of those conversations. I am aware of their interaction from an inside source, I don’t think the fact that her purse was found in that area can be ruled out as either option at this point.
B
Hey, Deb post 161 — I am directionally challenged to say the least. I left the downtown pedestrial mall area around 9:10 and made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up driving thru the campus area twice, and to my embarrassment, ended up on 64 West, where I recall a car pulled over, and I thought: what a crummy night for your car to break down — so at around 9:30 is when I arrived back at the arena area. So if Morgan were out walking around that time, I passed her — I don’t remember seeing anyone hitchhiking and especially a girl — if I had seen a girl, I would have stopped — but there WERE lots of kids out on the street and walking in the campus area — because it was so cold and rainy out I thought they were nuts to be out walking and usually with no coats on — exactly parallel to the arena, but across the street — like 2 blocks away — is a small motel, w/ a restaurant beside it — I pulled to the rear of the motel and just parked in one of the restaurant parking spaces — sometime between 9 and 9:30 when I parked, my son called my cell; said they were between acts and they were waiting for Metallica to come on stage; that they were having a great time and never once sat in those expensive floor seats I paid for but had been standing right in front of the stage off to the right side — beside him was an “older woman — his words” around 40 and her husband who had been Metallica fans in the 80′s — that the concert was calm — no “mash” — is that the word ? — pits or people drinking — that there was a three beer maximum and that security was tight and handling anyone intoxicated, etc. — which gels w/ the info that security expelled the girl who looked like Morgan from the venue — when I had parked, the concert had started because you absolutely could hear the music and my car was literally vibrating — in fact, as I waited, there was at least one male who apparently had been walking in front of the motel — I could hear him cheer at the end of songs — who stopped and listend for at least three or four songs — but then left — and that’s what gets me about this whole incident — it’s reported Morgan had a credit card in her purse — she could have walked over to that little restaurant and gotten something to eat or drink and waited — it’s my recollection the concert ended around 11:30-ish — my son called and it was slow going getting out of the arena because when it was 30 mins. and the boys hadn’t gotten to the car, I was worried and I know I spoke w/ him two times after the band left the stage — At that point, I moved the car from the rear of the motel down to the front — there were parking spaces opening up so that the nose of my car was right up against the sidewalk — there were taxis everywhere — literally everywhere — and as soon as an empty one pulled up, someone jumped in — I was thinking if they had to park some distance away, they were getting a taxi to their car because it was really cold by that point — there were also a lot of police cars out at that time, and I remember thinking that for that number of cars, it was a very effecient traffic flow — when the boys finally got to the car and got buckled up, I was able to pull right out into traffic — there’s a stoplight right at that T intersection and someone let me out — so there were police — can’t distinquish between campus or city — all over the place, plus lots of parking personnel — I could observe people with flashlights directing traffic in the parking lot adjacent to the arena — so whatever happened to Morgan happened between 9:30 and 11:30 in the immediate area of the arena —
as to the transit question — on all the side roads which is the parking lot area adjacent to the arena — there were sheltered bus benches — no busses were running that night, of course, but it could have been another area at least out of the rain — I was in my car w/ a heavy sweater on and freezing and kept having to turn the car’s heater on —
Now, the “older” woman beside my son at the concert had a great camera and took some really great shots and emailed them to my son — we went thru all of the pictures — but they were mostly of the band — as far as him remembering seeing Morgan — both of these boys are huge Metallica fans — there was a girl in the concert who took her shirt off and was bare chested and they both said they only glanced, didn’t care, because they were literally five feet from James Hetfield — who threw my son a guitar pick and he caught it — the band members were not drinking alcohol, in fact, one of the pix was the list of ‘needs’ for james Hetfield, the lead singer, and it was 16 bottles of water, a couple of bottles of lime “original” gatoraid and black plastic cups — if they couldn’t find the black plastic solo cups, then he didn’t want any cups at all — it’s on the paper : ) — they found the cups — but my son said, during guitar solos or when focus was on another band member, Hetfield would go over and stand or crouch down behind a speaker or large metal case and rest —
we’ve looked at other concert pix posted on the internet and he was showing me where they were — but I don’t know where Morgan’s seat was in relation to the stage — and like my son, he NEVER sat in his seat — they stood in front of the stage for all three acts — PLUS — he was able to keep his ticket — which both boys said was a huge thing and they were never going to throw it away — why didn’t Morgan have her ticket stub ? why did she leave the arena at all ?
Last night I kept praying that those who know the truth come forward NOW — I will do this every night at 9:30 PM ET until Morgan is found — I ask that everyone else do the same –
Skyler, thanks so much for posting your experience that evening. I recommend everyone read it to get a perspective.
Also, have someone who is tech savvy look at your phone, your pics may be on there and you just might not be able to see where the files are- at least I hope, your son and his friend would probably freak.
B
BLINK,
DO WE KNEW FOR SURE THAT ONLY 4 OF THE 9 TICKETS WERE USED?
IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY IF SHE HAD 9 TICKETS WOULDN’T SHE USE ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL TICKETS FOR RE-ADMITTANCE?
I have no idea where the rumor of 9 tickets came from. There were 4 tickets, all used.
Please no all caps sweetpea, tia
B
When my boyfriend dropped his phone in the toilet…(yes, he’s very graceful) he was told to take the battery out of the phone and let it dry.
I am not concerned as to the identities of the basketball players, but did they consider Morgan impared or not? It is hugely important.
I will answer that by saying it is my understanding that is their version, yes.
B
I just wanted to aplogize to all and Blink. Thank you for the RSS feed info Blink. I am on a learning curve with a the tech stuff. Had a weak tech moment. LOL! Morgans case brought me here to this site, and I will continue to post here.
Lol Chad, thanks for feeling obligated to apologize and welcome enough to continue contributing, it’s all good.
B
Police release more eyewitness accounts in the “hook”.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/15/concerned-witnesses-before-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/
If there really is a question as to whether Morgan was even at the concert, then I have to wonder if much of the surmised static surrounding the event is actually intended to give the friends a false sense of security. Also meshes with the adamance, which I can only imagine is contrived, with which her parents clear the friends.
I don’t believe that LE has any duty to make their suspicions known and it’s in their best interest not to. But, as an outsider, I just can’t believe that, given the mystery surrounding the events, her friends or anyone who had contact with her that night, are just… cleared.
Thank you. If Morgan was not impaired then a drug buy gone wrong would seem to be a possibility. If she was impaired that seems to be less likely.
Thanks for the hint that the BB players did consider Morgan impaired. Did they have a feeling as to the cause of her impairment?
Non- specific to my knowledge.
B
Danielle, great post. I agree completely with your assessment.
Mandy, are you referring to a gang? If not, can you elaborate? Thanks.
Blink,
New, more disturbing local article about Morgan online. It is online at http://www.readthehook.com and I think this is the link. I am terrible at linking, but I know some of your members will want to read it for themselves. Thanks. http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/15/concerned-witnesses-before-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/