Morgan Harrington Case: State Police Say She Was Hitchhiking

Posted by BOC Staff | Missing Persons,Morgan Harrington | Friday 13 November 2009 2:31 pm

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.

Swarovski knecklace

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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487 Comments

  1. George says:

    For the sake of discussion assume we have an impaired Morgan on the bridge trying to get a ride. Later her cell phone, without battery, and her purse with a torn strap, are found back in the JPJ parking lot. The condition of the phone without the battery and the torn purse strap may indicate she did get a ride and tried to call 911 when she realized she was in danger. Her assailant took the phone while they were in the vehicle, removed the battery, and tossed the phone aside in the vehicle. Then Morgan tried to fight using her purse, the strap of which was torn in the fight. Later her assailant returned the items to the parking lot. Why would he return to the parking lot? Because he (or they) were with the touring group in some capacity and had to get back?

    I consider the possibility she put it on someone’s hood while talking to them and simply forgot it when they drove off.

    Or, the ground, although confirmation on the torn part makes me shudder.
    B

  2. SuzeeB says:

    Here is a link of a map that was linked to from the Help Find Morgan Site. This map shows if correct exactly where Morgan was spotted by witnesses (IF Correct) It appears AREA #5 that Morgan was seen ONLY FEET from where her purse was found.

    Cars, RVs cant park within Lanigan Field they can only park around the perimeter correct? They can’t drive over that running track right? Do cars park in that grassy/dirt area where her purse was found. Do we know where exactly the BB Players cars were parked. Is this (AREA#5) the EXACT place where she was seen before the bridge? I am thinking she must have been walking with bb Players or someone towards their cars. If she had decided to just perhaps go to the shopping area and wait there somewhere and get warm this is not the shortest path to take. Who knows the area, does this make sense to anyone? She had to be freezing. I am just saying, why go towards Lanigan Field unless you have been offered a ride? Wouldn’t you take the shortest distance to the bridge?

    If Morgan was familiar with the area she would know the shortest path to take. Who knows the area, does this make sense to anyone?

    http://www.roanoke.com/datasphere/wb/xp-224154

  3. Kelly says:

    Blink-

    The witnesses who purport they saw Morgan hitchhiking… If they were observant enough to recognize that it was Morgan, then I’m sure they would have noticed whether or not she was carrying a purse? This could be an important piece of information.

    Its my understanding the witness did not see a purse at that point. But again, dimly lit and subjective account, could also be after the info was out about the purse being found in the lot. That is the problem with outcry witnesses, they are subject to their own memories retrospectively- not very reliable, imo.
    B

  4. Momof3 says:

    #182
    Danielle, I am not sure if Morgan hitchhiked or not. I think it would be more likely if she was inebriated, but no one seems sure of this either.

    Thanks for posting your thoughts and your experience at the dead concert. I think this would go far in disproving a hitch hiking scenario in Morgan’s case as you wrote: – At then end of the show WE hitched a ride back across the Ben Franklin Bridge to our hotel-(bolded by me)

    Blink thank you for “outing” your sisters, to stress the point sometimes we all do things without a care to the consequences. But again, I think this goes to disproving a hitchhiking scenerio with Morgan as your sisters went on their adventure together not alone.

    I would like to point out that I think there is a huge difference in accepting a ride from a seemingly good Samaritan than actively hitching a ride from whomever.

  5. Momof3 says:

    Skyler I just wanted to say your first hand observations of the night of the concert have been a tremendous help in visualizing the lots, and surrounding areas thanks for posting these. Please don’t beat yourself up over not having the pictures, as I am sure your son appreciates the fact that you tried to capture the moment for him, as do we.

  6. deeindvl says:

    Still not buying this hitchiking theorie, and still believe the cell battery is the key here. A lot of the newer phones are senistive to moisture (my 21 yr. old has gone thru 3 this past year)if her phone got wet because of the rain and she removed the battery herself then the most logical place for the battery to be would be inside her purse safe and dry. I believe the battery was removed for charging.

    If Morgan was away form her “home” area the phone would automaticaly enter into “Roaming” mode, if her network didn’t have a tower nearby, or if the signal was weak the phone would automaticaly begin searching. Both roaming and searching will eat a battery life faster than calls, texting, or pics. Put it all together and the battery dies even faster. And yes car chargers are very common, the car chargers are usually a lot faster than the electrical chargers so it’s not unreasonable to think Morgan asked someone outside to charge her battery if she couldn’t get to hers. If Morgan had one in her car that would be another reason not to leave her car and insist her keys be brought to her. Oh yeah that battery can be matched to her phone.

    If Morgan was too intoxicated to have possession of her keys then she by all means too intoxicated to be left outside alone, with no jacket, in the cold and rain with no shelter and the designated driver (if there was one) should have known this. And after hearing now there was a 3 beer max, I have to question whether she was overly intoxicated and if she was I don’t believe she could navigate herself well enough to go off hitchiking.

    I too read there was a cc found in her purse. I do believe she would have had some cash on her because she would need it for concessions. Her bank account was overdrawn so a debit card wouldn’t work for that, her cc would but most people I know don’t use cc’s for very small charges.

    I believe whatever happened to Morgan took place near where her purse was found. As a woman I can tell you the first thing I would do if being attacked is turn that purse into a weapon. It is female instinct.

    I believe the “friends” need to be looked at a little closer as well as the BB players. And I am in no way accusing them of anything but there is a reason why the info about the players wasn’t released or their statements. Right now there is smoke being thrown up.

  7. Observer says:

    B: Clarification: I am not saying I have information that MH entered a vehicle. Based upon numerous data points, I believe that MH (initially) voluntarily entered a vehicle, on or near the Copeley Rd. bridge.

    Ok, thanks for the clarification, do you think that individual returned her purse/phone?
    B

  8. suz says:

    I went to the official find Morgan site hoping there would be a compilation of known facts (there isn’t) like:

    -where the purse was found (I have seen speculation that it wasn’t in the RV lot but in a different lot)

    - whether a purse strap was ripped or broken—that’s new to me from reading posts here today

    - whether a credit card was in the purse

    - what exactly (if anything) the dad said about her cell phone battery (she takes it out? it falls out?)

    - whether she called the friends or they called her at 8:48 or whenever it was (I am nearly 100% sure that they initiated the call to her—not sure they would have heard a call FROM her in a loud arena, even between acts—but wouldn’t mind seeing it on an official site)

    - whose car was actually driven to the arena (I still don’t think I have seen official clarification on this—but it was morgan’s, right?)

    - whether tickets were purchased for “the 9″ or just for the 4 kids who went

    I wish either the police or her folks would put together a sanctioned list of facts (you can’t really trust the media to get these things right, and I’ve surely seen conflicting reports in the news) as gawdnoze rumors are still flying in this case. The timeline they have put out is helpful and the details on her clothing and necklace are great, but some of the info still feels so sketchy. I don’t know, maybe this is still deliberate on the part of LE.

  9. rita says:

    Although hundreds of tips have been reported, I had hoped by this time for there to have been solid sighting info, (via corroborated eyewitness interaction/description and photos), from Morgan’s age group, (concert-goers and/or student population). If she did make it onto campus and spent time in various areas, hopefully memories will be jogged as reporting offers more information and detail. Whenever her state of mind and physical condition are mentioned, I wonder about two things; could she not have been feeling well, i.e., mildly medicating a minor sore throat, headache, etc., and this “wobbly feeling” was exacerbated by a fall, with combined lingering effects? I’m keeping Morgan and her family in my prayers alongside the rest of you for her to come home soon. And thank you to Blink and all at this site for your intelligent and compassionate discussion.

  10. sweetpea says:

    Blink-
    Thanks for the information. I had read that there were 9 ticket.

    As a serious concert goer, I have a question that I would like to ask
    anyone who attended the Metallica concert that night.

    As previously stated since 9/11 security at large venues such as ball games and concerts security has definitely been beefed up.
    During a couple of different events I have wanted to go out to my car (reasons are escaping me at this moment) but both times I was stopped by security and informed that if I were to walk out I would no be allowed to re-enter. Does anyone know if that type of security was happening at the arena.

    I must admit I am shocked to read here that the arena did not have cameras. All the concerts I have attended as of late had security checks similar to entering an airport. All entrances and exits monitored.

    At this point, if I were LE I would have each friend and BB players
    taking a lie detector test. Something was terribly wrong for that girl to walk out of that concert alone.

  11. Bean says:

    That is a good point, sweetpea. I don’t know how many points of entrance/exit were at the venue. But unless she mistakenly went out a side door, she was surely reminded by security that once she exited she would not be able to get back in. I have seen the same happen at many concerts I have been to. If that was the case, then she was leaving for a reason.

  12. suz says:

    oh yeah, forgot to add to the list:

    - was she or was she not seen stumbling and/or dropping the purse?

    - what kind of scrape/injury/cut did she have on her face?

    - when were her last known texts? (maybe that is a secret)

    - when found, were the purse contents all in the purse or not?

    - was the battery cover near the purse, in the purse, on the phone, or not found at all?

  13. Bean says:

    “If” indeed she was seen on the bridge and “if” she entered someone’s car there, I wonder if it was someone she felt relatively “safe/comfortable” with. Perhaps someone she was talking to in the parking lot drove by and offered her a ride. If she was on that bridge with her purse (which we don’t know right now), someone took it back to that parking lot. Someone that knew she was there. Someone she talked to or was watching her at the very least. Of course the purse could have been left in the parking lot. But the broken strap and missing battery make it seem less likely to me that the purse fell off a hood or bumper of a car.

  14. Once an unruly 20 yo says:

    I have been reading a variety of message boards this afternoon and I am really astonished that the media is reporting more on this.. But, that is beside the fact
    I want to bring up some things I have observed..
    In different pictures I saw Morgan with a Bonnarro t-shirt on, an “All-good” t-shirt, and as we all know she was wearing a Pantera t-shirt the night she became missing (she also had a Pantera poster on her wall). She obviously liked her “jam bands”, hippie festivals, and rock concerts. Having liked all the same things in the past, I can only conclude that she was into drugs and alcohol. The majority of people that go to hippie festivals have dabbled, will dabble or are doing drugs.
    My theory is that she met someone at the concert that offered her drugs and/or alcohol. She told her roommate to take her car keys and drive her car back to Harrisonburg aka JMU after the concert. Then her and her roommate would meet back up the next day either in Charlottesville (UVA) or Blacksburg (VT). Her friends let her go, with the notion that they would meet back up the next day.
    Then something happened.. Which I don’t care to speculate on.

  15. debi says:

    Sylar Post#190…that was great recall..now think how many more moms like you, could have the same experience…I am wondering if the LE have contacted the local high schools..both private and non-private..asking for help from parents that might of been outside waiting for their kids?

    I also believe that Morgan left her seats and went down to the front, with the rest of the crowd..recently, I went to a Dylan concert, it got so tight in the front I thought I was going to get sick from loss of air…I had to go out in the gated area to recover, but left my partner inside…we met up later,only because we had working cell phones…I had my purse with me and actually that was a mistake to take it in..it could of been stolen in a flash from me…and this could of happened to Morgan also.
    &&&&&&&&&&
    Has anyone stated what kind of back pack Morgan had,pleather, leather, nylon? All would have different strenghts of support, if someone was trying to steal her purse from her and dragged it from her back… Perhaps…she could of become disoriented and ran away….that could be a been the problem and to were, she might of ran..I still do not feel comfortable about the RVs and campers that I see all the time at these concerts..there are some really drunk and stoned people that hover around and in them….and so many of these drivers come from out of state and Canada. JMO

  16. Eli B. says:

    Wow, I’m seeing a lot of guesses here about things that were already covered. Read the Hook article. Morgan was spotted by many people outside, and even cursed at and kicked a guy. She went to that lot with 4 WHITE males in black clothing. There aren’t even 4 white males on the UVA team, and I’ll bet those 2 guys were wearing training gear and going back to their car in that student athlete lot and happened to be walking near the other group. Most likely the UVA guys saw her and the group or interacted with them, prob joking around with the drunk girl, but then they left before anything went down. Then when they heard the deal the next day, they came forward (most likely first to their coach to see how to proceed) with their info. I’m sure it was scary to them because they would be implicated. Something happened after they left, and Morgan then walked down the bridge. I initially didn’t think she was hitchhiking, but multiple sources say she was there with her thumb up in the air. She may have just been joking and had the same people she was just hanging out with pick her up. I doubt 4 young horny metal dudes would just let a flirty, hot chick walk off and get a ride with someone else. I hate to point fingers, but guys like chicks, and sometimes they like drunk chicks.

    Eli. You seem to be very certain that Morgan contributed to her own demise in many posts. Fair warning I am uncomfortable with that.
    B

    Addressing some of the last comments: Her purse was found too far from the road to have been thrown from the street. Where she was spotted last was about 400ft. from the purse evidence, not a few steps.

  17. debi says:

    Post#206…do not let the max three beers lead you to believe she could not get drunk…one thing these concerts do, is check the purse and backpacks when you come in..no water, or liquid allowed passed the gate…BUT…as a girl of the 60′s from SF knows..if you want to drink ..you fill up the plastic zip lock baggies with the hard liquor and the girl friend with the less breasts..gets the implants..sad to say, but two of my daughters thinks it is a great way to bypass the expensive beer at the concerts and enjoy and outdoor concert..So never under estimate the minds of clever teens.

  18. Observer says:

    B: When you ask “Do (I) think that individual returned her purse/home?”, I assume you are asking if I believe that, immedidately following the abduction, the abductor intentionally returned (emphasis on “intentionally returned”) Morgan’s purse/phone to the point where it was later found on Sunday, Oct. 18, the morning following the concert. This would allegedly be in an effort to distract LE later on in their investigation, e.g., to somehow tie the BB players in the Lannigan lot to Morgan’s disappearance–as has been suggested by some.

    I do not believe that Morgan’s assailant(s) intentionally “returned” her purse, cell phone, etc. to the Lannigan RV lot. Neither a seasoned nor random abductor is going to want to soon return to an area where his victim was previously seen or viewed earlier by potential witnesses. Likewise, an assailant is not going to spend any additional or unnecessary time at or near the point of abduction. An abductor wants to efficiently take and disable his victim and exit the immedidate vicinity as quickly as possible.

    Following is my initial theory regarding the location of the found purse and phone, as indicated in my original post, point #7, from another thread, Re: the purse and phone:

    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. [This is entirely plausible.] 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.

  19. Observer says:

    Correction: The first sentence in my last post should read “purse/phone”, rather than “purse/home”.

  20. Momof3 says:

    # 208
    Suz
    I am so agreeing with you right now. Everything in your post is spot on in my opinion.
    I myself start wondering if I should make a list of the facts to help keep things straight. Every time I just give up in frustration because there are few corroborated facts.

    Each witness to come forward seems to contradict a previous witness.
    And not one is 100 % POSITIVE they saw Morgan, just someone who fits her description. Which unfortunately a pretty, long- haired blonde, dressed in all black, with high heeled black boots with lots of eye makeup on, tends to fit the description of alot of concert goers not just Morgan.

    After reading the witness accounts from the link that Chad posted # 195, I am even more scared to think that some of these accounts could be true. One witness states the girl he saw was intoxicated and very aggressive grabbing at his arm and kicking him when he wouldn’t oblige. If this was Morgan, IMO she was way more than just a little drunk. This account would have taken place a mere 30 minutes after the call to her friend inside the arena.

  21. George says:

    The RV parking lot where she talked with the basketball players, and later where her purse was found, is somewhat off the normal pedestrian traffic flow. The lot is grassy and about three or four feet above the elevation of Copely Road in front of it. No one could pass through the lot to get somewhere else, they would have to come back down the gravel and dirt grade back to Copely Road. Morgan went through the regular lot, crossed busy Copely Road, and then went up a grade into a blind field parking lot. Why? I don’t think she could have been aware of who was in the lot without actually entering it.

    Did the basketball players leave before Morgan or was it the other way around? Did everyone in the group of basketball players she was talking with leave before she did? Is is possible that some left and some one or some persons in the basketball group (not necessarily players) left as she was on the bridge and offered her a ride?

  22. fish says:

    i think that the fall inside the arena could have led Morgan to sustain some sort of head injury.

    here is something that happened to my daughter and i a few years ago when she was only 12. a school mate fell on the ice and hit her head. i saw it happen. it was not a hard hit but none the less, a hit. i told the school prinicpal and you should have seen how fast she had me away from the bus doors and told me that she deemed “everything fine” and i am “not to worry about such an insignificant thing”. my own daughter was on that bus. i managed to walk around and away from the mass of parents and i got on that bus to say goodbye to my daughter and noticed that the other girl was sitting quietly and when i asked her if she was ok…she seemed a little mad! well, let me make this short. within the hour and half bus ride to the camp they were going to the girl had become sick (vomiting), headache, confused and agressive!!! she was 12. she was flighted out to a trauma center. concussion!!!!! many things happened within that morning. people said she could have been drinking or on drugs! what!?! people can be stupid. i’m in medicine and you would think that the prinicipal would have listened. nobody wanted to rock the boat. not even her mom. it was a big trip and a private school. the principal did not want it even talked about after the bus pulled away. i was disgusted.

    my reason for telling this is run it along with Morgan’s story. maybe just maybe, that fall caused her to become angry and kick that man, that is now coming out and telling his interaction with her. maybe she seemed drunk or on drugs to people. maybe she was confused, maybe she thought she found someone or someones! (uva bb players) to help her and her friends knew it was them. hence, the coverup or lack of information, whatever you want to call it.

    the minute she leaves to go to the bathroom alone. her “series of unfortunate events” start.

    the bathroom,the fall,the lockout,the attempts,the anger,the wandering,
    the phone & purse, the bb players,the walk over the bridge that was never completed, the disappearance!!

    if this is never solved it will hang over The University of Virginia’s Guilded Head!!

    i believe all need to step up for their friend. the friend that is still missing.

    sorry so long…just needed it out! i am pondering still……………what as happened to her?

  23. Befuddled says:

    I think purse and phone must have been left behind in the RV lot before she set off (if she did, and that is still a pretty big IF in my mind) hitchhiking. Defies belief that someone picking her up on Copley would double back to the RV lot given all the traffic still in the area, especially if she had already begun to get suspicious and start to cause a commotion.

  24. suz says:

    chad, thanks for that Hook article. It sure gives alot more info (though it’s hard to know what’s accurate. For instance, sounds like she would be with the group of white guys at the same time she is with the basketball players?)

  25. sweetpea says:

    I questioning if there was security that informed people that they would not be allowed back into the concert; hoping that maybe the security person would remember speaking to Morgan, if she was alone or was someone with her when she left the arena, and what condition she was in when she left.

    One thing we do know for sure is that the friends do know what condition Morgan was in when the saw her last.

  26. gotoutofpcity says:

    I don’t personally believe either of these sightings reported on thehook. First of all, the guy who claimed she kicked him and cursed at him said that his girlfriend told him to “call the police and report her”. That seems like a made up response, extra dramatic. No doubt that he was completely boggled by what happened, but they would more likely laugh it off, say “wow, what a weirdo!” and go on about their night (after all seeing a few strange characters at a concert like this is not exactly out of the blue). Another witness saw her walking with 4 guys and considered it conspicuous. What exactly is conspicuous about seeing a group of 20 year old kids walking around a college campus at 9 pm on a Saturday night? There would have been hundreds of people of this age walking around in all directions.

    There’s a famous experiment where a group of participants stand in a circle where they can see eachother and are asked to do counting exercises. During the counting, a full grown man in a GORILLA COSTUME walks right into the middle of the circle in plain sight, and no single participant notices it. Not that its anyone’s fault, but you can’t trust most eye-witness testimonies.

  27. carson says:

    New here. Have been really following this case as I have one daughter in college and another on the way next year. To the comment about the famous experiment, I have one of my own. It is simple but this just happened recently. My husband and myself were picking our son up from football. We watched him walk to the car (atleast 40 yards), commenting all the way about how cute we thought he was and get in. Talked to him all the way home. Next day, can’t find his jersey. Neither of us could remember if he had it walking to the car. Our own son. We even laughed about what bad witnesses we would be. Not very funny now. It was left in the locker room.

  28. Jane says:

    I wouldn’t have believed she was hitchhiking until I read the number of people who had seen Morgan. They each indicated how intoxicated/drugged/agitated she was. This completely changed my mind.

  29. suz says:

    momof3, it’s frustrating for sure. Even the little nuggets that you DO find, like in the Hook article, might not even apply. For instance, is that blonde causing the commotion at the gate Morgan, Dee (who looks like Morgan and was expelled from the arena), or some other blonde lookalike?

  30. Observer says:

    Befuddled (216): You indicated “Defies belief that someone picking her up on Copley would double back to the RV lot given all the traffic still in the area…”

    I am in complete agreement and do not believe that an assailant would double-back. What I proposed above was:

    1. Morgan left JPJ w/ purse.
    2. She walked through the UHall parking lot and into the Lannigan Field RV lot w/ purse.
    3. She proceeded 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.]
    4. The abductor encounters Morgan on Copeley as he is headed toward JPJ.
    5. The abductor stops and convinces Morgan to get into his vehicle. 6. The abductor drives directly to the Lannigan RV lot (only feet away off Copeley and on his left as he is headed to JPJ), disables her, and discards her purse out the vehicle window.
    7. The abductor leaves the area with Morgan.

  31. Momof3 says:

    #213

    Fish,
    Thank you for recounting your experience. I have also wondered if Morgan may have sustained a concussion.

    Regarding the witness statements from the site that Chad posted,in the comments section a poster provided a link to an article about the woman who early on was mistakenly ided as Morgan it is very interesting. It seems most people believe, a number of the witnesses that say they saw Morgan actually saw Dee Spolarics. She went to the concert with her boyfriend and 3 other males. Here is the link:

    http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/66764102.html

  32. chad says:

    Momof3 and Suz,

    I wanted to share the article, because it does once again take the case and the facts in another direction. It is confusing, and there is really no way to be sure what these witnesses are saying is true. Some opinions have been that this could have been “Dee” the girl that was dressed very similar to Margan that kicked the witness. Who knows! However, that being said, even with this new released old witness accounts, it still doesn’t change the fact that Morgan is still missing.

    Also, on FMDH official site, the administrators have posted many photos of Morgan with brown hair, short, long, and different styles.
    Unfortunately, this case has definitely turned a different direction.
    we are now looking for a brown haired girl with shorter hair.

    Yep, nicely done Chad. We would be looking for a brunette looking like Morgan, if we were looking for a brunette looking like Morgan instead of “other”.
    B

    I understand now why now, they released the information, and Blink is right to say that it is all tactical.
    Perhaps, and justifiably so, the public does NOT need to know everything. I totally get this now.
    I believe LE is working in the right direction. It just took me a while to figure it out.

  33. wpgmouse says:

    #217 gotoutofpcity

    a twist in the famous experiment:

    If the full grown man in the Gorilla costume actually kicked one of the participants, the other participants would likely get distracted from their counting exercises and focus their attention on the Gorilla and the reacting, kicked participant.

    If a full grown man gets kicked by a young, slim, very pretty 5’6″ blonde, whose blonde hair and face is all the more striking because she is dressed in black, and there are no witnesses to corroborate his version of events, then something is wrong, and IMO goes beyond just being weird. And if there were witnesses, and the man did not feel humiliated, angry or “bugged about it”, then why call his girlfriend? What motivated him to make that call?

    This man wasn’t just an eye-witness. He placed himself having physical contact with Morgan.

  34. rita says:

    #213-fish, your description of your child’s injured schoolmate parallels questions I’ve considered about possible disorientation Morgan could have experienced following a fall. Thank you for sharing your observations. As for eyewitness accounts, as several have noted, although expressed sincerely the account may lack accuracy.

  35. Word Girl says:

    Hey, Mouse. I think I missed a beat. Are you saying that we have a sighting/outcry witness who said a woman matching Morgan’s description kicked and cursed him, which caused him to call his girlfriend for advice?

    Your implication is that a normal man would feel something, but wouldn’t call for advice. Unless that man is covering for his actual criminal contact with the victim–is that what you’re saying?

    I dunno. There are lots of softer men around who like to discuss and vent their experiences.
    This is a change from the 1950′s, but I see it quite a bit. It’s possible that this happened.

    ~~Carson, welcome (if I may say so, as newbie myself) and thank you for your story about watching your son walk to the car…. This is very, very good. As humans, as parents, we can be clouded in our view of actual events so much that we don’t know the details.

    My new motto is : “be clear about your intentions.” I want and wish for all of us to have experiences on multiple levels. We can be in the present realm, while keeping a bird’s eye view, while having our crap-detector on and having our life-source protection engaged. (Excuse Word Girl’s sentence structure.)

    After all, we do operate on many levels–so why not be conscious of them?

    I think that “Gift of Fear” by Gavin deBecker is going to be on many Christmas lists.

    lol, but with pride. That book helped me understand things as a young woman that are invaluable today. I dont think it negates the fact that some are born with that “voice”, and others either are not, or for whatever reason it does not take hold. But it is universal in that those that already have it are validated and learn how to hone, and the latter learn to pay attention hopefully. I later realized it is also tied to critical thinking, or the Blink phenom. Thus the name.

    Important to note, sometimes, regardless of how vigilant and careful we are, some fall to predators by their design.

  36. wpgmouse says:

    #217 gotoutofpcity

    Sorry, just to add…
    We don’t know if he actually made a call to a girlfriend, or if he did, what time in relation to this kicking incident. For all we know, he might have made a call in attempt to “explain” any visible injuries he may have “received” from any “physical altercation” with a pretty, young, seemingly uncooperative blonde.

  37. debi says:

    Blink, “by their design”? I just hate it when you end your comment with a negative thought of A, predator! Do you mean the Predators design..or Karma? Gawd, my heart just wants this child to be found!

    Good power reading is, “The Four Agreements”.

  38. gotoutofpcity says:

    #219… the point of that experiment is to promote the idea that no eye-witness testimony can be relied upon unless reinforced by other objective evidence… i’m not being negative just realistic, his story can not be corroborated and frankly i don’t think its even relevant to her disappearance

    the important part of that experiment is afterward the participants were extremely adamant that there was no way a man in a gorilla suit walked into their circle, they did not believe it until shown videotape evidence… so its not always about what you swear you saw, but what you swear you DIDN’T see, that is not true

  39. wpgmouse says:

    Word Girl

    This was news to me, too, until I read comments today on the previous thread (starting at #133), read the story on the link below, and read #217′s post on this thread.

    http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/15/concerned-witnesses-before-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/

  40. chad says:

    All,

    Confusion is of the essence…..let’s all think about this for a moment. Are we confused because of the events and most recent press releases? YES, I would say we are.
    Is this confusion by design, no leads, no clues, no suspects……..or perhaps in other words, is this “logic” to create confusion? I believe it is.
    I believe LE is focusing on avenues, other than what they have served us publicly. Read between the lines folks.
    Again, ALL tactical. This is No betrayal to us, but only loyalty to Morgan.
    Let’s bring Morgan home!!

  41. peggyday says:

    Maybe she took salvia?

    Both JMU and VT have had problems with the drug.

  42. peggyday says:

    #10-

    If her car was in the lot then why would she ever need to find a alternate ride home? Or hitchhike for that matter? IMO, the whole car thing is beyond strange.

    And, even if she was wasted common sense says she would go to her own car which her friends ‘claim’ was in the parking lot that night….this just doesn’t make sense!

    If it were me and I was locked out of a concert 2 hours from home I’d definitely want access to my car even if I had to break into it, I wouldn’t care about a broken window at that point.

    Do you know where her car was allegedly parked while at the concert? Specifically where it was in relation to the RV parking lot?

    Something about her friends just isn’t sitting well with me…

    The location of her car in the lot has not been released.
    B

  43. wpgmouse says:

    gotoutofpcity

    I understand the objective of the experiment.

    I hypothetically altered the action to sequence a different set of reaction, with the alleged witness in mind. He claims to have focused, direct interaction with Morgan (or someone who fits the description of) unlike the original participants of the original experiment who had no direct interaction with the man in the Gorilla suit.

    (Just so there is no confusion, my comments were #229.)

  44. Eli B. says:

    #241 = Salvia? No. I’ve taken it before. The effects only last 15-20 minutes if that, and you can’t function very well other than sitting in a seat and zoning out. I doubt you could have talked to many of the witnesses except to just babble. Don’t buy into the anti-drug hysteria and hype, unless you are driving a car, it’s fairly harmless. VT and JMU aren’t having ‘problems’ with the drug, they are having problems with certain people who make stupid decisions, just like with alcohol, or even an Ambien. Lets not start the paranoid rumor mill just because some kids can’t control themselves.

  45. cmaissol says:

    Salvia is smoked like marijuana,considered to be a legal herbal sustitute.

    Has anyone checked out the Metallica website forum? There are 2 threads regarding the Charlottesville show. One poster mentioned the arena smelled like weed – unusual to get away with that in a public place these days,especially in Virginia. Another mentioned having problems with security forcing him outside before his wife returned from the restroom. Much concern expressed for her and most voice opinions similar to the ones on this board.

    I do hope that the recent press from LE is tactical- I would hate to think UVA had gone “VanDerSlooting”.

  46. susanm says:

    the hook article is a very nice attempt to reconcile witness accounts with evidence or fact but still leaves room for confusion,one thing does stick out like a sore thumb it appears in the article,as in the same sentence ,same paragraph,same context, and only mention in the article ,that the bb players are the source of the thumb on the highway story,now i’d say if thats the only source ,that’s oversell .

    Pun intended? I need to re-read that, I was stuck on the “kickee”
    B

  47. Al Miller says:

    The guy who said she kicked him gives me the creeps. I agree that he may have had physical evidence of her on him and is trying to cover. Also, I thought it was an interesting comment on the Hook that we don’t know the “state” of the BB players as far as sobriety goes, but the one person who DOES know is missing… Would yhey lose scholarships for drinking during season or underage?

  48. Momof3 says:

    # 232
    Chad,
    I agree with your analysis. Could you post a link to the official site you made reference to in your comment? I have not seen these pictures. TIA

    P.s Welcome Back

  49. Al Miller says:

    Regarding the above post #232 I think…are the LE posting pics of Morgan with dark hair, etc., because she may be a runaway trying to alter her appearance as a disguise? Sorry if I’m being dense.

  50. fish says:

    just another thought this morning…

    Morgan fell and hit her head, a female security officer thought that she was intoxicated or on drugs and “politely” askes her to leave the arena. (i do not know the policy of JPJA and how they ask a concert goer to leave?). what if between the fall, being upset about that and now an altercation between a female security officer and herself…she is now outside and the snowball begins to roll!!! let’s face it, Morgan is a beautiful girl, that officer knows where she put her out. hence, Morgan is mad real mad and her head hurts!
    Females can be absolutely awful to each other. jealousy, meaness and just plain rageful, at times. i am not saying even if i know it was a female security officer. i am trying to figure out why the wandering and the reports of confusion and madness. maybe she was mad at the female officer. a girl thing!
    she then trys different doors, no luck. she walks across parking lots. she “takes” a phone call from sarah and tells her she will get a ride home with a UVA basketball player. sarah is ok with that, thus the smirk on her face, it’s an UVA basketball player! wow! didn’t sarah say in her interview on first day of search something to the effect…”if we knew that this would have happened…we wouldn’t have done it” what is “IT”? i was there watching that! the player or players now have a beautiful girl with them. what do they do??????? the phone goes dead and dare i say Morgan. i apologize for this thought. i do not want to believe it! do the player or players know more…i think so! what do they do from this point on. dare i say have his way or their way with her and then remember, the fall! her head gets worse…does she get sick and they panick and toss her out?!?! this abduction and then the subsquent hours could have lasted hours! throughout the night into the early a.m. thus the sightings.
    i cannot believe that in my “theory of unfortunate events” bam, Morgan meets up with a registered or non-registered sex offender. that may be a strench even for me.
    i am going to say that i had lost faith in the VSP but i am beginning to gain my faith back. that they know more and please let us all have the peace we all want for Morgan and her family. let it be that they have her locked up somewhere or let us know where she is! send something, tell someone, shout it out in a nightmare that i know he or they must have. clear your concience.
    i believe that there is a working theory with many facts thrown in. we all just need to stay on this one to have an outcome of peace. i for one, know that i will hand out as many flyers as possible.
    and yes, blink, i do hold UVA and their arena responsible. i know that we and Morgan are all adults but how she got outside has always bothered me. Why, Why, Why???

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