Morgan Harrington Case: State Police Say She Was Hitchhiking
Charlottesville, VA– In the latest release from Corrine Geller, spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, it has been confirmed that the VSP have independent accounts of Morgan Harrington hitchhiking on the Copley Bridge.
Also in the latest release, is a picture of the Swarovski necklace she was wearing.
Virginia State Police are also asking if anyone loaned their cell phone to Morgan that evening.
“Anyone who might remember seeing a vehicle randomly stopped in the roadway on Copeley Road bridge that night is also asked to contact investigators,” the release said. “Investigators are also hoping to hear from anyone who might have loaned their cell phone to a young woman fitting Miss Harrington’s description to make a call that night.
“We don’t have any evidence she made other calls,” Geller says, “but we’d like to know.”
Also confirmed, as reported exclusively on blinkoncrime.com; The last people to interact with Morgan Harrington were players from the UVA Men’s basketball team.
According to several sources, members of UVA’s men’s basketball team were among the last to see Harrington in the grassy, tree-shrouded parking area. Emails sent to numerous team members were forwarded to UVA spokesperson Carol Wood, who directed the inquiry to State Police, but Geller declines comment on the identity of any witnesses.
“We leave it to them whether they want to speak publicly,” she says.
The Full News Release From VSP:
STATE AND LOCAL POLICE STILL SEEK PUBLIC’S AID IN LOCATING MORGAN HARRINGTON
RICHMOND – As the search and investigative efforts continue for missing college student Morgan Harrington, state and local investigators are now able to release additional details concerning the night of her disappearance. Miss Harrington disappeared Oct. 17, 2009, during a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena on the University of Virginia (UVA) campus in Charlottesville, Va.
During the course of the investigation, police have been able to establish a timeline of Miss Harrington’s movements once she ended up outside of the arena at approximately 8:30 p.m. After talking to her friends on her cell phone, she then walked through the parking lot of University Hall and was also seen in the Lannigan Field athlete parking lot, which is also used for RV parking. At around 9:30 p.m., she was seen walking on the Copeley Road bridge near Ivy Road.
Based on independent witness accounts, investigators are confident that Miss Harrington was hitchhiking for a ride while on the Copeley Road bridge. If anyone recalls seeing a young woman hitchhiking that night on or near the Copeley Road bridge, then they are asked to please contact police by phone or email. Anyone who might remember seeing a vehicle randomly stopped in the roadway on Copeley Road bridge that night is also asked to contact investigators. Investigators are also hoping to hear from anyone who might have loaned their cell phone to a young woman fitting Miss Harrington’s description to make a call that night.
In addition to Miss Harrington’s black T-shirt with the word “Pantera” spelled out in tan letters, black mini-skirt, black tights, and knee-high black boots, she was wearing a distinctive necklace. It is a Swarovski Crystal necklace made up of large crystal chain links. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 120 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.
The search and investigation are still being actively pursued by Virginia State Police, University of Virginia Police, Charlottesville Police, Albemarle County Police and the FBI. The public has generated close to 400 leads in the case. Anyone can call the Virginia State Police Tip Line at (434) 352-3467 or email State Police at bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov. UVA Police can be reached at (434) 924-7166. Anonymous tips are welcome.
Also accepting tips is the Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000. A reward of $150,041 is available for information that leads to the location and recovery of Miss Harrington.
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#399 kayla — Thanks for posting this because I read this a few days ago and was livid…
In general, if I saw a young girl that was behind me and had “fresh wounds” to her face, and I got the “willies”, and thought “she was trying to reach out”, or “trying to make herself noticeable” “to anyone who would listen or notice her”….. I sure the heck would not “not think anything of it until later that day on the way home”!!!!!
#400 PamTX – I know! When I read it I was amazed that she hadn’t come forth and said something on the message boards until a week! later, or said that she reported it to LE. Time is essential in this case.
Watchtower,
I think she was definitely there.
She engaged in a ten minute conversation with the basketball players around 9:00, she is known to have tried to re enter the arena.
I agree that the friends certainly know more, but not that she never even made it inside. She was seen borrowing someone’s phone. Who did she call???? This is critical. Who lent Morgan their phone that night? That person’s phone could hold the answer.
I read the FB writings of NK and some other characters, and immediately drew the conclusion that he was also someone else on FB. Another regular male poster with way too much time on his hands.
There is another exchange between two MySpace/FB posters that was more unsettling to me. The one by the guy who works as a security, door person at JPJ and was there that night. Does anyone else know the one I mean? I know that others on FB observed it early on.
I do, and I agree with you.
B
I know this will be unpopular, but… For that very reason – that our college aged kids are so open and vulnerable (which is also, imo, what makes that a beautiful and invaluable time) – I feel like a safety course should be mandatory Orientation 101 for freshmen. Geez, any of these things that have happened could so easily have happened to me in school. I was wiiiiide open and full of love and acceptance. But no one ever got murdered while I was at VT. It was safe to be stupid. I can’t even recount all the stories in which I was the carefree chick…
And now I see my sister, who is a freshman [and is much wiser than i was] nonetheless walking across campus alone at midnight. I’m ready to buy her a pistola and put her in the hunter safety course. And she has this kinda wry response to it, like “oh sure, whatever you need. but wouldja stop yer worrying.”
I’m finished with these bastards taking advantage of kids. Finished. What happened to Morgan could have happened to me – or any of my friends – and I think that’s part of what gives this case such strong appeal. I know it could have easily been me or someone I know. Anyway, seriously. Finished with these guys. Want them to stumble on the wrong person. And I want the kids to know how to be the wrong person.
Blink,
The posting below was on the help find Morgan site…I have thought from the beginning Morgan was lured from the concert by someone she knows. When I saw the search videocast I was bothered by the father (Police officer) that came out from Roanoke to search. He talked of his daughters growing up with Morgan. I just got an icky sense from him.
When I heard the incident of Morgan possibly putting her arms around a guy and saying “let’s go” my first thought she was trying to get away from the other person who held some power (family friend? officer?,someone who has influenced himself in her life since she was a vulnerable 7 year old?). When the man the supposed Morgan put her arms through didn’t follow along–I suggest the kick might have been like a nudging kick “follow along with this”. A thought…
To take this a step further it would be interesting to see if the girl shot with her VA Tech boyfriend may have mutual family friend…
Could the below email have come from a daughter of an obsessive father–an indirect way to encourage people to look at the possibility?
http://www.findmorgan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1028
bkangus
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1
maybe
maybe it was someone that knows the family. A little story; there is this beautiful 17 yr old girl there is this older family acquaitance that got obsessed with this 17 yr old. the parents had no idea, he was very well respected and so was his wife (works for carilion). 2 yrs later it finally comes out he has been seeing this young girl and the tales he tells to make this happen and ole is he is a slick one. He would stand and talk to the parents and they never had a clue. he figured out her work schedule and would try to stop her on the road ( one time we was driving her vehicle and he was stopped in road he started looking in his rearview mirror like he was waitin on someone that was following him if we had only know he was just doing that because it was us and not her), he called her cell phone and would let it ring a couple times so it wouldnt show up on his or her cell phone bill, he called from payphones, his work number,his house, his kids cell phones(erased numbers after calls) and private numbers not to draw attention and he would show up places she was with her friends and they never suspected ;she never told them and why she NEVER told a single person is beyond the parents. oh the parents would see him talking to her but never thought anything about it, he had know her since she was 7 yrs old and they never had any reason not to trust him he was well known. If this had not have happen to our family i would never even imagined that our daughter would not have told anyone, her friends DIDNT KNOW, no one ever suspected anything and it made us sick; we have went over evrything a 100 times to figure out how we missed these things and why she never told anyone.
sorry this is long: I guess what im trying to say is the parents need to go over her cell phone bills and look at numbers they know( co-workers,family friends) and say now why would they be calling DO NOT TRUST ANYONE dont assume its to talk to the parents and it probally won’t be a lot, check friends cell phone bills for that night she could have used it and then erased the number. The friends can think of anybody older that would kinda just be around morgan for really no good reason would just kinda be there or just show up some where and they never thought anything about it. It sounds like someone she knew and maybe/maybe not was expecting to meet (kisses the friends to go to bathroom i dont think so) the pocketbook strap could have been broke when she fell inside, if she was as drunk as everybody says was she wouldn’t have been able to call friends on phone or text, as far as the hitchhiking how many people have been walking to meet someone and playing around stuck there thumb out when they saw them, i have. If it was someone older, married and he didnt want the parents and the community to know he was a freak he would have snuck around and if something went wrong do you really think he is going to come forward and say something no he is probally going to drop pocketbook in lot and do something with her and wait; if he knows the family they probally wouldnt even suspect him and he can get all the info to stay one step ahead
OUR FAMILY PRAYS THEY FIND MORGAN AND SHE IS SAFE
I know who most of you are talking about but cannot remember his real name, so I cannot go back and check him out. I was lurking on FB that day he posted and check his profile (everyone made a big deal about him being so creepy)
His pic really creeped me out.
I wouldn’t doubt at all that he has been on this site too.
Creepy!
Blink, Do you have access to IP addresses?
I’m trying hard to follow. In process of moving, packing and trying hard to read all posts. Who is Nemire Kloppy? I tried to look up elsewhere and can’t.
Coming. Part 2
B
#398
Unless it was found without a battery and her parents or LE put a battery in to check her calls.
But note that anyone who called her while the battery was out would not register in the phone.
(No battery= no record of calls)
Man, just read the post where the Harringtons delivered Morgan’s dental records to the St. Police, and I thought my heart couldn’t be broken anymore over this awful situation. I wish I had great insight as to what happened to Morgan, but I don’t know. What I do know is this, Morgan was studying to be a teacher, and she has taught us all so much in the past month. She taught us to care so much for total strangers. She taught we as parents to put a hand on our children, irrespective of their age, and say listen, this is real world, real time, exercise caution, stay together, do not leave any member of your group. She has reminded us that victims are just that: Victims ! How dare anyone anywhere blame Morgan for what happened to her, even if she were hitchhiking, drinking, drugging, wearing a mini skirt, whomever is responsible for escalating this situation to the next level is responsible, not Morgan. She has taught us that irrespective of our station in life, tragedy comes knocking. I think the Harringtons have been thrust into the public, to plead with the public to help them find their daughter, when, as Gil said, she’d rather go upstairs and hide under the covers. They’ve had to endure, in their greatest heartache, having to hear their daughter referred to as being stoned or drunk or every other smear. If nothing else, Morgan has taught us to be compassionate. I pray for this girl and her family, and yes, her friends, whom I think have been instructed not to speak to the media, every single day. My kid can drive me crazy over the mundane things of life, like leaving a wet towel on the bathroom floor, and Morgan continues to teach me to be thankful he is here to drive me crazy, and not to take one second of it for granted. I continue to hold my little 9:30 PM vigil, praying strength for this family, including Morgan’s now extended family, which of course now includes Auntie Blink and Crew, that answers come very quickly and Morgan returned quickly and that justice is swift and stern. I ask you all to join me in that effort. Sky.
To annieb #396/7: My apologies for the error, re: Florida State University v. the University of Florida.
lilbugs #403 – Agree about students needing a safety course. I believe something like that may be offered at first year orientation at UVa. I know that way back in the 70′s when I went to William & Mary, we all had a safety course as freshmen. To this day, I will carry my keys with the ends pointed out between my fingers if I find myself in an area that makes be uncomfortable. I also will walk in the middle of the street away from parked cars if there aren’t many other people around & no traffic. We were taught to do this in case someone is hiding between parked cars. I won’t go into details, but this came in handy when I was younger and realized I was being followed as I walked to my car one night.
I’ve emailed my daughter to ask her if orientation covers safety, and if so, how much. She works in Student Affairs/Orientation at a university, and has run freshman orientation at three colleges in 08 and 09. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear back.
UVa offers safety orientation
http://www.virginia.edu/orientation/fallorientation/index.html
Near the bottom, you’ll see “Important Safety Information Sessions”.
I have a feeling most colleges will offer this.
“From #406″
“#398
Unless it was found without a battery and her parents or LE put a battery in to check her calls.
But note that anyone who called her while the battery was out would not register in the phone.
(No battery= no record of calls)”
But even if the phone doesn’t have a battery it would still show up on your bill or cell phone company’s log as incomin call wouldn’t it??
Here’s what I was told from my daughter who works in student affairs/orientation – “They would have to call the respective schools to ask about Safety on campus and if there is an educational session at Orientation specifically on safety. At xxxxxxxxxx, we have sessions on the second day of orientation. Safety at xxxxx is one of the sessions they can choose to go to. We also talk about Safety in the Parents meetings and the Student’s meetings. Yes – it is covered, as it is I believe at most schools. There is NOT a policy for what every school is supposed to cover at Orientation… so they would have to contact that school specifically.
”
I left the name out of the school, but it’s a HUGE university. We had this at both universities my kids went/go to, and the students didn’t show much interest – just the parents. They think they are invincible. Sad….
Hey, CG, thanks for following up on that. Interesting.
I do remember some vague discussions about safety, but nothing that really had an impact. It’s true. A false sense of security isn’t a pair of pants you can change.
Anyway, thanks for checking in on that! Bows to you.
The Dental records are required. Suzanne’s Law (a huge important step) forced LOCAL officials to input missing persons under the age of 21. For way too long, police would not take the report because the missing person was legally an adult. Valuable time was lost. There has been great strides made in police being REQUIRED to take reports and those reports can’t be buried, they have to be fed into the National Crime database. It is one of the ways perps cannot use jurisdictional lines to their advantage.
I think the next step may be to LEGALLY PREVENT COLLEGE CAMPUS POLICE TO LEAD any missing person case.
I don’t think it is fair to pick on Campus PD in particular. While I absolutely believe there is a conflict when it relates to issues on campus, I don’t think the shortfalls in investigating mp cases are mutually exclusive to matriculating bodies. I support a common mp protocol.
B
What is the relationship between creapy scout guy and any of the basketball player? Did at anytime he help any of them? Resulting in the players covering?
Blink, please enlighten me as to what a “common mp protocol” is and how Morgan’s case fits. Might I suggest a book Taylor Behl’s mom wrote, “Love you More-The Taylor Behl story”; I actually lived moment by moment her disappearance, set up the first internet “thread” and recall all too well the problems involving VCU Campus Police for that particular case. (of course it was not the first missing student case I followed!)
I don’t think campus police are BAD by and large. And I am by no means suggesting campus police should not ASSIST when a person goes missing. BUT LEAD. NO. IN every missing person case TIME IS KEY. There is no time for egos or territorial marking. We live in a high tech world and those leading any missing person case should have expert training and resources and be public officials, not contract workers with limited training, the least resources, and an immediate conflict of interest. I mentioned earlier on the HOOK’s site about my concerns about how or if sexual offenders were cleared in this case. That would involve the Sheriff’s department right?
Consider the resources deployment contrasts between Yale and UVA just this year. There are stark contrasts to how LE approached the case and engaged the public. Sure one could argue, Annie was a member of her campus and Morgan was not. Should it affect the deployment of resources? YES. I would offer first – when one is a guest, the degree of protection should be raised shouldn’t it? I believe Morgan’s NON ATTACHMENT to UVA only heightened the need for NON UVA CAMPUS POLICE to LEAD. And while it shouldn’t affect how a missing person case is worked, I am a Va raised gal and wondered why UVA POLICE felt compelled to word the initial missing person information to immediately distinguish Morgan as a NON UVA student. Remember in that release they also put her last known location ‘NEAR JPJ”, not “AT JPJ” – yet neglected to mention the concert. I have cut and pasted the release and here is the link.
http://www.virginia.edu/uvapolice/missing.html
“The University of Virginia Police Department is seeking information that would help locate a missing person. Morgan Dana Harrington, a 20 year old student from Virginia Tech, was last seen on October 17, 2009 near the John Paul Jones Arena.
Morgan was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with the tan letters that spelled “Pantera” across the front, a black mini skirt with black tights and knee high black boots. She has long blond hair and blue eyes. Morgan is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 120 lbs.
If you have seen Morgan Dana Harrington or have knowledge of her whereabouts contact the University of Virginia Police Department at 434-924-7166.”
I personally believe that Morgan’s immediate description and movements were far more important than what school she attended. Considering her parents were telling the school Morgan was there attending a concert… What school Morgan attended could have easily been put further down in the body of that release. One could argue with the rivalry between the schools the word choice was bad for a second reason too, from a public perception and engagement perspective. I have been scratching my head wondering if the second reason alone could explain WHY Morgan’s disappearance has/has not been handled in and around Charlottesville by some in what I view a very counterproductive and even negative manner.
I don’t know if it was intentionally sloppy police work – let’s see the purse, the lack of surveillance footage, the specifics involving her “separation” from her group, how and when she was injured, … need I go on. No matter what the explanation for these oddities and I would say the LACK of COMMON SENSE and POLICE’s NORMAL HANDLING, it can’t bring back time, can it?
SO we need to FIX THIS. I am of the opinion the fix seems to be NOT TO ALLOW CAMPUS POLICE TO LEAD such a case.
I fully can and have appreciated the way LE must hold back some information from the public on every case. BUT I also understand the critical need to get specific info out there and how important the wording is. Considering this case involved multi-juridictional lines from moment one (and police HAD her purse before the missing person report was lodged), it has made ZERO sense to me for this particular CAMPUS SECURITY FORCE to LEAD or SHARE THE LEAD on THIS INVESTIGATION.
What was even more baffling was watching that first news conference where Lt. Rader, self id’d as a LEAD investigator with the VSP office near Charlottesville. Personally I don’t care where his office is. I care more how many successful missing person cases he has cleared, if he is C.A.R.T. trained, and if there is anyone more qualified/experienced in VA. Considering how UVA is a high profile school, premium school in VA and the region, then shouldn’t Morgan’s case have been handed over to the best the state has? However, instead we first watched Lt. Rader on camera who didnt seem to even know the specifics and had to turn and yield to the campus police rep, who was not even the TOP OFFICIAL with that FORCE! That was a FIRST for me. I’ve NEVER seen a campus related disappearance and NOT seen the CAMPUS POLICE CHIEF front and center. In fact, UVA officials have refused to take any questions on camera havent they? My experience, and I have to say I only have two decades of experience, the initial press conference for missing students usually happens within hours across local tv. Getting word out via the media outlets is getting more and more efficient. And during the normal conference the community clearly sees a TASK FORCE and the community is told who is doing what and there is a variety of contact information provided. ome forces even have banners now that drape the podiums with contact info them. Not here. Not with Morgan’s case. And it happened in Charlottesville VA, a hop,skip, and jump from DC, Quantico, and Langley! The tools and expertise were there imo. PEOPLE have to get this. WHOEVER IS IN THE LEAD CONTROLS. The FBI can’t step in just because they want to help or are close by or know how to help. And even when asked they can only do what the lead allows. The same applies to NASA and even professional search companies. Many of whom are retired LE.
Blink, take some time and look at the inconsistencies in how AMBER Alerts work across our country, look at how missing person cases are handled across even one state, and then read HR3695′s text. It helps to show why we have unidentified bodies from sea to shining sea and missing people reports with varied degrees of information scattered within states. Remember the 18 yr old from Washington state found recently in NYC? Washington State worked for years and even garned some awards and their improvements were used as models in how to handle missing person cases, yet it was this year and just a few months ago it took a CNN viewer to contact NYC police to help resolve a missing 18 yr old case out of Washington State.
COMMON MP protocol – WOW. I want to know what that is!
******************************
V- I am confused. You actually agreed with my position so I am not at all certain what your asking me.
This was my post response, I am guessing your making reference to:
I don’t think it is fair to pick on Campus PD in particular. While I absolutely believe there is a conflict when it relates to issues on campus, I don’t think the shortfalls in investigating mp cases are mutually exclusive to matriculating bodies. I support a common mp protocol.
B
*****************************
mp stands for missing persons. I am suggesting that a common missing persons protocol needs to be established as a standard for this very reason. Regardless, if someone goes missing from an area that cuts a paycheck to the investigator, and there is potential for backlash, or liability, as a precaution to the integrity of the investigation it should not be “lead” by them. This has no bearing on how good they are or not. It protects the investigators and the investigation, imo.
B
Rats. That last line should have read = MP protocol. Clearly blink, you hit a nerve!
Who Is Morgan Harrington?
I just found this long interview with Morgan’s parents, and thought maybe some haven’t seen it.
Blink – Do we know if Morgan worked in some way in the hospital? I thought her mother said it, while talking about the way she dressed on different occasions.
http://www.wtvr.com/news/wtvr-morgan-harrington-story,0,1260432.story
The UVa Police Dept is a fully functioning police department, and the size is comparable to the Charlottesville City Police Department. Any faults or criticisms would be similar to what you would see related to any other PDs that size – in other words, I’m not saying they’re perfect, but they’re good. It was one of their officers who solved the case of a serial rapist in the community a couple of years ago.
Been reading and catching up — have there been any reports of people — men, specifically — impersonating/posing as police officers in the Charlottesville area prior to Morgan’s disappearance ? The reason I ask, I can’t recall more specifically than “last year” in the Chesterfield area, which is an immediate suburb to Richmond to the south, there was a guy who went to a police officer supply store and bought a uniform and a “blue light” which can be stuck on the dash board or on the roof of a car, and he was pulling over women — I “think” he may have assaulted at least one victim — then in the past two weeks, another man in the City of Richmond was arrested for posing as a police officer and assaulting a female victim. His sister read some info on his computer and turned him in. Any info as to whether someone may have been posing as compus/city police, maybe either was going to “arrest” Morgan for being drunk in public, or was going to give her a ride, earning her trust ???
AOL is my isp and there was a news blurb when I signed on that they had found a woman missing 12 years — at first I thought it was Morgan. Maybe it’s an omen that she, too, will be found soon —
And about that Kloppy guy — if you google “Kloppy” one definition in particular is way beyond creepy — which leads me to question why would someone who is supposedly an athletic talent scout, choose such a horrible screen name ? Mine is “Skyler” simply because I love to look at the sky, I have all of my life — there’s nothing more beautiful than the blue skies of Va. on a clear day –
But if I may pose a question to the collective minds of the contributors to this forum — if you could know one truth about what occurred, other than the obvious outcome of where is Morgan, what would it be — and why — for me, it would be, once she realized she could not re-enter the venue, WHY did she walk away from the arena ?
That to me is the most baffling — even if she couldn’t get back in, you could clearly still hear the music from outside the arena, she could have gone to the Econo Lodge, they have a small lobby area, or the little restaurant right beside it, the Panda Palace — or — even if she couldn’t get back THRU the metal detectors at the door, she may have been able to stand in the corridor area between the exterior door and where you walk in and have your ticket scanned — she wouldn’t have seen the band, but clearly could have stayed out of the weather and heard the concert, then met up with her companions afterward —
oh — to answer one of the bizarre questions of why no pix of Morgan inside — my son and I over the weekend were looking at some pix another friend took during the concert — my son & the kid he went with were on the floor directly in front of the stage, but over to the right — his friend was on the first level above floor level — I read the texts they were sending during the concert (I’m a “Dr. Phil theory of raising children” mom — I pay the cell bill, it’s in my name, I get to read the texts whenever I want; if there’s something you don’t want me to read, don’t text it, period — but apparently they were trying to find each other, so their texts were innocent “no look up, I see you, I’m waving” — anyway, my son, nor his friend that went w/ him, were not in a single one of the many many shots — the other kid had been aiming at the stage, which was elevated — and the band members, not the crowd –
Candles Burning, and Prayers lifted around the World for you Morgan!
2..4..1
Cautionary note to all: Following is my longest post to date; please prepare your reading glasses accordingly. [My intent is not to hijack; rather, it is to provide clarification on several points in question that may be helpful to some readers.]
To Veracity: I reviewed your earlier, related (#370) post and have attempted to respond here, as well.
V, in #370 you indicate:
1. “UVA police in charge for one minute bothers me! Conflict.”
There is no implied conflict in UVAPD investigating a crime that, by all appearances, initially occurred on the UVA Grounds; that is, MH is believed to have arrived at the JPJ arena and was last seen on/around various UVA properties to include UHall, the Lannigan RV lot, etc, Inasmuch as those areas fall within the purview and jurisdiction of the UVAPD—that is, the UVA Grounds–they are the appropriate agency to initiate the investigation and invite to participate any agencies that they feel might be able to assist or further the case.
2. “What is UVA’s policy/protocol for missing person?”
To the best of my knowledge, UVA does not have a “policy” per se for MP reports. What protocol may be in place, however, would be most appropriately addressed by the UVAPD directly. [“Protocol” and “policy” are separate and distinct.]
3. “Why was no TASK force immediately formed? Morgan’s case had jurisdictional issues from moment one, didn’t it? Yet it was led by UVA police with VSP assisting and a very tiny net was cast the first 48-72 hours, wasn’t it?”
I’d be resmiss to speak for any LE agency involved in this case but would suggest that no task force was immediately formed because the nature of MH’s disappearance was not clear from the onset of the MP report. That is, it was not clear (and to some—but not in LE–is still not clear) if MH left voluntarily with no crime committed. Given that, there was no basis upon which to establish immediately a task force. There was likewise no basis upon which to cast a larger net within the first 48 hrs. Witness one of VSP’s earliest statements: “We have a purse, we have a cell phone, and we have a missing young woman.”
Please note an important distinction: When a young child goes missing, an Amber Alert is issued and an extensive ground search occurs almost immediately. This is both appropriate and prudent inasmuch as there is no assumption that the child simply “walked away from their life”. In contrast, adults—including younger adults—may for various and sundry reasons decide to walk away. There is no inherent crime in that. Absent evidence that a crime has been perpetrated, LE must at least consider this possibility—even if only initially–when a MP report involves someone other than a young child. This clearly does not preclude LE from accepting and/or filing a missing person’s report for an adult.
4. “Who’s leading now?”
VSP, inasmuch as it is believed that MH is no longer on the Grounds of UVA and may well still be within the boundaries of the state of Virginia. Should LE have reason to believe that MH has been transported over state lines, the case would then fall within the federal jurisdiction, e.g., the F.B.I. [Note to your later reference, re: the proximity of UVA/Charlottesville to Langley/CIA, etc. The CIA would have absolutely no jurisdiction or interest in the MH disappearance inasmuch as that is not the focus or mission of that agency, any more than it is within the purview of the NSA. These agencies are not designed to “share resources” with local LE agencies in the normal course of business.]
5. “Why did we not hear or see UVA police chief or at least UVA investigative lieutenant? Why didn’t UVA rep speak? I find the fact that Lt. Fielding, UVA Patrol Lieutenant, was front and center and VSP Lt Rader even deferred to her during initial press conference (which was days late imo) very odd.”
Once the UVAPD (which would necessarily include their Chief, Investigations Lieutenant, etc.) believed that MH was not in the vicinity of the UVA Grounds per se—their jurisdiction—they appropriately engaged the larger jurisdiction–that is, VSP–in the investigation. At that point the case moved from being specific to UVA to Virginia-at-large.
VSP is taking the lead on this case. {See #4 above.] It is not troubling that Lt. Fielding was standing where she was during the news conference, or that Lt. Rader appears to defer to her any point. LE agencies that work together successfully make every effort to respect the other. In this case, Lt. Rader was leading a press conference at the UVAPD, so his manner and demeanor were appropriate for the circumstances. The presence of Lt. Fielding—an individual very well-known and regarded in the UVA community—was likewise appropriate.
6. “He didn’t have the timeline only UVA Police did? Continue to wonder who wrote the initial missing person info? It obviously was someone with UVA police.”
It would be reasonable to assume that UVAPD had the timeline, as MH is alleged to have appeared at various locations on/near the UVA Grounds, i.e., the UVA jurisdiction. It is likewise reasonable to assume that the initial MP report was written by UVAPD. From all accounts, the report was first filed/claimed by Dr. Dan Harrington. Which jurisdiction wrote the initial MP information is, in fact, not material to the investigation.
7. “Bothered me from the start – “near JPJ”, not “at” JPJ, didn’t mention the concert, or Harrisonburg, or where her belongings were found.”
It’s unclear what may be troubling that the term “near” JPJ was used in lieu of “at” JPJ. It is likewise unclear why it may be troubling that the concert and Harrisonburg were not mentioned.
8. “Harrisonburg was the post concert destination for Morgan that night, right? Trickle of ever altered information about Morgan’s appearance and movements after she was on the outside of JPJ and no clear identification of where she was while inside JPJ – the common thread from the start was making sure to put her OFF UVA property.”
I believe “to a moral certainty” that there is no intent on the part of any party or LE agency to place MH “off UVA property”. To assume that any LE agency—UVAPD, VSP, etc.—is attempting to manipulate the facts in this case to avoid negative political or jurisdictional backlash is to call into question the very integrity of each and every one of the agencies involved in this investigation. Such an allegation may be considered egregious unless or until there is evidence to warrant same.
9. “And now the recent hitch hiking addition with UVA basketball players being the witnesses. Yet no one steps into the light and the info is even hidden for almost a month???”
A seasoned investigator will advise you that investigations—especially ones as challenging and troubling as the MH disappearance—do not take place quickly, easily, or lightly. They take great consideration, patience beyond belief, keen insight, and an ability to meticulously piece together data points that, taken in their totality, result in a clear and accurate conclusion. Creating timelines, scouring search grid areas for trace evidence, canvassing for witnesses, interviewing witnesses, cross-referencing witness accounts, discounting witnesses, etc. is laborious and time-consuming. Such an investigation is done with one intent and one intent only: to bring the case to closure and identify the person or persons responsible. Information is not hidden; rather, it is disseminated for public consumption as judiciously as it is first gathered and analyzed.
The above is what is described as solid investigative technique.
Veracity: The overriding sentiment one might discern from your #370 post is one of distrust of UVA. This appearance leads me to ask the following: Is your concern specific to: a) UVA; b) UVAPD; c) more generalized to college/university LE agencies; d) or to LE in general? If your concern is specifically focused on LE, is it your sense that cases such as the disappearance of MH are mis-managed and/or not handled appropriately? If so, can you provide substantive information that might help the readers better understand your perspective?
If, in fact, your concern rests instead with UVA per se, again, can you provide substantive information that might help the readers better understand your perspective?
To questions/concerns raised in the most recent (#419) post:
It’s been suggested that “…if someone goes missing from an area that cuts a paycheck to the investigator, and there is potential for backlash, or liability, as a precaution to the integrity of the investigation it should not be (sic) “lead” by them.”
If an individual goes missing, say, in DeKalb County, GA, does it not make sense for the DeKalb County Police Department to investigate and manage the case? [It is reasonable to assert that that is, in fact, part of the charge of any PD, e.g., to investigate crimes, missing persons cases, etc. et. al.] The County of DeKalb is the entity that “cuts the paycheck” to the investigator; the investigator and the rest of the Department are appropriately on the payroll of the County.
Following the original train of thought, what “potential for backlash or liability” is there when the investigator employed by the County of DeKalb investigates a case that has occurred within their jurisdiction? If they are not to investigate these cases, what cases are they to investigate? That is, are PDs to only investigate certain crimes and cases and not others?
How is the above hypothetical different when discussing the UVAPD—or any other campus PD? That is, how is it different that a trained (emphasis on the word “trained”) investigator who is employed—-not contracted as suggested by Veracity—-by the University of Virginia, in the UVAPD, should not in fact be the individual to investigate a case that occurs within the UVA jurisdiction? [Note: the investigators at the UVAPD are, in fact, employees of UVA.]
Veracity: You mention that you “recall all too well the problems involving VCU Campus Police for that particular case” (referencing the Behl case). May the readers here assume from that statement and from others in your earlier post that you harbor serious concerns regarding college/university PDs capabilities when it comes to matters of investigation—or, specifically investigation of MP cases?
You mention—rightfully so—that in every MP case time is of the essence. On that we can agree.
UVAPD investigators should—and do—have expert training and resources. They are, in fact, public officials—including in the instant case of the MH disappearance. The investigators at the UVAPD are not “contract workers”, do not possess “limited training” and “least resources”, and do not have a conflict of interest. [See above.] In anticipation of the question, yes, I do indeed know from whence I speak. And no, I am not an employee of the UVAPD offering statements that might otherwise be considered self-serving.
Points in fact: With a staff of over 130, the UVAPD closely resembles a city police force; officers are trained at the same academy (Central VA Criminal Justice Training Academy) and have similar rights and responsibilities. Their jurisdiction includes the UVA hospital, the UVA Grounds and, jointly with CPD, commercial areas like “The Corner” where the University population mingles with the city’s.
Re: if and how sexual offenders were cleared from the MH case: No, the process to do so would not necessarily fall within the purview of the Albemarle County or City of Charlottesville Sheriff’s Department. This process would be handled by either of the other two local jurisdictions; that is, CPD or ACPD. [ACSD and CSD are tasked specifically with matters civil, e.g., warrant processing, and court security.]
V: You indicated that you “believe Morgan’s NON ATTACHMENT to UVA only heightened the need for NON UVA CAMPUS POLICE to LEAD.”
How does the fact that MH was not “attached” to UVA–by virtue of her not being a student–somehow increase the need for a LE agency other than UVAPD to lead the investigation? I fail to understand rationale for that assertion.
Let us step back in time for just a moment and reflect on how this case came to be:
1. Found property: a purse and cell phone were found and appropriately turned in to the UVAPD. Said property was found on the Grounds of UVA; that is, within the jurisdictional rights of the UVAPD. At the time that the found property was reported and recovered, there was no basis upon which to believe that either: a) a crime had been committed; or b) that a person was missing. [Note: Found property in a university community is not uncommon. The breadth and variety of said property is significant. This especially true following a large-scale event held at a venue such as JPJ.]
2. Missing person – Dr. Harrington is reported to have filed a missing person’s report when he had reason to believe that his daughter was missing. I cannot at this time certify in which jurisdiction or PD he made his initial report. We can, however, stipulate that Dr. Harrington had every reason to believe that his daughter attended a concert at JPJ and her last known contact with her friends was made somewhere within the immediate vicinity of the arena. All said locations are again with the jurisdiction of the UVAPD.
V, you state: “I… wondered why UVA POLICE felt compelled to word the initial missing person information to immediately distinguish Morgan as a NON UVA student.”
Please help the readers to understand how it might be deemed remarkable or noteworthy that the UVAPD distinguished this case as one involving a student that was not from UVA? Once again, I fail to understand the rationale for the concern.
You mention again (as you did in your earlier post) that it “bothered (you) from the start” that, in the release, LE put her last known location ‘NEAR JPJ”, not “AT JPJ”.
It’s unclear what may be troubling about the use of the term “near” v. the term “at”.
You state that you believe that Morgan’s immediate description and movements were far more important than what school she attended. On this statement we are in agreement.
You indicate that “What school Morgan attended could have easily been put further down in the body of that release. One could argue with the rivalry between the schools the word choice was bad for a second reason too, from a public perception and engagement perspective.”
I repeat: In what manner is it especially notable exactly where in the press release the reference to VT (or not) is made? I can assure you that the historical rivalry between VT and UVA is the farthest thing from the minds of the investigators in this case. The MH disappearance is not about politics, rivalry, political maneuvering or political posturing; rather, it is about reuniting a young woman with her family.
V, you go on to say (verbatim): “I don’t know if it was intentionally sloppy police work…”
Veracity, did you mean to say “unintentional”? Or, are you implying that the police work may have been by intent sloppy? I can only hope it is the former and not the latter. If it is the latter, your implication is reprehensible and bears no further comment.
I have intentionally reserved my last comment—and special thanks–to “M” (#422), who aptly noted that it was UVAPD Detective and Crime Analyst Janice Coles who solved the case of a serial rapist who had committed seven sexual assaults between 1997 and 2004. Detective Coles served on a multi-jurisdictional task force as the assaults occurred in three separate jurisdictions. I was there when Detective Coles received an award for cracking this case.
I submit that Detective Coles is an example of the caliber and quality of investigators trained and employed by the UVAPD.
With that, I rest my case on behalf of UVA, the UVAPD and the LE community.
Respectfully submitted,
Observer
Thx for the warning, Observer! I polished my glasses halfway through!
First, I want to question our laissez-faire (always try to work in my French) attitude when we have a missing persons report. With children, we are alarmed and flame into action. With adults–what? we give them the benefit of the doubt? No, I disagree with you that we should be considerate of someone “walking away from life” as that is a viewpoint that has conveniently ignored/sublimated the facts…In a society that rampant with criminals? That seems to go against every self-protection edict we’ve been taught. Better to really analyze the situation than assume that the missing person knew best.
I know you want to correct misinformation and wrong perceptions, but you are addressing one particular poster without an understanding of his power of persuasion and the views of most posters at this site. We don’t agree, okay? This poster has a viewpoint as much as anyone else here.
Just because one police agency began inquiry and another continued is not an issue. Everyone knows and trust that post-9/11 our agencies are reciprocal and respectful. Being PC about who is at the conference or in the photo op is beyond their scope of operation. Not an issue
I also agree with you that putting the university into a blame situation is unwarranted.
I really liked the way you used your voice in point #9. I could get a sense of who you are and how passionately you want justice in this case. Excellent understanding.
I respect you a lot, Observer, and am so grateful you are here. Thank you for providing statistics and information about the training of the campus officers.
All in all, I’m glad you’re loyal to UVA and to “authority” in general. Please understand our need to question anyone and everyone. Including those who post here.
Best to you!
I second this, Observer you represent your viewpoint with fervor and poise. Word- consider your own Je ne sais quoi as well.
B
Damn, Blink. That’s what a couple glasses of wine at the end of long day will do!
I hope that Observer is having his quaff of sherry or brandy at this point, too.
Observer – I would never want to be on a debate floor with you. You do however, provide insight and clarify certain things, whether “all” agree or not. It is, after all, about finding Morgan. To take it down a notch, you mentioned two points that I personally believe are quite relevant. Blink and “company” discussed this to great lengths under some of Blink’s first articles written on this case)…
(Just below Observer’s sentence that read: “Let us step back in time for just a moment and reflect on how this case came to be”)
Snipped and clipped – lol
1. …..At the time that the found property was reported and recovered, there was no basis upon which to believe that either: a) a crime had been committed; or b) that a person was missing.” ….
2. Missing person – Dr. Harrington is reported to have filed a missing person’s report when he had reason to believe that his daughter was missing.
And that is the issue here…obviously Morgan’s own friends did not even consider her missing, and a “committed crime” was the farthest thing from their mind, as it was Dr. Harrington who reported his daughter “missing” and not the friends they last knew their daughter to be with. Again, “there was no basis upon which to believe a crime had been committed”. You are exactly correct which leads me to:
1) Morgan’s friends were used to this type of “scenario/behavior” from Ms Harrington and thought nothing of it.
or
2) The friends knew that Morgan would not be returning to the concert/JPJ Arena and the reason why.
It is human nature among friends when one does not return, especially in this scenario, to immediately report it to someone/anyone. People get frantic, they panic, they call 911, and girlfriends cry hysterically.
I am of the belief that Morgan never contacted her friends at midnight, 1:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. or anytime, to ask her friends how the concert was, she regretted missing it, or to say where she was. Yet, her friends did not contact any of Morgan’s family out of worry or concern. (Note: this is not about bashing the friends, as they have a long life to live yet with this memory. Not my intent…it is to go back to the beginning).
The answer I believe is crucial to finding Morgan. Was it #1 or #2? I doubt the public will ever know the answer and that is the frustration….at least for me.
I am not about bashing the friends as well, I think the Harrington’s say it best when they say “You can’t go back there and it is pointless to waste energy to do so.”
That said, I do believe the friends thought Morgan went to the bathroom, did not return, and they called her. I do not believe she told them she would somehow get a ride. I think that their conversation was limited to how she would go about trying to get back in the venue and they did not speak again after that. Why you ask? Because Amy’s older sister said so. In essence, so did Dee S. They must have gotten that info from somewhere-
Her comments and the disparity between them and what was reported by LE bother me to this day.
Melvin said Harrington went outside before Metallica took the stage. She said she wasn’t sure why.
“Everyone assumed she’d be coming back,” said Amanda Melvin, Amy Melvin’s older sister and a friend of Harrington’s. Friends and family still haven’t heard from Harrington, she said.
Amanda Melvin said Harrington’s purse and cellphone were found outside the stadium and her car was still in the parking lot. She said Harrington wouldn’t abandon her friends there.
Dear All,
This is my first post and I am absorbing the opinions and information. Thank you to the hosts for moderating the discussion and the participants for their thoughtful contributions.
The Harrington case is very sad, how can a young lady just vanish from my neighborhood? Yes, I live in the area with my family and have been following it loosely on the news. But Charlottesville is a small town and known for it’s charm and quiet nature and UVA. Of course it has it’s challenges, but not something this tragic!
My general observations –
1. Observer, very thorough analysis (though the UF vs. FSU snafu on Bundy was surprising). However, I think the police work at UVA, CVille, and Albemarle is slow and not always well done. Those guys serve a great purpose, but I’m from the NYC area and there is absolutely a different level of intensity and rigor. Normally, this is a sleepy town, there is some gang related problems and drugs, of course rape and domestic violence. But the depth in seeing complex cases is simply not there. Local LE were not prepared for this case.
2. I drive back and forth on Copley bridge (there are train tracks underneath) regularly and run near there because the track is right there and UHall is where the athletic offices are. There is a lot of activity in the area, even without a concert at JPJ. Also, Copley bridge is a convergence point for a lot of traffic from the graduate schools and athletic fields that need to access other parts of Charlottesville. In other words, it is surprising how thin the timeline is and how MH was last seen on the bridge. If she was confirmed to be walking on the sidewalk on the bridge, traffic would be flowing towards JPJ. But if she was walking on the non-sidewalk side, traffic would be flowing AWAY from JPJ. That side is absolutely darker and the BBT is near there too (a lot of people park there for concerts). But the non-sidewalk side is a bit ‘hairy,’ it’s a narrow bridge and scary for a normal person to be walking on that side of the bridge. Plus in the dark, you’re pretty much asking to be hit by a car (maybe she was clipped and knocked over and fell onto a moving train?).
3. I see a lot of analysis on goody guy, bad guy, good guy turned bad, and all that. All very interesting and very possible, concerts attract both bad guys with bad ideas and good guys who turn bad. But I doubt the BG or GG turned BG actually picked her up on Copley… too much traffic, only two lanes. Probably ended up in a concert parking lot (which is still weird because there are a lot of people in the area usually). There are no parking areas across Copley, just the light and beyond that is a Wachovia and residential. Again, I run by there all the time, all the runners park at UHall.
4. Ok, she lost her phone. I don’t memorize phone numbers any more… does anyone? If she really did use someone’s phone to call someone, it was a number she committed to memory. She might have a photographic memory too, but that is a small percentage of the population. She probably called someone she knew well, knew from the family, or something. No matter, it is a small cohort and should be easy to investigate. Between the family history in the area and her brother graduating from here… that is a possibility, yes?
Curious to hear what you all say… has anyone profiled the possible abductor? Probably intelligent, older man (40′s), with a history of running into LE. A local person? A lot of educated people in the area, but someone that would actually do a crime this heinous in their backyard?
I have seen no info about why LE is inquiring if she asked to borrow a phone? Is it just speculation because that’s what someone might do if their own phone didn’t work, or their purse was lost or stolen? Or is there a specific reason for that inquiry?
*She asked the bb players to borrow a phone, but they didn’t have one on them.
*LE has an as-yet unreleased witness report of her with someone and on a phone, but has not identified the companion. (seems unlikely)
*Someone in the circle of family or friends received a hang-up call or vague text from an unknown number that hasn’t been traced.
*Someone in the circle of family or friends received a call or text from an unknown number that has been traced, but the owner says it was a wrong number, and has no apparent connection or a good alibi. (also seems unlikely to me)
Other reasons? Irrelevant?
Greetings from the other side of the Atlantic.
Somehow this case to my knowledge (maybe cuz i’m a Metallica fan) and i’ve been actively following afterwards. That’s how i came to this website and been catching up to your discussion in the last couple of days.
This is my first post. I hope you don’t mind me joining the discussion from this far. But a crime is a crime anywhere in the world.
I would start by making this point. Why are most of you guys so sure Morgan entered a car voluntarily? Let’s say it wasn’t her on that bridge. Let’s say she was on one of those parking lots. In the one they found the purse, whichever it was. Her batery went off, right? She then…
1. Was trying to get phone back on by removing and putting the batery back on (I do that everytime). A car pulls over (maybe someone had been watching her alone and seemingly lost for a while) someone forcefully pushes her into the car. During the fight her purse and cellphone fall to the ground. Somehow the battery that was in her hand, stays in her hand or falls inside the car. Then the perp/perps drive away taking Morgan.
2. (similar with a twist) Found someone to lend her a phone. She didn’t know the number of who she wanted to call. Asked if she could put her SIM Card (i don’t know if you call it that in English) in that person’s phone so she could call her whichever friend/relative. While removing her battery to then remove the SIM Card, someone forcefully pushes her into the car. During the fight her purse and cellphone fall to the ground. Somehow the battery that was in her hand, stays in her hand or falls inside the car. Then the perp/perps drive away taking Morgan.
I think this would explain the purse/cellphone/battery mistery.
Your opinions?
P.S.
Sorry for any possible grammar errors. But english isn’t my first language
.
Clarification to my previous post on the borrowed phone possibilities:
By “hang-up call,” I include any call that was unanswered with no message left or understood. Such as if there was a call from an unknown number to a phone inside a noisy concert that was unanswered or could not be understood.
#431 – GuyfromPortugal:
Welcome from us “Blinkers”! There are some of us who questioned the credibility of the sighting on the bridge. There are some of us who are still questioning it. Not sure which articles you have read, and this may be helpful to others, but I have taken the liberty to provide all of Blink’s articles/comments regarding Morgan if that is okay. As all of Blink’s cases, some of the early on discussions are quite valuable….lengthy, but quite valuable. Somewhere in these articles may be answers to your questions. It has been an interesting journey and we all continue to pray for Morgan, her family & friends, and those who have touched by this case. Below are the links from earliest to latest. I think I have them all —
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/10/29/missing-morgan-and-then-she-was-gone-morgan-harrington-vanishes-from-metallica-concert/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/03/morgan-harrington-case-are-police-closing-in/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/10/morgan-harrington-case-lack-of-leads-frustrates-search-efforts/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/12/morgan-harrington-case-uva-basketball-players-last-to-speak-to-missing-vt-student/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/13/morgan-harrington-case-state-police-say-she-was-hitchhiking/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/17/morgan-harrington-case-2-unidentfied-bodies-found-in-different-locations-updated/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/19/morgan-harrington-case-separating-fact-from-fiction-part-i/
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/20/morgan-harrington-case-separating-fact-from-fiction-from-facebook-part-ii/
New Guy,
Welcome and great first post. I especially appreciated your observations of the bridge. Also, regarding your scenario of Morgan being hit by a passing car and ending up on a passing train was very thought provoking. Do you happen to know the train schedule? I would think that LE checked up on all the trains that were passing through. I hope so.
Skyler, Interesting that you mention someone possibly impersonating a police officer.
There has been speculation that Heidi Childs and David Metler may have been murdered by someone impersonating a police officer, or maybe an actual officer.
http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=67976
LE released the information that they are looking for a silver mini van in connection with that case on November 17th. One month after Morgan disappeared.
Following is a (blessedly brief!) commentary to all:
Thank you first your kind feedback; it is sincerely appreciated.
Thanks also to those respondents here who have offered thoughtful and considered challenges. It is only through exploring new avenues of thinking that we are able to remain open and consider new possibilities; your discussion has furthered that effort. Respectful dialog and exchange of ideas always rules the day.
While I have an affinity for UVA, my true loyalty lies in seeing justice prevail.
Finally, for those who may concerned that the MH case will falter or stall, rest assured that it will not. Never forget that many of those in LE who are actively involved in this investigation are parents themsleves of children, some around MH’s age. These dedicated individuals want nothing more than to end this horrific nightmare for the Harringtons and bring peace to this family.
Note to Word Girl: I raise my modest snifter of Cardenal Mendoza brandy to you!
# 425 ” The MH disappearance is not about politics, rivalry, political maneuvering or political posturing; rather, it is about reuniting a young woman with her family.”
Anyone, as observant as you Observer would never be so naive to believe that any of the aforementioned , though I would accept improbable ; but certainly not impossible .
I appreciate your detailed post. Observer
I am really hesitant to post this, mainly because of something Blink wrote in response to a prior posting, which I thought was so insightful. First, this has made me realize I live in such a glass bubble — I had no idea how many college students go missing each year — we hear about it in the news — i’ll amend that to say, I hear about it in the news — and I think for an instant, how incredibly sad for the parents and friends — but now it’s in my backyard and I can’t get past the sadness that I missed Morgan by five or ten minutes — IF she were ever on that bridge. I drove right over it between 9:25 and 9:35 — and had I seen a girl hitching, even my son said: Mom, you would have stopped —
Earlier Blink posted about not positing and posting on a negative outcome for Morgan — I’m paraphrasing, but she stated to the effect, how would you feel if you were her parents and read that — it’s bad enough they have to hear over and over all the allegations of Morgan’s behavior that evening — but — the way I learned there were so many missing college students, I did a google search on missing people in general — and even if outcomes are different — some abducted who do return — some do not — but there is a similarity — they are taken to dark places, often beside water —
Does anyone know if they are planning another expanded search — I swear, if they do, my son and I will and as many of his friends I can stuff in my SUV, will go and help — but in looking at a map of the area, have they searched the Rivanna Reservoir area ? It’s a straight shot on the road geographically — a question to the people who live in Charlottesville — is that an area that is easily accessible at night — is it deserted ? Is it dark — ie, no street lights ? Are there walking trails that go into a wooded areas — like here in Richmond, the James River has many walking paths/trails/areas –
I live in a rural area with a gazillion trees and a huge pile of wet leaves, which I was trying to burn this afternoon — mostly they just steamed and smoked — I sat there watching the smoke rise and thought of the person/persons responsible for this and sent out a mental thought to him/her — they’re closing in, you are going to be caught —
it’s about 9:12 PM — at 9:30 every night I pray for Morgan and her family and friends and that the person who did this is caught very soon —
I would ask everyone to send positive energy and thoughts to LE personnel, that they are able to persevere to bring this matter to a conclusion —
Peace to all — Sky — and Blink, thank you for your sensitivity in educating us and opening our eyes thru this amazing site –
#436 Skyler
One can easily travel from the area of JPJ Arena via I-64 west to George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. loose guess of 20 min travel time . This area (blue ridge parkway ) gives access to approximately 1.8 million acres of generally remote, undeveloped public land with an abundance of wooded terrain .
The 2009 fall big game hunting season in open , both east and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains . This should add a vast amount of people in the described areas .
Skyler ($439) – it is very easy to access the Rivanna Reservoir area. The Observer Hill area is also easy to access, the Rivanna Trail runs through there and it is a very short walk from Copeley Bridge. The area near Copeley is pretty well traveled, but within a 5 minute drive it get’s very rural. And as Dakota says in (439), there are many heavily forested areas nearby.
This is still just as puzzling as it was a month ago. I feel there has to be someone out there who saw Morgan make that final move at the arena. What about the RV lot. I’ve heard that mentioned numerous times. Could she been invited on board with a group, partied away and things went south? I’ve heard the homeless mentioned. Perhaps there were a few homeless people around panhandling, collecting cans, etc. that could have seen or heard something. With so many people and eyes, could it be LE does have a person of interest? I’m just praying that is the case as I would hate for this to go cold.
Dakota #437: You are absolutely right. While I may be many other things, “naïve” is not an adjective that I or others might use to describe me.
That truism notwithstanding, it would be difficult to imagine that one might truly believe that any party or parties would allow petty jealousies or rivalries to stand in the way of bringing MH home to the arms of her loving parents. That is the singular objective; all else pales in comparison.
While admittedly possible as you well noted, it is indeed highly improbable.
The individuals involved in this investigation are better than that.
Far, far better than that.
Their collective motivation–both personal and professional–to bring this case to closure far outweighs any other consideration.
#439: RE: hunting season: You reference a point I offered some weeks ago, as well–that is, our only hope to find MH may lie with the hunters who at this time routinely scour the five-county area surrounding CVille.
Dakota – thanks for that info — 1.8 million acres — and now all covered with probably a foot of leaves — but I worded my question poorly — I was asking about the Ivy Creek area — you can take 29, the road JPJ is on, all the way out to Earlysville Rd into that huge water/wooded area — anyone know whether or not they searched in that area at all ? Also, early on there was a post about the investigation leading back to VT — have there been any more specifics about that ? Does anyone know if any branch of LE has gotten info from a forensic profiler ? The only thing I know about profilers is what I see on TV programs — if they can get DNA from the tooth of a 3,000 y/o Egyptian mummy, surely there has to be some scientific process out there and available to assist LE in searching. what I mean by that, it had been raining most of the afternoon — at 9 PM in the downtown mall area, the skies opened up brirefly and I just got drenched walking to the parking deck to my car. If Morgan walked thru a field, she had to have gotten mud/grass on the bottom of her boot, especially if the sole had ridges — Would it have even been possible to try to recover forensic evidence that she walked across the sidewalk on the copley bridge ? I don’t know the answer to that question, so it’s why I ask. I personally do not believe there is now or was ever any attempt by any LE agency to cover up or drag their feet in this case — it’s absolutely to their benefit and best interest to resolve this case as soon as possible –
again, Dakota, thanks for the follow up info — there has got to be some physical evidence somewhere of what her next step/movement was — sending positive thoughts, energy that that next link is soon discovered and always the spirit of God’s peace to the Harringtons –
#442 – Good Monday afternoon to all. Observer – “five county area surrounding CVille”…
That could point to a “local” OR “non-local” resident of the CVille area. Has there been anything released in this case that has led you to lean towards one or the other?
There are a few of us weeks ago that mentioned the opening of hunting season, increasing the possibility of Morgan being found. Sadly, that means I am of the personal opinion she is no longer with us and hasn’t been for some time now. Hunters need to know about Morgan in order for them to have their eyes focused on something other than deer from a treestand. Personally, I feel that unless printed flyers were posted at local areas where hunting licenses were purchased, a huge opportunity for a “new set of eyes” may have been lost. JMO, of course.
Would you be comfortable in sharing with us the amount of media coverage in your area recently, about Morgan?
I am interested if you feel the person who is responsible for Morgan’s disappearance is a “local” or otherwise?
And, what is with all the bank robberies lately in your area?
Happy Monday to everyone!
I think the coverage has been on the order of, if there’s nothing new to report, then nothing is reported. We had some coverage last week when Dan & Gil visited the Copeley bridge.
Bank robberies – they seem to come in spates around here. They’ve caught 2 suspects:
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=11558701
PamTX: Great questions!
There has been nothing yet released in this case that compels me to believe that the assailant is local v. non-local, or visa versa. There are certainly reasons to believe that either scenario could have occurred.
Re: Media coverage, hunters, etc.–Fortunately, just last week two different distributors of “ValPak”–a periodic mailing chock full of coupons for a wide variety of local businesses–included a flyer about MH in their mailing. These ValPaks were distributed in both the Charlottesville/Albemarle and Shenandoah County communities and reached approximately 120,000 homes. Hopefully any local hunters who had not already heard of the MH case would see it in the ValPak mailing.
I’d honestly be very, very surprised, however, if anyone who lived in the 5 county area hadn’t already heard about MH, with the express exception of someone who does not watch the news or read the paper. Early coverage was quite heavy, although it has dropped-off in the last week or two.
If I were a betting person–and I am not–I would say that MH will be found by a hunter or some other person who is walking about a remote area.
Re: Two (unrelated) bank robberies in one week in CV? Welcome to the holidays and the season of good cheer. The good news: Suspects were arrested this weekend and arraigned this morning in both cases.
I agree strongly with Observer that Morgan will be found by a hunter or through a confession, aided by a cadaver k9.
B
To Observer
I’ve been following your posts and was wondering, is it your gut hunch that Morgan is possibly deceased? If so, why do you believe this?
I’m just saying, as opposed to her possibly being alive and being held somewhere. There have been many sex traffickers in and around the Charlottesville area now for years.
Questioner: You raise an excellent point, re: sex trafficking. In the most general of terms, though, traffickers target victims who are already disenfranchised and/or disassociated from family, school, friends, etc. They are the easiest not simply to target, but to continue to manipulate. They already feel powerless to effect change in their lives and are therefore automatically easier to control. In many cases they are runaways. A trafficker’s ability to assert–but more importantly, maintain–control over his victims is key to his ability to continue to use them to his ultimate advantage.
In the case of MH, if she was impaired and was abducted by a trafficker, she would at first be easy to subdue. After a short time, however, she would make every effort to effect her own release. By all accounts, she is/was a resilient and independent young woman. She is/was reported to have had very strong ties to her family (witness her poignant Christmas letter to her father), her friends (“The Nine”), and her community (as seen in her volunteer work with child victims of domestic violence). MH does/did not present as an individual who was at the mercy of an already tragic life. She is/was an intelligent, capable young woman. By her very nature, it would be difficult for a trafficker to continue to control MH. And traffickers—-like all other BGs—-are all about control. Without supreme control over and manipulation of their victims, they have nothing.
For the sake of MH’s family, I am again reluctant to pose this but will state that it is my belief that MH is no longer alive. I believe this because:
a. I do not believe she is a victim of sex trafficking. [See above.]
b. I do not believe she is being held against her will. [See my very first post (#164 on 11/12) on the "Lacks of Leads Frustrates Search Efforts" thread for further explanation on this.]
c. I do not believe her friends successfully conspired to commit a crime against her. (See also #171 on that thread, re: the friends.]
d. I do not believe MH voluntarily walked away from her life. [See again #164 in the earlier thread.]
Given the above and the time that has transpired, I sadly think it is unlikely that MH is still alive.
This is a really important post. I will be upfront and say the moment I hear the words “human trafficking” wrt to a missing persons case, it is generally the equivalent of “they have run out of leads” for me. I am Occam’s Razor kinda gal.
B
Interesting post from LD.
Speaking of Occam’s Razor, I wonder if Morgan simply called a cab or a car service? Hence the borrowed phone?
http://www.findmorgan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1108
Perhaps she intended to get a hotel room, as I know that it has been mentioned that the friends may have decided to return home instead of get a hotel room, as Morgan was the one with the credit card or something along those lines.
Sue (435) — thanks for the link — so sad ! As the kids say, I can’t wrap my brain around why morgan would voluntarily get in a car with a stranger, and when the guy was arrested for allegedly impersonating a police officer here in my area, it seemed to click — “if” Morgan were impaired thru drugs or alcohol — “if” — it would make sense some guy — or girl, I guess — could whip out a fake badge, say they’re working the concert undercover, even conger up a scenario they’re arresting her for drunk in public, she’s in the car and end of story —
New Guy, post 440 — thank you for that info — >>it is very easy to access the Rivanna Reservoir area. The Observer Hill area is also easy to access, the Rivanna Trail runs through there and it is a very short walk from Copeley Bridge. The area near Copeley is pretty well traveled, but within a 5 minute drive it gets very rural. And as Dakota says in (439), there are many heavily forested areas nearby.
I just get such bad feelings when I see that particular area on a map and then read about so many other cases where women have been found in similar areas — wooded near water — and your post helped me vizualize how really easy the access is. I wish they would organize a search in that Rivanna area w/ the dogs — I know there are volunteer organizations who have trained dogs — they were used in NY at the twin towers — maybe some of the Metallica money, which I understand has zero strings attached — could be used to fly in some teams and their dogs — also, great idea about printing up flyers to post where hunting licenses and supplies are sold —
The other thing I worry about — Blink, you can delete this part if you want because it’s a horrible thought — but it’s been so long, animal predation
last thought on maybe why there hasn’t been too much in the media — if — again that word — but “if” LE felt this was a person who had done this before and they get some kind of sicko pleasure from reading about it in the paper/media — perhaps they’ve asked the media not to print/report new things in order to bait him/her into communicating ?????