Morgan Harrington Case: Virginia State Police On New Search
Charlottesville, VA– Virginia State Police are searching an area of route 64, between mile markers 112 and 114 today in their efforts to locate missing VT student, Morgan Harrington.
Located approximately 4 miles west of Charlottesville, VA, the stretch of highway leads up to an early area of interest, Crozet, VA.
VSP PR Manager, Connie Geller says the area is not being searched based on any new tip.
Check back to blinkoncrime.com for this developing story.
Update #1. Jim Hanchett, Newsplex, reports the search has ended for this area today, and is awaiting any news of other possible search areas.
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They practice and play at JPJ — it is primarily a basketball facility. UHall is the old arena (JPJ came online about 4-5 years ago). However, they practice in UHall when there are other events at the JPJ (like the metallica concert).
Candice,
In addition to LE Herrick, I believe there is LE related to Dan C. and LE (perhaps more than one) related to Sarah S.
Don’t know if the roommate, who didn’t have time for facebook, has any related LE.
FAMILY BLOG
Gil Harrington’s thoughts from 12/13
ON DECEMBER – 22 – 20097 COMMENTS
We walked last night with the forgotten kids—the forgotten victim’s kids from the Mental Health Association — and the Find Morgan Car in the Roanoke Christmas Parade.
We were reluctant to participate—not sure we could hold onto our fragile sense of coping with all the stimulation of a parade, but we did all right.
So many faces and eyes, it was difficult to process it all. But many prayers and blessings called out. I kept thinking, “We can do this, stand up and be counted and recognized as parents of a missing child, despite the discomfort of being visible.”
I saw every mother and father’s face on the route and I read the “thank God I’m not them” look in their eyes. But this was not a turn aside moment for us. This role was thrust onto us. We did not choose it, nor do we embrace it. But I can certainly find it in me to stand up in the space to be counted and to honor Morgan.
I was struck by the rightness and circularity in walking the parade route in downtown Roanoke. Morgan has walked nearly the same exact route many times, participating in the annual fundraising event for the Roanoke Mental Health Association. Now, some kids who received those services are walking it for Morgan.
As I think of this, I realize it is indeed so fitting. Morgan is now actually one of them—a subject of violence, a weaker being, preyed upon by someone who has run amuck, I believe.
I am grateful for the opportunity to walk the route for Morgan; happy we dug deep and found the strength. It was important to participate.
A friend who works with the Mental Health Organization reinforced my growing insight on how to cope. Watching her during the parade, her family has just recently been given a difficult cancer diagnosis. And yet, in this time of her own despair, she shows up– hopping up and down with the cold– to bring attention to the ongoing search for Morgan. To lessen the load of despair in our family rather than to stagnate in her own challenge. That is courage and that is how you not just survive, but transcend tragedy. I’ve learned to use my pain, not succumb to it. And use it to help an ever-widening circle. Extend your parameters of self to include all– cherish, protect, help all. It will be our salvation.
FAMILY BLOG
I am so floored by Gil’s grace an eloquence. What resolve. She is destined to be such an inspiration- A role my heart breaks that she has been designated to fill.
B
Comment by mjh — January 3, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
It was my first instinct, yes…but, I was trying hard not to “go” there. I was kind of in the mode of “well, try to disprove everything else before you go back there”.
But, all of a sudden, it hit me (with the help of your clues, of course)– and my true reaction was “Holy Crap!!!”…she’s already there
_____________________________________________________________________
Congratulations on your epiphany, mjh. Are there any revelations/clues you share so that some of us might join you in the “Land of the Enlightened?”
I was concerned our exchange would be perceived by someone that way. Enlightenment, and me, are strangers, but I am hopeful in my life to at least be on that path, if I am worthy.
We are speculating. We are sharing ideas, I cannot have anyone making an accusation, I hope you understand that.
B
Alex’s new FB pic is, whether consciously so or not, somehow evocative of Morgan’s FB pic. Hair back on one side, down across the other side of the face, a little otherworldly. Not a direct mimic, just the feeling.
I’ve experienced this after losing someone very close. I have found myself “becoming” the loved one, complete with their expressions and aches and pains. Haunting. Maybe the psyche’s way of mitigating the loss just a little?
“I was concerned our exchange would be perceived by someone that way. Enlightenment, and me, are strangers, but I am hopeful in my life to at least be on that path, if I am worthy.
We are speculating. We are sharing ideas, I cannot have anyone making an accusation, I hope you understand that. B”
________________________________________________________________
I definitely understand that Blink and know you are in no way shape or form accusing anyone.
It is frustrating to me, not the sharpest tool in this MP shed, that once I think I have a logical thought process beginning to form, some jig or jag due to lack of information, causes me to step back and rethink my entire supposition!
So I will head back to the classroom tomorrow morning and talk about Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment, a subject I do feel qualified to talk about!
Here’s a different track on the necklace. Let’s go with that Alex gave it to her, and she was wearing it. Where did Alex get it? Did someone give it to him? Who might have done that? How would they react if they saw Morgan wearing it?
Blink I have a feeling you’re ready for an everyday routine to return to your life after the holidays. You take a lot on your shoulders – more than most of us. These heartbreakers that go on way too long are draining for even the most patient of us. Thanks for always keeping things balanced and relevant.
TY
B
Comment by wpgmouse — January 3, 2010 @ 11:11 pm
“In addition to LE Herrick, I believe there is LE related to Dan C. and LE (perhaps more than one) related to Sarah S.
Don’t know if the roommate, who didn’t have time for facebook, has any related LE.”
Plus—
Small southern towns dominated by powerful universities…
Equals—
The need for more more objectivity and possible intervention by another LE source, perhaps?
Is there anyway that the FBI will take over this case? I pray they will.
The FBI will not overtake a case without the request of the jurisdictional agency.
B
Don’t know; Jamil’s issue seems to go back a little further.
Lizzy, good find, that was one I was referring to wrt the Facebok Privacy thingy. I am not prepared to post it here, it is not “ripe”. Blinkbiscuits for you though.
B
Does anyone know if Morgan and any of the nine (especially those in attendance at the concert) had an ex-BF in common? Or more to the point, was Morgan ever involved with any of the CURRENT boyfriends of any friends?
Was her face injured as she got into an altercation over the necklace? Did someone forcibly remove it from her neck? I don’t believe the story that she received the facial injury as the result of a fall. All descriptions point to a hard slap to the face or possibly a scratch.
I think one of her girlfriends may have become physical with her before she left the arena. It would explain the accounts of her crying in the bathroom. I always thought the account of A Kiss Before Pottying sounded contrived. I think it was thrown in to attempt to conceal the argument/physical altercation that took place prior to her disappearance. Daft as they may be, her friends would surely know that the police would turn their gaze toward them if they discovered that they were fighting prior to Morgan’s disappearance.
You can say whatever you like about the friends and their innocence but I work with troubled youth and these girls make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Maybe they aren’t holding the smoking gun in this case but mark my word, more than one individual was involved in whatever happened to Morgan. And remember the law and how it reads especially regarding chain-of-events and but-for statues.
I wish the police had collected all the trash from the arena after the concert. Wouldn’t surprise me if they found a very unique necklace.
I forgot two things in my above post:
1. I bought the GOF and just finished it tonight. An amazing read. It is going to be mailed off to my sister tomorrow.
2. I am in no way accusing anyone of any crime or involvement in Morgan’s disappearance but there is a point of logic that cannot be ignored: If the friends are in any way lying about the events of the evening (which I, along with many of you, believe they are) then they must know that Morgan will not be coming back to contradict them.
Hi Sally Lou,
There is really nothing “new” or enlightening. It was really kind of a “dumb” moment for me. Like “OMG, I can’t believe I wasn’t getting that.”
A very long time ago, near the beginning of this case, I had sent some of my thoughts to Blink. I have since moved from those exact thoughts and have gone on to other scenarios. I am still not sure which I believe — but have to take all into consideration. As, just like others here, I do not know what happened to Morgan — I wish I did.
My very first thought was that she went with someone she knew, and it was planned. Otherwise the friends would have acted differently, in my opinion.
My thoughts then moved to the last person/people to see her, and the hitchhiking story that nobody believed, along with the release of the necklace. (This, I thought, was very important).
But, then we have the witness account from the “Granny” that I sometimes tend to believe, which leads back to BF/XBF/quarrel. And also the sighting of the panicked guy looking for directions.
Just recently, I started thinking that perhaps she WAS in fact, drugged. Especially with the new report from LE.
So, I really do keep going back and forth from one thing to another. There are just so many possibilities, and without all the information, it’s very hard to piece together.
The comment that I sent to Blink was regarding ONE of the theories, and it is all speculation. I just couldn’t figure out her clues, which is pretty bad, since it was related to some of my own earlier thoughts.
However, she is not ONLY there — just another speculation.
And, there are many other clues that lead elsewhere, too.
I wish I had some real “new” information to share…but unfortunately, I don’t. I am also not comfortable with accusing any one person when I do not have enough facts to do so.
My belief has been from early on that LE already has a POI. I still believe that.
I’m sorry about my earlier comments, as they were probably somewhat misleading. I was just trying to let Blink know that I finally got what she was trying to say like 300 comments ago!
Skyler (1510), you’re awesome. Wishing you the happiest of new years.
B, you said re: the car, “This is supported by Amanda Melvin’s early comments that they got outside and her car was in the lot. This has also bugged me. If they are so positive she had no access, why was that a surprise?”
That makes me wonder: Did Morgan perhaps have a hide-a-key (you know, the magnet case that holds a spare key) on her car? That would explain why they didn’t worry and were surprised to find car still there. Maybe Morgan was too impaired by the time she got to the car to find it — or maybe it was gone — or maybe she was intercepted en route. Did Granny ever say exactly where she was parked? Oh Lordy, too many possibilities. BTW everyone who says it was too loud inside for a phone call: Skyler, whose son was there and spoke to Skyler, *disagrees*. The bands were b/n sets.
Here’s the original “disjoint,” IMO: Morgan seems spirited, perhaps assertive, definitely her own person. OYE or someone alluded to the group dynamics. How did spirited Morgan turn into the sucker who not only was responsible for providing tix but also transportation that night, when the others seemed to have their own plans/other friends attending? (Open to discussion whether she intended to mislead her dad when she asked for gas $$ for someone else to drive … not making her a bad girl, but a 20-yr-old who knows her Daddy will do anything for her). What was going on that Morgan needed to please those girls?
Blink, on the BB players. Either I’m a terrible sleuth or there’s just not a lot more for the general public to find. Will keep at it b/c I remain bothered by what’s NOT been said here.
Finally, Gil Harrington, OMG. The lump in my throat is so huge I cannot swallow. You’re right, Blink, about her horrible and bittersweet destiny (sweet only for those who learn from her).
Comment by Mary. I would be interested to know if the practice facilities at the arena, while available 24/365, are open to individual players at any time or are available for scheduled practices and supervised work outs 24/365. Apparently this was the first weekend that organized practices were allowed under NCAA rules. I think there has been some discussion as to whether the players were scrimmaging or working out on their own or whether it was a scheduled practice. I would also be interested to know whether the practice facilities at JPJ are used when an event as large as a concert is scheduled, or do the teams then, as Redly posted, move over to the older U-Hall. If the players were practicing at JPJ on the 17th, this could add credence to the late arriving concert goer’s statement, I believe from Richmond, that a Morgan look a like was seen crossing the street with 3 or 4 young men at a time that did not seem to be consistent with a Dee sighting. I’m not sure whether that “witness” was saying the people were walking away from or heading toward the arena. It’s been my impression, maybe from something written at the time of the posting, that they were heading away from the arena. I know Blink has been very careful to assure that no racially insensitive or stereotypical comments are posted here and actually warned everyone here or on the previous thread that such comments would not be tolerated. Before I continue, I want to thank her for this stand. I live in Charlottesville and love this town, but there are those who make inappropriate comments about race on local forums, I don’t care what the subject. Because of Blink’s very emphatic statements, I reached the conclusion that at least a couple of the 3 or 4 players seen interacting with a Morgan look a like were probably African American. Without any reason to reach the conclusion, I have thought that the young men seen crossing the street with the young blonde were all white. If these young men were black, or some black and some white, then I would say this sighting has a very real possibility as having been Morgan if the players were leaving JPJ and not U-Hall as a lot of us have assumed. Still hoping for the sake of the players as individuals that their involvement is merely as witnesses, it would seem that if they walked with this young woman from JPJ, through the U-Hall lot, to the RV lot where their cars were probably parked, there was plenty of time to observe her demeanor and get some type of insight into why she was outside the arena and if she had plans for the rest of the evening. Could be some of the basis for LE’s statement that she was drinking, along with eye witness reports from the friends or from inside the arena. I would also think they would have been able to provide a very detailed description of what she was wearing. One reason I tend to doubt Ms. Parson’s sighting as being Morgan is that she stated the young woman she saw on the lawn was wearing a jacket. If I remember correctly, it’s generally accepted that Morgan did not wear a jacket into the arena. Ms. Parson didn’t say that the jacket looked like it didn’t fit, such as having been borrowed from one of the young men she was with. Even though Morgan is not petite in height, she is slender so a male’s jacket would have been loose on her frame. If Ms. Parson did indeed see Morgan, then it would seem she either had access to her car, borrowed a jacket from another female, or was wearing a jacket much too large.
Quess I should have started my comment “Re: comment by Mary” since I didn’t quote any of her actual comment.
Just for clarification, having now properly read Mary’s post/link, I may be wrong about them practicing at UHall. I did not realize they had private courts at JPJ to be used even when other events were going on. That being said, I find it hard to believe they could practice at JPJ with a heavy metal concert going on even with a private court just because of the noise element — so maybe that sent them to UHall.
MSL — I believe that late arriver said the 3-4 guys were wearing black t-shirts and were white — which is why I thought it was a different sighting from the BB players. Of course we don’t know for sure that was MH.
It is a different sighting. White guys with black tees is Dee S.
Redly- by NCAA regs they could only have a one hour practice that day.
B
Blink, the counter shows 1610 comments, but I have 1611. That tells me that you didn’t post one of my comments. Is there a problem with one of them, or did you just miss one because I had 3 in a row–apparently an insomniac talking to myself in the wee hours.
Nope, sorry, I addressed it, I am running way behind from early am meetings.
B
MsL,
I agree with you 100% on the race issue and I am extremely sensitive to it. From what I have always understood, a woman supposedly saw someone matching Morgan’s description walking away from the arena with 4 white guys dressed in black and then saw the same group gathered around a vehicle in the RV lot and it was the limo driver who saw her with the very tall black guys. I’m not sure where the limo driver was but I have seen maps of a pick-up area in front of the arena that for some reason I associated with the limo driver. I think one account of the timeline I read stated she was seen walking in the same general direction as other people but not necessarily “with” them. It could be a case of the blind guys describing the elephant. I agree with you also that if the players were practicing in the arena they may have encountered Morgan at an earlier time than I had previously thought and I believe they have provided very important information to LE as to Morgan’s demeanor, condition, and plans for the remainder of the evening. For some reason I have felt that the basketball players may have mentioned the necklace. The necklace info was released about the same time as LE confirmed Blink’s report regarding the players IIRC. I would like to know if Morgan could have reached the bridge from the UHall/Cage lot area or if she had to walk up to the road first and then to the bridge. I just can’t figure out why she would walk all the way into the RV lot unless someone had offered her a ride (if she was originally headed to the bridge). I believe whatever happened to Morgan was an accident and someone panicked and is now very, very scared to come forward about it.
Doggone it — forgot to change my name at my work computer!
Mary, what you stated is what I remember also. There have been so many comments, that I have to admit, I just don’t have the time or inclination to go back and read them all. As for the RV lot, it’s right off of Copeley Road on the right if heading away from the arena toward Ivy Road. If she were walking and talking to someone, say the basketball players, then she certainly could have strolled into the lot, not much out of her way at all if her primary destination was the bridge or beyond. The maps are a bit deceiving as to the distance between the different lots and structures. I can’t say with certainty whether it’s possible to get onto the bridge directly from the U-Hall lot, but my inclination is no, that you would have to walk from the lot onto the sidewalk, and then it’s a very short distance to the bridge. Could be wrong, even though I’ve made the walk a number of times from the Ivy Road parking garage across the bridge to either U-Hall or the arena, I’m usually busy chatting so my recall is not that great.
Blink, My reflections and response relative to the known details of this case, may sometimes come across as a Tennessee Williams-like controversy. My passion can sometimes use a lid. Thanks for providing one when needed
I truly respect your insight and compassion.
I admire the posters here, who seem very caring and dedicated to helping the Harringtons reunite with their Angel, Morgan.
OK, many (and Blink) believe she was not on the date rape drug. Since I highly respect Blink/s opinion as well as others onthe board, the waters have just muddied all over again for me. Thought I had her actions figured out as due to being drugged but I guess not, as you all do make a valid point about her being able to text.
I could go with the head injury/concussion. I had a friend years ago who fell at a concert and hit her head on the cemment. She did suffer a head injury and as a matter of fact, lost her scense of taste for several years (she did eventually get it back)
I cannot get the NOT mentioning of the BB players out of my head, the fact that they were the last to interact with her, the fact that they have never revealed anything that they said or their names, the fact that the limo driver saw Morgan with them (IMO_) and that is why LE went to them and not them to LE, etc…..
Nor can I get over that they say that the answer lies in Charlottesville, are asking the public to report anyone acting strangely YET are telling the public also that students on campus don’t have anything to worry about, that this was not a random act, etc BUT that they have no POI. Each statement conflicts with the others (to me).
So, where does this leave us? Seemingly back to square one.
Well, I have some NEW questions I wonder if anyone knows if they’ve been answered…..
- Did they check the trash at the arena AND where they bring they trash from the campus and arena to?
- Can people who bought a pre-paid parking pass come and go in and out of the parking lot as they please?
- Was there an RMC shift that ended at 9:30?
- Do they (LE) have a description of the guy or car in the Boyd Tavern sighting?
- Has any of the BB players lawyered up (probably asked before and I missed it)?
- Have we confirmed WHICH parking lot the purse was found in – there were two reported – and is the one where it was at where she was talking to the BB players at OR where they park?
- Did the limo driver positively ID the people whom he saw Morgan with? And, what direction where they walking ( second question probably also already answered before and I missed it)?
- Were there any trains that night at any time after 9:20PM?
So, if not given the date rape drug, I think that puts us back to the BB players.
I still think she went up to the bridge and came back to the parking lot in a car. The only reason I stick to this is the dogs last picking up her scent there, unless she was tossed over the bridge at a later point form that spot, onto an underpassing train car. Slim but I guess not impossible unless there were no trains.
Skyler, thanks for all of your hard work in getting back to me. I really appreciate it, and your thoughts.
lizzy, alex’s new fb pic reminded me somhow of Morgan’s pic at the Electric Chameleon launch party; I see a family resemblance, particularly in lower facial expression. Words can’t describe how sorry I feel for him and his parents. This case, (because it could have been anyone’s daughter, son, friend, neighbor), is like a bad dream, frightening. As time passes, frustration tempts me to discount much of what I’ve read. I believe Morgan attended the concert and found herself outside due to deceptive practice on someone’s part. IDK,(I am truly mystified and have no set theory), but am wondering if answers will be found in someone on the periphery of her acquaintance, with attendance, participation and working ties to music festivals and events. Looking at Grandma’s account of the parking lot struggle, unrequited attraction could stimulate hostility in both pursuer and pursued. But that sighting was not confirmed by LE as far as I know, so it’s always back to a scattered purse. I pray that something soon breaks.
1443.Comment by acho — January 2, 2010 @ 9:21 am
… can we take a break and go back first to Blink’s comment at 1252,
“Something has bothered me to my core since the statement from Ms. Wood, UVA. You may have noticed I have not spoken about it, still not going to. Waiting for one of y’all..”
and then to Blink’s question at 1258,
“Does anyone happen to know if any of the Mom’s/Aunt’s/Sisters of the bball players were on campus the weekend of October17th?”
We never tackled this. Since we all seem to feel stymied with everything else, let’s look at it now. I wonder if Blink has info that one or more players used a relative’s visit as an alibi, but she can’t substantiate it. I stay away from the other boards but am going to see what I can find elsewhere. Anyone else? Might not lead anywhere but at least it’s a new question.
GREAT IDEA.
B
Good idea Acho. I haven’t checked back on the statement from Ms. Wood yet, but I noticed male visitors were not suggested? Perhapes the inquiry involves the missing necklace?
MsL,
Thanks for the info regarding the RV lot and bridge. I would think if the sighting in the RV lot was verified by LE (I think it was one of the Hook articles that stated the witness had been interviewed 5 times) then hopefully there is a description of the vehicle the group was “gathered around”. Part of my problem with the lot/BB players/Morgan/purse/cell is that some have said the players left her there alone but I don’t think the actual VSP information states that. Surely there were more people/cars in the lot than just the basketball players.
Redly, in response to your #1617 comment – I have to believe the RV lot sighting around a vehicle (if accurate) was Morgan because the time does not support Dee being present there. And after all we do know Morgan was in the RV lot around that same time because of the statements of the basketball players. If I’m not mistaken, the 4 guys with black shirts/Dee sighting was on video inside the arena. Like my college Spanish professor from Mexico used to say: This is driving me to the wall!!
RE: Comment by mamy — January 3, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
If I went back I could find this info, but does anyone remember where the basketball players were parked and if it is the same lot where Morgans purse and phone were found?
Hi mamy — I’m not sure if anyone has answered this question for you or not, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re being ignored…
I would like to answer it for you, but as with a lot of things in this case, there seems to be some discrepancy regarding exactly where the purse was found. I am not familiar with the area at all, but I believe they first said it was found in the RV parking lot — but, then something was mentioned about the Cage lot.
I was under the impression that it was found near where the BB players were, but I am not positive.
Has it been CONFIRMED yet where exactly Morgan’s purse was found?
Wait, isn’t the FBI already on this case?
snip: “Oct. 27: As the FBI continues to look for missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, TODAY’s Meredith Vieira talks to her parents, Dan and Gil Harrington, about their desperate search.”
and also (snip)
The FBI is officially involved in the case of Morgan Dana Harrington, and police are continuing to follow up leads with ground searches in the Charlottesville area.
http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/search_for_missing_va._tech_student_a_criminal_investigation/20627/
Now maybe ‘involved’ doesn’t equal ‘is running the investigation’
Harrington is the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student reported missing from Saturday night’s Metallica concert in Charlottesville.
Harrington’s father, Dan Harrington, had said Thursday that the FBI was involved in the investigation. Friday, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller confirmed that information.
The FBI will be checking tips from distant parts of the country, among other things, according to Geller.
whoopsie, stuck my own comment in the middle of the second quote
(suz said: Now maybe ‘involved’ doesn’t equal ‘is running the investigation’)
Lizzy, I know some think that Alex had a love interest give him the necklace and he turned around and regifted it to Morgan, but I can’t see that causing homicide no matter what kind of kook the spurned lover is. I mean, I can see ALEX ingbe killed by someone so passionately insane, but not his sis. That’s just too out there for me. So I’m sticking with: Alex got it as swag (free stuff) from his work as a stylist in the Big Apple. Maybe even from Fashion Week, which we know he attended.
Mandy: I dunno if Morgan’s chin injury is inconsistent with a fall. It always sounded like a scrape to me (like from a cement floor or wall, ouch). But I guess we haven’t had many details to prove it one way or another…
Judi, the biggest problem with the date rape drug is how does the perp know she will leave the arena, and when does he leave the arena, and is he following her from afar but nobody sees him out there? Seems odd that she is wandering lonely as a cloud through the lot for an hour if someone is out to get her. Not and impossible scenario, of course, just trickier to fit in with the known sightings.
mary (re: #1588), skyler (#1549):
mary, you noted skyler commented (in regard to call between SS and MH): “Unless … that was NOT the phone conversation. If the conversation really was that Morgan had texted Person X to pick her up, or she was going to find a ride to the “party” if there was a party — ”
I agree. Unless… “I’ll find a ride home” was not said in a “don’t y’all worry about lil ol me, you have fun at the show and I’ll find my own way back – no worries” way, but, rather, in a “you don’t even CARE I’m stuck outside??? I TOLD you I’ve tried EVERYTHING and can’t get back in without buying another ticket, which you KNOW I can’t afford right now! Fine – F U then. I’m going home, and I’LL find a ride from REAL friends! [abrupt hangup]” way.
This would explain the yelling witnesses reported hearing out front around 9 p.m. (circa time of phone call).
It would also explain the seemingly flip attitude and vague, nonsensical depiction of events by the Friends, e.g., SS may have turned to AM after such a call and said, “Morgan is being riDICulous. She somehow got her drunk azz locked out of the show! What? Does she expect us to just leave??? She’s also mad I can’t find Dan with keys. Unreal! She knows how crowded it is – not my fault he’s not picking up his phone. And get this – she says she’s finding her *own* way home! From WHO? House keys – HELLO. Whatevs. I’m sure she’ll cool off and sober up by the time we get back to the car.”
The situation could have resulted in SS and AM not taking MH seriously when she “threatened” to find her own way home. Perhaps they were used to occassional dramatics from her, and chose to ignore it. That could have been the “it” in the “wouldn’t have done it if we’d known” (she was serious) quote.
Regardless, it appears they just hoped to find her standing outside by her car waiting for them two hours later when they filed out with the post-concert crowd into the lot. I would have stuck around waiting for her past midnight, too, if I did not believe there was any way she would have found someone to drive her “home,” and the reality of the situation was starting to settle (“Where could she be?!?” A little late for that, Friends; a little late…).
Then again, there is no way – even at 20 – I would have put a drunk friend’s whereabouts out of my mind and ignored her lonely plight while I enjoyed a concert – that *she* coordinated tickets to – without her or without knowing she would be alright for the next few hours. That negligence and carelssness is completely beyond the pale.
doug (re: 1598)
“J2K – (re: – #1569/friends’ depiction of their last communication with MH) …
What else do you know?….ie what girl ever goes to the bathroom by herself? Usually it’s 2 or more going to the bathroom together.”
Can’t say I agree with you here, doug. Based on my own female predications dating back to when I was MH’s age, I was often an independent bathroom breaker – *especially* at a crowdwd show. I may announce I’m going to the bathroom and maybe a friend or several decide to join me, but I’m not going to wait expectantly for my female companions to leave their seat a la “Who’s coming with me?” I’d just go. And I bet that’s what MH did … falling on her face at some point on her way, crying in the bathroom at the impact of the incident (according to witnesses), stopping in the smoking area (still visibly upset, according to witnesses), then somehow ending up outside the arena before she could make it back to her section.
It also sticks with me that she likely left for the loo 8 pm or earlier, judging by the fact she reportedly made it through the bathroom line and smoked a cig before being outside around 8:20. How did the friends not try to get in touch with her for an hour after she left for a bathroom jaunt? Lining up the time, it appears they called her (or called her back after finally noticing her theoretical calls/texts) after the LOG set. Maybe they were just totally oblivious to her absence. She had to have attempted to reach them right after she realized she could not get back in – now *that* is a situation a woman would want to include her friends in immediately.
fish (re: #1600/phone call)
I hope you found your old copy of GOF.
You asked, “… was it a fight that turned into a phone call to Morgan by one of the friends? possibly, friend said “hey, they have your purse…go out and get it and you will get back in or so and so is outside, he needs to see you.” a cruel joke. maybe this is what SS was saying in her interview when she said “if we had know, we wouldn’t of done IT.”
While I think there’s a strong possibility a fight occurred between the girls or just SS and MH over her being outside, MH’s friends conspiring to trick her into leaving the arena and getting trapped out of the show is a little too twisted for me to accept as a realistic possibility. Also, MH had her purse with her as she traversed the lot, so I’m thinking it probable it was with her in the show. And, I think a detail as significant as MH meeting with a stranger over her bag that night would have been released by LE.
(Be sure and give Joe the Pug a good scratch behind the ears for me.)
Judi, I meant to acknowledge that you said you were backing away from the date rape drug, but since I do think it’s still a slight possibility, I wanted to put that other stuff out there about why it’s less likely than other scenarios. Still not impossible, imho, but other scenarios are probably more likely.
Lizzy,
I have also thought, from a comment posted on this thread last week, that someone, maybe a boyfriend, gave Alex that necklace. He seemed to be mad about it but I didn’t get the feeling it had anything to do with this. From the comment, I got the impression that he knew Alex gave it to sis because of her missing.
the reason i asked if any of morgan’s acquaintances were seen wearing the necklace is that lots of times boys will be lazy in their gift- giving… meaning they will give the same gift to the girlfriend of the month. i am also still of the mind that if we could figure out who called/ was treated for medical assistance that night some of our ?’s might be answered. does uva not have a place where they state who was arrested/ received drinking tickets?
and, as far as the mom’s/ sisters /aunts. does anyone know what kind of activities might have been provided for the bball families, and who might have attended these events?
Tarheel/Acho/Et al,
Apparently UVA was packed and very busy the weekend of Oct 16-18. Here’s the link to the schedule of events/parking/accommodations:
http://www.virginia.edu/familyweekend/
I don’t know how to verify if any women relatives of the men’s basketball team were in attendance but I thought the section discussing buses/shuttles was interesting. Sounds like they were everywhere that weekend and stopping every 20 minutes at the bus shelters in the large parking lots at University Hall to various locations on the central grounds. This was only until 5:00 on Friday and it doesn’t say how late on Saturday this service was operating, just every 20 minutes. On Saturday and Sunday, parking was available at University Hall and was also available for an hourly fee at the Central Grounds Parking Garage (I think that is the Emmet/Ivy garage).
Hmmmmmmmm.
Mary, I’m not 100% sure that we know that Dee was in the arena at the time of the parking lot sightings. For all I know, she skipped the opening acts and just showed up for Metallica, so that could have been her walking with the four black shirted dudes. We know she stayed until the END of the concert, but I don’t know that I’ve seen verification as to what time she entered the arena. Or do we know for sure when she entered the arena?
No Suz, she was, definitely. I have seen her in LOG video. What I would like to know, is if any of the friend group ALSO went outside for any reason. I don’t believe I have seen that asked.
B
Man, on break from work so I gotta be quick — I think I remember some questions — “think” being the operative word —
going backwards — according to info supplied by LE, there were no freight trains running in that area, but that the rr was doing diligent searches of cars and the line, and that the rr tracks themselves were searched w/ officers and the dogs — according to some post I read on some other unforum that poster said there was an Amtrak train that ran thru approximately during that time frame, but was running late that evening — and those tracks are behind “Wild Wings” —
Someone asked if I had thought of anything new ? nothing really new as far as my trip from the downtown mall to the econo lodge — but just reliving my trips across Copeley bridge — especially on some sites they’ve had overhead pix of the area — and I see the area and the trees right where I did a U-turn twice — there absolutely was no one, male or female, walking either on the road or over that bridge when I was there — I think I’m just a little bit too soon if Morgan appears on the bridge at 9:30 or later —
my kid teases me about this all the time — I’m just a stickler for following the rules — I parked in a parking space behind EconoLodge that said: parking for Panda Palace (or whatever the right name is, Panda something) customers only — so I’m thinking the whole time I’m there, they’re going to come at me w/ one of those meat cleever knives for parking in their spot. Lame, I know. And I’m even more lame — I packed a picnic for those boys and they didn’t eat any of it — I stopped at the CVS at the downtown mall and bought a couple of Christmas magazines — so I sat there for awhile, munching on grapes and reading those — the only thing I remember now is that a car did pull thru the parking lot, and I kinda scrunched down — then around 10:15 I put the seat all the way down and thought I’d rest a bit for the drive home — right — as my car is being shaked, rattled and rolled — I’m telling you, it is indescribable the noise coming from the arena — I have an SUV — full sized one — and my car was shaking — literally — I got wet walking to the car at the mall, so I took off that pull-over jacket and put on a dry heavy sweater, but I was cold and kept turning the heat on in the car — there were some people who walked thru the parking lot, but nothing I paid attention to — no loud noises or arguments — when the concert was over someone did come to a room that was at the back parking lot and turned on loud music — there were happy voices, etc. — then the car beside me in another “for customers only” the people came and drove off — and that’s it.
To clarify, I absolutely did speak to my son before Metallica took the stage — he was on the floor — in fact, I’ve seen his head from some videos posted o youtube. He was right up against that cage running around the stage — in fact, he “made friends” talked to the security guy — the bouncer — that bouncer travels w/ the band and was telling him some stuff — and near the end when James Hetfield, Metal God that he is, threw my child that guitar pick, my kid missed it — the security guard picked it up and gave it to him and there apparently was some eye contact between Hetfield and my kid — who also got a signed pick from Kurt Hammet — maybe because my child was on the floor and not in the crowds between intermission, the noise level was lower — idk — I also asked him when they got food — it was after they were let inside at 6 PM and before Gojira (1st band) took the stage — fyi, both those boys wore Metallica t-shirts to the concert — both bought t-shirts inside before the concert and both put the new concert t-shirt on over the ones they wore — and my kid bought another t-shirt from some guy selling them cheaper after the concert — I’m not sure he’s washed the Metallica smell off of them yet — ha
Gil’s post about Morgan walking in the Mental Health parade is chilling — because — I believe there is a connection between Morgan and “Beer Guy” who works in the mental health field —
It also sent chills down my spine to read that the BB players, whom I was willing to give a free pass, have 24-7/365 day access to the arena — not just for practice, but the “medical” equipment is down there — One of those playas has a bad ankle and they could go to JPJ to use the sauna or whirlpool equipment to soak that ankle — ten mins. is a long time to talk to a stranger — pretty girl or not — it’s very possible they could have told her they could get her back inside — and Morgan may have had knowledge about that herself, since her brother attended UVA — it’s also possible that the original BB players she was speaking w/ saw others from the team and passed Morgan on to them — hence the walking w/ 4 guys — but what about the allegation that some people Morgan was speaking w/ had camper trailers in RV lot ?????
right when you think you can cross somebody off the list …..
Well, I just got back from the bookstore and bought 3 copies of The Gift of Fear for my daughter, daughter-in-law and myself. We plan on reading them and passing them on to others. Thanks Blink for all you do for those without a voice and educating those of us who need it.
Awesome.
B
Have you all read Jamil Tucker’s notes on his facebook? He makes a lot of references to something happening to him over the summer. His note on Nov 17th talks about someone lying about him in a serious matter….hmmmm.
http://bn-in.facebook.com/notes.php?id=1163010097
Lizzy posted this earlier but I held it, because I have had it and I have a concern about the fact that I agree it is quite ambiguous. The date is November 19th actually, prior to him rejoining the roster and practice after Thanksgiving. Let’s all keep perspective on this.
B
If we go by the UVA Police report the purse was found in the cage lot
PROPERTY FOUND – Cage Parking Lot 200901379/45
Reported purse found
RPT: 0819 10-18-09 OCC: 0800 10-18-09
CASE STATUS: Active
I swear to God, Am I in a mood or does nobody read my articles and we keep going over the same thing.
Christy, I did an entire article outlining this, I broke this info. It conflicts with the Lannigan Lot description and LE would not elaborate or refute it. There is a map of the parking that evening showing where the CAGE lot is as well.
Self imposing my concentration on a new case I am working on-
B
Sky-
You are absolutely killing me. I will email you on that one.
(Blink covers eyes, scrunches brow and drags hand down face to rest on mouth)
B
#1631 – J2K – “Unless… “I’ll find a ride home” was not said in a “don’t y’all worry about lil ol me, you have fun at the show and I’ll find my own way back – no worries” way, but, rather, in a “you don’t even CARE I’m stuck outside??? I TOLD you I’ve tried EVERYTHING and can’t get back in without buying another ticket, which you KNOW I can’t afford right now! Fine – F U then. I’m going home, and I’LL find a ride from REAL friends! [abrupt hangup]” way.
This would explain the yelling witnesses reported hearing out front around 9 p.m. (circa time of phone call).”
Agreed, and having a 19-year-old daughter I’ve heard that tone many times both from my daughter and her friends. I was thinking along the lines of: “YES I’m pissed I can’t see the concert I’ve been waiting for for 6 freaking months, but UNSUB said he would come get me”.
skyler, I just love your accounts of that night, and your lucky son and his souvenirs—so cool that you were soooo close (yet so far, alas).
As for Morgan and the BB players, she still ends up HH on the bridge not long after she chats them up, so I’m thinking she wouldn’t be on the bridge if they said they would get her inside the arena.
I’m embarrassed that the first line of a previous post of mine said “apparently UVA was busy that weekend”. As I was scrolling down a minute ago I came across an earlier post by fish that said UVA was a zoo that weekend. Sorry fish.
Just a thought…Jamil could know something perhaps incriminating about someone else. A teammate or someone like that.
He has a few teammates with some very unusual, and to some maybe, impressive pedigree. These teammates do belong to a world where they could be somewhat ‘untouchable’.
I am in no way saying that this is the case, only speculating. Similarly, I have speculated that Jamil could be hiding some facts to avoid self incrimination.
I am doing my very best to stay level on the whole issue-
That said, I am more than dissatisfied with the explanation from the UVA spokesperson. Ms. Wood did not throw it back to the VSP because these guys passed her in the parking lot. There was not a word spoken about the last VERIFIED interaction with a missing woman at the last press conf.
Their testimony/witness account is R E L E V A N T to Morgan’s disappearance.
B
I just can;t imagine LE not being able to find Morgan. It seems as though the answers are all within their reach…..
J2K, I’m thinking that even if the very worst scenario is true where Morgan’s friends know she is in trouble, know she is stuck outside with no way back in, and they are refusing to help her cuz they selfishly want to watch the show, the only person truly to blame for Morgan’s disappearance (if another person is involved)is the perp.
shoot, j2k — just when I think we’ve covered all possibilities, you come up w/ a really good new one — (on lunch break now) — the thing that bothers me, though, is “the kiss” — supposedly somewhere there is a still capture from a video of a blonde girl kissing another girl on the cheek at LOG — I cannot ever link it and have no idea where I even read it — but if the kiss is true, it wasn’t a kiss to go smoke or potty — it was a kiss good-bye from a girl who knew where she was going — also, if the LOG video is of Morgan — and I believe there is a strong possibility it is, because morgan doesn’t have just blonde hair — she’s got really long blonde hair, and this girl does, too — and the video girl has very thin arms like Morgan — “if” it is her, someone posted that song was near the end of the LOG set — and thinking on it, that “someone” might have been my very own kid — we pulled up those videos and he identified the song and told me where it was in the set — plus — on the day we learned of her disappearance we were watching the news together and he said: I think I saw her — the girl in the LOG video is standing on the floor, if she parted company w/ SS or AM after LOG left the stage, it is very plausible she walked right by where he was standing on the floor — he would not have noticed her during the concert — he was there to see Metallica, he could see girls any day — but girls are the subjects that are front and center of he and his best friends’ minds at all times — especially a girl walking alone w/out a bf in tow — and if it were intermission, he’s looking at girls — that is pure speculation.
Now, maybe the kiss goodbye is that they were told they had to leave the floor and she was going to the bathroom and meet up w/ them in section 312 for Metallica — because again my kid told me he had to show his ticket in order to get on the floor — that was before any bands took the stage — when they first arrived — but as we all know, a pretty girl can get by w/ a lot —
Now, don’t mean to bash the friends, and in particular Sara — but in my 20′s one of my closest friends was knock-out beautiful — she modeled as a side job — they made her “Miss Jamaica” blew her picture up to life size and put it in all the airports on the east coast — this tall skinny white girl Miss Jamaica — size 4 jeans were too big for her — anyway, her heart was so big she was impossible not to love, and we had such good times together — but believe me, when we went out, even after work, men didn’t look at anyone but her– and sometimes I had pangs of jealousy — especially on those size 4 jeans — I had to work out like hell to stay in 9′s —
Even if Sara lost wt, i don’t say that unkindly, she is not as beautiful as Morgan and never will be — I think maybe Sara overcompensates for that which may account for the inappropriate laughter and behavior — inside, I think your scenario of her calling and saying: I’ve tried to get back in , etc. — maybe Sara felt she deserved what she got and maybe the “it” is not coming to her aid to get back inside —
who the heck knows ? The only people who do know are those girls, and I don’t know how they can possibly be in the same state as the Harringtons and not tell everything they know — and what the heck happened to Amy ? Did they drop her off in Crozet and then Dan and Sara drive to JMU ? Is that why four went, two drove back ?
This isn’t meant to sound as mean as it will come out — but how often is Sara alone w/ a boy ? More than 50 percent of the divorces I did in my career that involved adultery involved adultery w/ the wife’s best friend — and soon after this Dan and the GF broke up — was Sara trying to manipulate a scenario so that she and Dan could drive back alone together ?
And “who” is the “we” who waited supossedly several hrs. after the concert for Morgan ? Another question — where did they wait ? I can only speak to richmond, and local folks, maybe you can answer this question, but once an event is over around here — let’s specifically say Nascar — it used to be you could park overnight — and lots of people did and tailgated after the race and slept in their cars so they didn’t have to drive home drunk — they cut that out a few years ago — now police have to completely clear the parking lots in a timely manner — does JPJ have the same rule, that they clear the jpj parking areas so security can leave ?
More and More I’m inclined towards Sue’s comment long ago, we should get us a posse, round up these “friends” and keep ‘em until they spill their guts about what they know (that last part about keeping ‘em is my comment, Sue just wanted to gather a posse)
And lastly, fish, I laughed about your dog eating the cords — I worked NY Eve, which I didn’t mind, I work from home, but the next day nobody called me — ie, my child, and I was pouting until finally I decided I’d just call him and my lousy friends who didn’t care enough about poor me, sniff sniff — turns out my new dog ate not just the phone cord, but I have to plug it into this plastic adapter thing that separates the phone line from the DSL line — she ate all that, as well — ha
Back to trying to put these square pegs in round holes — Morgan, where can you be ?
J2k 1570
Those are exactly my initial thoughts too.
So, is that why she ended up outside? I think so. Maybe then she ralized she didn’t have her keys, she tried to get back in to get them, they wouldn’t let her back in, the fiends wouldn’t give her the keys because, she was drunk, or they were being selfish not knowing how they would get home. Maybe
Then I think that would only make sense if Morgan was the one that called SS. So, why were DEE S and her party supiposed to meet up with Dan and their party? Dee states they went homeand went to bed.
So, then I start thinking maybe Morgan and AM had plans after the concert. SS and Dan were going to ride back to JMU with DS and party. Morgan and one of the girls get into it Morgan is upset and decides to leave. SS calls Morgan and says uh where are you going we have your keys. Morgan trys to get back in but can’t. She thinks well I am not going far I will just walk or maybe catch a cab. She is fumbling through her purse looking for cash or a card or something. stuff is spilling out, she meets the BB players and here is wher I get lost did she ask for cash, a ride, or where is the best place to catch a cab, or an ATM is? This conversation or dialogue is crucial.
Meanwhile at JPJ….. She and Amy had plans they got into an argument, Morgan just wanted to go home Amy wanted to stay and party or vice versa. After the concert DS’s bf calls Dan too see if he and SS still need a ride Dan says no someone is missing bc they know Morgan doesn’t have her car and they can’t get ahold of her. Dan and SS drop AM off wherever she and Morgan where suposed to be at. AM call SS from wherever and says no Morgan isn’t here I will ask around, Her BF/X isn’t here either they will show up and he can bring us to get her car in the morning. Dan and SS head home . IDK but something has to make sense here. Sorry for all the typos my computer is on the fritz and it is too big of a pain to correct.