Missing VT Student Morgan Harrington Body Found Near Charlottesville
BREAKING NEWS
Abermarle Cty– VA
While official confirmation is not expected until the earliest this evening, sources inside the investigation have confirmed to blinkoncrime.com that the remains located on Anchorage Farm in South Abermarle County are that of missing Virginia Tech Student Morgan Dana Harrington.
Property Records reflect the farm is owned by The Bass Family, but has no known association to Morgan or the Harrington family.
The thoughts and prayers of the readers and editors of blinkoncrime.com wish to extend their deepest condolences to the family of Morgan Harrington.
Please check back for updates to this breaking story.
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Just now on NBC29 at noon:
Remains have been positively identified as Morgan’s via dental records.
Press conference at 1pm.
Morning, everyone. Sky, thank you for the offer of meeting to attend the memorial. I am too far away and can not leave my family. It makes me feel better to know you and some fellow BOC friends will attend. Please take my prayers and heartfelt condolences with you.
suz, thank you for the info on the farms ect
Rob, Thanks for that post. I am in envy of you for having seen the late great Cliff Burton. To me, he was the heart and soul of Metallica. No offense to those who carried on after his untimely death.- A point you made about LE having more to go on now that Morgan has been found, is true. They can now rule out/in sightings based upon location of Morgan. Perhaps even including ones previously dismissed based upon bad info.
notJMUfan, chitown Lady,I agree barbed wire is easy to get across with help, but with Morgan’s long hair, and 5’6 height coupled with the weather conditions, I don’t think it would have been quite so easy for her.
susanm, star bucks, Thanks for that link I would have never known about magic mushrooms growing in cow manure,with the best time to pick em in the fall and spring. Interesting, although I can’t see Morgan being lured into walking thru mud and manure to eat a dirty shroom no matter the effects.
Chad, I don’t know if the “friends” need a closer look, I sincerely hope not. If involved, can you imagine what that would do to The Harrington’s?
LE must know now if their stories jive,or soon will. But I will look back to OYE’s comments and post snip.
Hummingbird, thank you for sharing that story and what a beautiful thought, Morgan as a golden butterfly.
To everyone here today, and those reading, nice to be amongst friends who grieve Morgan’s loss and who want her Killer/s found. My thanks to Blink and crew. My sincere condolences to The Harrington’s. RIP Morgan
Positive ID rec’d on Morgan’s remains.
Sklyer is absolutely right: The CME in Richmond, VA is one of the very best. I have the highest level of confidence in her and the OCME staff to meticulously process any/all evidence recovered from the site.
As others have pointed out, large farms and estates in this area (like others) generally have several separate dependencies or small homes/cottages that are rented out by the owners.
Has anyone yet noted:
1. if the Basses live in the main home, or if they live in one of the smaller dependencies on Anchorage and still rent out the large home–as they had done for some years (and did when I visited there).
2. how many properties/dependencies are rented-out on/near Blandemere.
Sadly, what we already knew has been confirmed, Morgan has been positively identified by her dental records. WCAV, Charlottesville, has reported that the autopsy results could be released later this afternoon.
If it’s kosher, here’s the WebSleuths link to the page that shows the location of her remains and all the little roads nearby.
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93491&page=33
Just some interesting info on the farm itself (built circa 1830).
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Albemarle/002-0734_Anchorage_2001_Final_NR.pdf
Correction: Blandemar (Farm Estates)
Am specifically asking about rental properties, for a reason.
I hate to ask the obvious, but does this farm owner have kids or grandkids? They certainly would be familiar with the grounds, accessing them, and what areas are less frequented, worked, etc.
Scroll down to see all the images from the WS link. Look how far into the field she was–far from all roads, i mean, with what looks to me like lots of woods inbetween, unless you come from the front gate.
Really off the beaten path. Unless Bass did it. He’s my new number 1 suspect (kidding of course, but you can see how tempting that would be for the police).
His fields might not have been very muddy. Seems to me that the remains place is at a higher elevation? Or do we know that for fact. Maybe I am making odd assumptions. But my friend’s farm in VA (and in particular, her hayfields) has the best drainage. You practically never run into mud except near the pond, and where the creek runs through, and at low points in the front yard if there’s been a gully washer, esp. if the cows have been tromping through. And after the snow thaws. But in Oct, just for light rain like that, I don’t think her fields would have been terribly muddy.
Re: #436 Comment by Ragdoll — January 27, 2010 @ 12:09 pm
#380
“I believe Rocky Mount is in NC IIRC.”
Ragdoll, you’re right: there is a Rocky Mount in N.C., but also one in Virginia. It’s in Franklin County, only about 25 minutes from Roanoke taking Rt. 220S.
____________
Also want to post a link to today’s Roanoke Times article, in case people haven’t seen it. There was one very interesting quote from friend Chelsea Helm:
[snip from Roanoke Times article]
“Harrington’s Northside High School friends — scattered at universities from Newport News to Harrisonburg to Blacksburg — drove to Roanoke when they learned her body may have been found.
“Some of us are taking it a lot harder than others,” said Chelsea Helm, a Virginia Tech student. “We just all want to be together right now.”
Also, just saw that the article has been updated with ME verification that it is Morgan and a statement from Dr. Harrington.
http://roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/234465
When do we expect to receive the ME’s report?
Depends.
If they can establish COD and MOD from the autopsy without the tox screens, than as early as today.
I have a feeling though that even if they do, they will only release a “pending toxicology” result.
I would not be surprised if they sealed it, however. That would be a good sign to me.
B
I’m wondering if people might also be interested in donating to the Roanoke nonprofit that Morgan volunteered for every summer. Maybe the Harringtons will give us their suggestions.
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Albemarle/002-0734_Anchorage_2001_Final_NR.pdf
Historical Landmark application if anyone is interested. I didn’t know that there was a cemetary on the grounds. This gives a written discription of the buildings and structures on the farm.
Also, just out of curiousity, IF LE would have extended their search into that general area of the Farm, could they have executed a search since it was on private protery?
The location of Morgan leads me to believe that since it was private property, the perp placed her there perhaps because of privacy? False sense of security that she would not be found in a public searc, and also, chances of Morgan being found to a location that the owner goes to once or twice a year?
Reeks of premeditation to me.
Skyler, I am going to make a donation. I haven’t clicked on the link yet, but I will. Thank you for doing all this research for that.
I would like to make it on behalf of BLINK on Crime, and remain anonymous.
Blink, you have my permission to give Skyler my e-mail address if she wants to send me any info.
Back to work, will check in later.
It would seem that the police didn’t have any trouble driving back to that location with all their vehicles.
446 SuzeeB — thanks for bringing that map over. If the second one is accurate (and I don’t know that we can know that yet), that is the absolutely optimal position to do what was done and minimize the chance of being observed from any of the various houses. It maximizes the distance from all of the houses and really eliminates the chances in my mind that it was someone who did not know the area well.
The theory that the purse was dumped at JPJ after the fact as a red herring really makes a lot of sense. The purse has been the out of place fact we have all struggled with throughout.
cvilleconcerned, thank you for sharing your experience as a UPS delivery person to that area.
Local, Thank you for inviting poster from The Hook
Chad, go to work friend, very interesting about the barn, someone on the other thread(sorry can’t remember who) mentioned FB pages mentioning partying at the barn… w pics
TheOtherD, thanks for the info and the chuckle- good sports bra indeed-
Observer, thanks for that post, I will do that. Last night my children thought I was off my rocker, because a hugged them a little longer and squeezed them alittle tighter… teens what can I say?
Blink, I have thought about this ALLL night. I have to agree, there isn’t a logical, innocent reason for Morgan and UK to walk back there.
So, that leaves planned. Was the murder planned or just the disposal? Was she killed there? If not, then this person is far more devious, and sick IMO than just someone who happened upon Morgan in a moment of distress and then tried to cover-up something that may have led to Morgan’s demise. Far more dangerous too.
Comment by Judi — January 27, 2010 @ 11:14 am
have to admit, I was quite upset over this. My husband asks me why I allow myself to get so emotionally attached.
My husband asks me the same question. The reason for me being so attached is this is someones daughter, sister, and friend. Heart wrenching is she had a supportive family who loves her.Unfortunately the ways of evil in the world this can be any of us either in her parents shoes or in her position.
Morgan was going somewhere with her life. This was not some scum bag who was just going to feed off of welfare and never make an attempt to get a job. Not saying anyone deserves this in any capacity. There is a reason Morgan grabbed everyone’s heart. The reason is different for each of us. We are all in agreeance on one thing. This guy must be brought to justice.
Wow, that is a very, very odd location. Not in the woods, not in a river, not dumped on the side of the road—but a strange, hard to reach spot that’s kind of hidden and kind of not. But tricky (imho) to get to. But as others have said, not if you’re familiar with the place and have the right equipment.
Farms seriously do attract tons of trespassers. People will come fish your pond or hunt illegally. They’ll open your gates—even cut the locks–to ride their 4 wheelers or horses, or to ride (or steal) YOUR golf cart. It’s bizarre.
chad ,if you browse the crime reports at uva police website you see many “larceny theft purse from vehicle” at “the park”, and the parking garages,and wallets and ipods and cameras and gps,there were at least 4 for the park that i saw and i only went thru several of the months skipping around a bit.
Re: Comment by hummingbird — January 27, 2010 @ 2:35 am
Hummingbird,
How kind of you to include my name, as I don’t actually participate much. I’ve done nothing more than offer up information/photos on possible connections to questions I’ve seen asked by many of you. You all are the driving forces- with Blink at the wheel navigating on this journey.
I must say, when you mentioned Tom Petty, my heart skipped a little. Not that I am a die-hard fan of his, mind you (never cared too much for any of his music after the mid-eighties), but his earlier stuff was ever present in the background of the glorious days of my misspent youth.
One song in particular has played in my mind on and off during these last three months while reading and researching Morgan’s case and I’d like to offer it here with Morgan in mind.
I realize it is in complete contrast to other dedications, however it is offered in the spirit in which she lived life…
From one American Girl who rocked out with abandon a lifetime ago and lived to tell the tale, to another who had only just begun and whose adventure in this life was so cruelly extinguished on a cold rainy night in October.
Rock on Morgan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS3xOmI1Plk
FWIW: I do not believe any of the following:
1. the report of a stolen purse from The Park is related in any way to the MH case;
2. the perp returned MH’s purse to the Lannigan Lot–or returned (himself) to the vicinity of JPJ at all–following his “encounter” with MH on the evening of October 17, 2009;
3. the perp “planted” MH’s purse in the Lanningan Lot at any point or for any reason;
You think she threw it out herself as instructed. So do I.
B
rvrb
I’m not suggesting that it would be a successful endeavor, rather a pretext to get her to walk out there. I understand that they look for them in cow pastures.
Wanted to bring this over from Gil’s blog… It’s an essay Morgan wrote.
Morgan Harrington
Zeek- English 111
Reader’s Journal #3
11 September 2006
“My Philosophy of Life”
This weekend, my mom told me that my chores would involve outdoor
work instead of the usual indoor vacuuming. I was not thrilled about this change
from my typical routine and had a bad attitude when I first knelt down to begin
gardening. Once my body finally adjusted to the heat and my hand movements
developed a circular pattern to spread the soil, I grew comfortable in nature next
to my mom. As I thumped the earth around the roots of the flowers, my mind
began to wander. It was then that I realized how plants are very similar to
people.
Just as people need certain things to survive, plants do as well. A young
plant needs serious attention from a gardener until it grows strong enough to
thrive on its own. A gardener must position the plant in an area where the sprout
will receive just the right amount of sunlight; however, too much sun will cause
the plant’s leaves to shrivel up and eventually it will die. Regular water is also a
necessity required for plant survival but too much water will wash the roots right
out of the ground and kill the plant. After the plant has been placed, and
nurtured, the gardener has to step back and let nature run its course. The plant
still requires some nurturing and care, but survival is up to the plant. Some
seeds never sprout, some blooms shrivel up and die unexplainably, and some
plants never seem to grow to the expected size and splendor. There is only so
much tending a gardener can do and the rest is up to nature and the plant.
A person must be carefully nurtured and have good values instilled in him
when he is young and begins maturing. Childhood is a “make or break it” stage
in development where the individual is very fragile; therefore, parents must raise
their kids with the best intentions. Parents must introduce tools for success to
their children at a young age, for example, stressing the value of a good
education. If a parent is overly emphatic and insistent about school, though, a
child might reject learning altogether. Informing kids about the hardships in life is
also something that a parent must do; however, if the parent reveals too much
about suffering, the child could become overwhelmed and fearful of the world.
Protection from overexposure to danger is necessary to a certain extent to
maintain innocence, but there is a fine line between being protective and
smothering the individual one tries to protect. Parents lay a foundation for their
children, but after a certain point, it is truly up to the child whether or not he wants
to thrive. Some kids have many opportunities presented to them but never take
advantage of them, some kids drop out of high school, and some kids fail to
reach their full potential. There is only so much a parent can do and it is really up
to each child to lift his head up and reach for the sun.
I watched my mom clip dead basil leaves and I felt even more confident
that my newly discovered philosophy of life was correct. My mom taught me
about life and raised me to uphold certain values, but now I’m a senior in high
school and I’m starting to make decisions for myself and emerge as my own
person. I will always remember what she taught me and keep that knowledge in
mind as I make independent decisions. Now I can only hope that the flowers we
planted will do the same – but even if they don’t, I still have experienced a growth
of insight as well as greater closeness with my mom through this simple
gardening project.
Sorry; the 1:00 pm press conferenced with LE was announded on CBS19 in C-ville, but I am sure NBC29 announced it too. It’s starting now on CBS 19
Blink,
Who was the original POI that had the traveling tie-dye hut?
Happy Hippie James Herndon, and he was never a POI to my knowledge.
B
Just listened to Gil’s voice interview that she gave yesterday to a local news channel and albeit only a minute long, her elogence continues to shine through. Amazing woman. Just utterly amazing. She says that they had thought they prepared themselves for this day but thinking and doing they are finding out are two differenty things and that they are now trying to figure out how to be a tripod instead of the four legged table that they have always been before. Leaves me speachless.
One thing I do know for sure is that throughout Morgan’s short life, she definetly was surrounded by love, had wonderful parents and a loving family, understood the gift of giving and gave that gift of giving through her volunteer work. In her short life, she received and gave love. And, through that love, Morgan will live on in the hearts of so many people, people she knew and people she didn’t know.
After this is all over, Morgan will be remembered for her beauty, her gift of love, her volunteer work and her captivating personality.
Now we need to pray for her family and pray for justice.
BLINK – I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR YOUR OPINION (AS WELL AS EVERYONE’S HERE). I HOPE THAT YOU ARE RIGHT IN THAT THEY KNOW THE WHO AND AN ARREST IS FORTHCOMING (HOPEFULLY SOON, VERY SOON). WE MUST NOW JOIN TOGETHER BEHIND THE HARRINGTONS AND FIGHT FOR “JUSTICE FOR MORGAN” AND ACCEPT NOTHING LESS.
Waiting on the ME’s report. Hopefully today. If sealed, as Blink suggests it may be, I will take Blink’s advice and consider it a good sign.
2 4 1
Blink and Observer, if Morgan were told (forced) to throw out her purse before they left the area, she would have been putting up a good fight by this point, or realized then that she was in great danger. Do you think she was incapacitated before the drive down 29? Knocked out, or already on the way out with drugs? Or maybe there were two perps involved…one to drive, and one to control her? If they were going to need her to walk, someone may have just physically held her against her will for the fifteen minute ride, while the other guy or girl drove.
Lol, I put words in Observers “post”. I do not know if she thinks that, or the only other alternative I can think of-
She legitimately dropped it and could not find it, set it on a vehicle, forgot, and it slid off while driving, or the perp tossed it.
It is my belief either she threw it out as instructed OR Perp tossed it unbenknownst to her, or he tossed it out in front of her.
I really believe I keep coming back to the Razor on this one.
B
Well, I wasn’t listening…the press conference was not with Law Enforcement but with the Harringtons (Gil, Dan and Alex). They look pale and so sad.
Dan: “…This is the last place Morgan was seen before someone took her and murdered her”, referring to the Copely Road bridge and why the press conference was held there.
I don’t think the theories of Morgan wandering from a house or barn party and expiring in a field are to be considered any more.
“We will not stop until that person is brought to justice”…Dan. They believe one person is responsible.
Gil: “For the first time in 101 days, I am not thinking, ‘What is he doing to her?’ She did not live through that concert. She was not alive long enduring unspeakable things. That girl even had some lovely bones. ”
The Harringtons were helicoptered over the scene; as others have stated it was a crime scene, and they were not allowed on it.
Dan: “The ME won’t release the body for 5 or more days.”
Dan: “The area where Morgan was found was not a random place someone came upon accidentally. It was known. It was a local person.”
Gil: (on urging caution to your kids) “It’s more subtle, but in addition to caution, you need to change the social framework that views women as prey. …I don’t know how it’s going to be changed. I’m going to try and ponder it.”
Dan: “Do we advocate and honor Morgan to support campus safety? … We often have 10 young women here running by themselves” (the Copely Road bridge). “Not just here but as a national campaign.”
Gil: “We’re still waiting on an exact cause of death”.
Dental records confirm this is Morgan per CNN bewes website.
I saw these coordinates on another site.
37.98483860692609, -78.6160746216774
Copy and paste into http://www.Googlemaps.com
The green arrow is the location from which the aerial view of the police were located yesterday.
I am now thinking the perp accessed this area via Blandemar Farm rd possibly via ATV.
That is a very noisy proposition if your taking the time to have her at a location in which she could not be seen by any house.
B
Starbucks: Agreed. It was be seriously stupid to look for them then and there, and seriously stupid to eat anything you did find. It could be a part of a ploy however. (I just don’t think it was in this case.)
–
I’m guessing — and it really is just a guess mixed with some experience living and working on similar farms in this area — that the remains were found down in the bottom land (the dark green bit towards the woods, with a creek running roughly North-South on it — starting on this property from the pole barn next door in Blandemar.
I also think all of these Google Map photos were taken in later March. That’s what the blooming bradford pear trees seen in nearby areas (and other clues) tell me.
I never posted before this because you wonderful people said everything I thought about this case better than I ever could. Not a day has gone by since I first heard of this beautiful girl going missing that I haven’t thought about her. I read on your site every night, Blink.
Yesterday I came home and before I could even sit down to look at your site for updates, my husband came running to me and said they found her. I broke down and cried. It was as if someone I had known a very long time had been ripped away.
I hope to God they catch whoever has done this and with a quickness like no other. My thoughts and prayers are with the Harrington family. May your beautiful daughter and sister rest in peace now that she has been found.
“Comment by SuzeeB — January 27, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
It would seem that the police didn’t have any trouble driving back to that location with all their vehicles.”
“He said it was only accessible by driving up his private driveway then taking several unpaved paths.
In Bass’s opinion, he could only be accessed using four wheel drive.
He said state police investigators couldn’t even get there in their vehicles, instead having to walk.”
http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/article/property_owner_describes_finding_what_is_believed_to_be_morgan_harringtons_/77204/
I apologize if I’ve missed something because I haven’t had the time to read all of the posts. I did go back through some quickly to locate the exact location where her body was found.I grew up in that area and hunted/hiked through all of that area as a youngster before Bass bought the property. I initially thought she was found closer to the homeplace, the rental at the top of the hill where the students live, but now that she was found south of the Bass’s main house makes things somewhat clearer.
My opinion: Whomever took her there knows the property and knows it well. They entered, most likely, via Anchorage Dr off of 29. Yes, there’s a gate there, but it’s rarely if ever closed. They drove the main road back towards the Bass home, turned to the left into the field, drove as far as they could without getting into too rough or wet terrain. They then carried/dragged the body as far as they felt was necessary. The rolling terrain there would have blocked the view of the Bass home (if my memory serves me correctly).
Three different groups that would have known the property well enough to have done this:
1-students that had lived in the house and hiked/jogged back thru the property.
2-hunters that have covered every inch of the property while hunting
3-possibly farm workers
Student tenants or their friends are my most likely culprits…my gut feeling. They saw Morgan at JPJ, offered her a ride and she would have been much more likely to get in a fellow students car than the some older man. My opinion is that he tried to take advantage of her, something went wrong, and it turned bad. He went to the most remote place he knew, dragged her as far as he could, dropped her body and ran back. Judging from what news reports are saying, there wasn’t much attempt to hide the body.
A farm worker would/could have done the exact same thing.
Had one of the hunters that hunts the property committed the crime, he could have easily driven a 4WD to the area and dumped the body, at anytime of day or early morning or just after dusk and never aroused susp. I seriously doubt that he would have left her in the field, but would have taken her to the woods and covered or buried her, where she would likely never be found. He would have felt the most at ease in that location; more so than the student or farm worker.
Entry off of Chopin Rd is highly unlikely. There is an automatic gate at the entrance, and the killer would have had to carry her quite some ways, go thru 3-4 barb-wire fences, AND in the dark, even IF he got thru the gate. Highly unlikely.
Oct 17 is in the middle of deer hunting archery season so whomever dumped the body, would have most likely done so at night to avoid the possibility of being spotted by a hunter or even someone hiking. A lot of hunting goes on around that area.
Getting to the location where Morgan was found via Red Hill Rd is possible by entering the gate, driving up the bottomland. This could have been done by a hunter, that had permission to hunt the property, without raising concern. But then it wouldn’t make sense for him to drag the body, or force her to walk up THRU the woods to the exposed field below the Bass home.
Start putting some pressure on the student tenants and I think you’re heading down the right road.
Thanks for allowing me to hold this until I completed my piece on the tree cams, Red Hill-
B
The Forgotten Victims Group of Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley is a group for which Morgan volunteered. It really touched me that this group of kids put together an appearance at a local parade in Vinton at Christmas to hand out flyers and make people aware of Morgan’s disappearance. The fact that they said they hoped Morgan would be here for their Christmas party was especially heart wrenching.
http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=11616285
Feeling a little frustrated about not being able to do much, I was just thinking that if ANYTHING good might be able to come out of this situation, maybe it would be awareness for this group which helps kids who are affected by domestic violence.
If anyone out there would like to join me in making a donation to this group, please make your check payable to “Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley” and mail it Diane Kelly at:
Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley
Post Office Box 592
Roanoke, VA 24004
Hopefully, these kids will know that they are NOT forgotten and that Morgan had a part in that.
Thanks Blink. I’m going to go with my old stand-by, which is that she sat it down on a car while chit-chatting, and forgot to pick it up before willingly getting into a car with someone. Thinking she was going to a party.
I’m trying to think how I would react if a guy threw my bag out a window (because I’d surely notice unless Very out of it, or held down by someone else who was not driving), I’d scratch, claw, and beat him until he couldn’t drive. Surely someone would have noticed a fighting and screaming Morgan.
Comment by Edward — January 27, 2010 @ 11:08 am
Looks like it comes down to the S.O. Plumber or the Scary Movie Maker from the research all of you have done so far.
I back off on the players involvment.
This really looks like somebody enjoyed freaking her out and putting her in a position where others would never hear her scream
Immediately the thought someone took her to the middle of this field in the dark and tortured her with sadistic acts. Even scarier then I first imagined.
Re:
Comment by Ragdoll — January 27, 2010 @ 12:09 pm
#380
I believe Rocky Mount is in NC IIRC.
—————————————
NOTE: I believe they mean Rocky Mount, VA, just south of Roanoke on Rt 220, which runs through Martinsville, VA and into middle NC
There is also a Rocky Mount, NC in eastern NC near I-95 : )
blink never posted befor i read all the time iam so sorry this ended like this for our morgan my heart goes out to her parents and brother blink…what brings me to comment is i read this on the hook site it got to me real bad and i said blink has to here about this dont post if you dontfine itinportan PLEASE read to end it is long and someone in this showalter familey wrote on this board last night no one contected the name to this stalkerthats runs up and down29 picking up young girls showalter daughter was killed by this stalker maybe mother that wroteon this sitelast night harriet showalter Aliciashowalter was harriet was the mother forgive my typing the stalker was a Darrell RICE just got out of prison BLink you need to read this http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2007/05/17/cover-amalg-stalker.rtf.aspx its took me 30 mins to type this please read ty
Statements from the Harringtons and the ME.
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/234487
From Roanoke Times: “The investigation continues into the cause and time of death. Virginia State Police, Albemarle County Police, University of Virginia Police, and Charlottesville Police are back out at the farm today (Jan. 27, 2010) canvassing the area for any additional evidence.”
____________
From upthread/news conference:
Gil: “For the first time in 101 days, I am not thinking, ‘What is he doing to her?’ She did not live through that concert. She was not alive long enduring unspeakable things. That girl even had some lovely bones.”
Wow. That “lovely bones” comment really got me in the gut.
“That is a very noisy proposition if your taking the time to have her at a location in which she could not be seen by any house.
B”
Noisy, right! He would have to force with a gun or knife to walk or take her there –maybe a golf cart (battery) They are not noisy.
However, accessing that property at night with lights would be too risky.
I just don’t see how the perp (even being very familiar with the land) would have known to take her out that far in the middle of the night without some form of light.
Unless, it was day (dawn, daybreak)??
#473 – Blink / Observer
What lends me to believe that purse was dumped after the fact, is whispers that the debit card was found in the purse, and HAD been used post 9.30pm.
Xactly why I moved my cheese, yes.
B
Observer -
I appreciate your kind, motivating sentiments. Incidentally, violent-crime is probably the one subject I have not covered directly in my career.
Also, your lovely thought lifted me from some of the despair that was weighing on my ability to contribute here today. TY (Observer suggested: “Let’s each honor Morgan’s memory by doing something kind for someone else today. Something special, unexpected and meaningful. Something that you know will bring a smile to the face of the recipient. Don’t tell anyone else what you did; just do it. …”)
Lastly, in re: your comment January 27, 2010 @ 1:47 pm -
(“FWIW: I do not believe any of the following: …)
1. Agreed.
2. Agreed.
3. Agreed.
That said, as far as B’s comment to you:
“You think she threw it out herself as instructed. So do I.” ~B
Do not agree (at this point).
Oh, but B – (per your inspiring comments last night)
I’ll scootch aside and give you the floor Every. Time.
suz – re: “So are we thinking that she gets picked up on the bridge at 9:30 and the perp immediately disbles her phone (either forcably, or with a sly ‘oh, cool, can I see your phone? i always wanted one of these’ and he slips the battery out so that she cannot call for help as he takes her away?”
You and others seem to be, suz; I, however, am not convinced. Perhaps because LE seemed fairly unconcerned with the battery. They may find it on the farm or next to her final resting spot, so this could change, but I think it’s highly probable that they had reason to believe it likely her phone shut down on its own or purposely, on her volition at 9:30 (e.g. to save juice for later in the night when she thought she may have needed to get back in touch with the Friends).
The only witnesses we know she spoke with were the BB players – between them (whom she may have asked to borrow a phone) and her friends (after all, it would have been a 10-hour day for her phone at that point if it wasn’t fully charged when she left Roanoke), it may have been conveyed to LE that she expressed that she was running out of power. Thus, the did-anyone-lend-her-their-phone? question to the public.
Plus, until I’m moved otherwise, it does not make sense to me that the situation in the vehicle – near passers-by, security, and overhead lighting – got immediately violent, which it would have had to for a forced 9:30 shutdown. And think of all the traffic lights/stop-signs between Ivy/Copeley and where 29 gets rural past 64. Not ruling it out – and I realize B has her cheese there, just not fitting right in my mind at this point – too much unnecessary (and brazen-yet-unnoticed) risky behavior to accept as probable. I believe the mood/danger-level did not escalate until they were alone in a secluded area.
Comment by fish — January 27, 2010 @ 1:17 am:
“J2K… or, Morgan recognizing him from high school years and he is gettin’ off work and well, she sees safety in familarity. He offers her ride back to Harrisonburg, well, because he is going that way. Maybe he doesn’t tell her not all the way and he detours home? Has he slipped through the cracks’ of our criminal justice system? Maybe, but not gonna’ this time.”
fish -
I hope you’re right on that last part, and I believe you will be.
… Not sensing the first part is on the money, though. There would have been such a small window – literally between 9:25 and 9:30, if the timeline is accurate – for someone she knew (and whom knew the Cville area like the back of their hand) to have been serendipitously crossing the Copeley bridge, see her, stop the car, wave her in, devise sick plan in back of mind (or assume they’d just… hook up?), and turn around the car with a specific destination in mind… just too much coincidence, in my book. (Though certainly within the realm of possibilities.)
susanm – reblack-lit: magic mushrooms
Way to think outside the psychedelic, black-lit box. Not quite ready to embrace that theory, but “magic” mushroom hunting would be one of *only* reasons that a fun-loving 20-year-old (who was allegedly already hallucinating) would *willingly* venture into a vast, mushy cow field at night.
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. I just watched the Harringtons speak on nbc29.com. Gil Harrington’s candor just rips me to shreds. Already she is trying to reassure and soothe, and tell us she is “happy” about what they’ve learned. How many times did she say “happy”? (I do understand all her points.)
Alex is clearly struggling so much, and I trust his parents are going to do everything possible to ensure he has a bright and happy future, but oh my goodness. I feel so powerless to help and I just want to wrap them all up and make it all better for them.
I cannot work, cannot think. All my thoughts are with them and, of course, Morgan. Thank goodness for the wonderful community you’ve built, Blink. Trusting that all things are moving forward today.
The fences around the farms in the area are generally the wooden fences that used to be painted white but now are increasingly painted dark brown. Many of the fences have 10-foot wide metal livestock gates installed along their length. The entrance to the Anchorage Farm Road from Route 29 also has a metal gate. Back of the house there appears to be a wooden fence with a livestock gate between the Anchorage Farm field where Morgan was found and the field that adjoins Copin Road. There is nothing “remote” about the location at all, unless being practically in the back yard of multi-million dollar homes can be considered remote.
Skyler, yes, please carry with you to the memorial service the love and caring of all of us here who have grown to treasure Morgan and her family.
It comforts me to realize that those of you who can attend such a service can represent the many of us who can only send our love and strength. Again, hugs amid the tears to Blink and all of you. I know our broken hearts unite us.
This is still very confusing to me. So much of it doesn’t seem to make sense. Are we are thinking that Morgan was killed that same night? But, given her clothes, a hike through woods in cold and rain is not likely. Unless there was a good trail, it would be difficult to lead a drunk girl through underbrush and brambles. Hunting for those tiny little cowpie mushroom (thought it was horse poop that they grow on?) is not something to be done at night, and probably not in October.
Also, the turkey vulture comment was right on, suz. There would be a flock of them circling for days. Almost all farms have outside watch dogs–it is strange that the local dogs did not find her. If Morgan was there for very long, the various animals would have disturbed the remains.
She was in a hard to get to place, BUT she would definitely have been discovered when the hay was cut for the first time in early summer. Did the BG want her discovered, or did he just not care to hide her forever?
The one thing that I keep going back to is the strange reactions of her friends. Why weren’t they more upset that she was locked out of the concert after months of anticipation? Why did they not seem to care the next day either? If they did not know where she was supposed to be, wouldn’t they have freaked out when she didn’t come home the next day? BLink, do you think that the POI whose arrest is imminent is someone already linked to her or to the friends?
I guess the one thing standing out is that whoever left her in the hayfield had some knowledge of the lay of the land. I hope Blink is right that someone is already being investigated.
Thinking about the turkey vultures: a couple years ago during the winter I left a frozen turkey inside an old car that was headed for the junkyard. Several weeks later I was surprised to see a flock of buzzards circling just like in the movies, only it was a car, not something large and dead. The birds are drawn by smell, and their sense of smell is amazing. There should have been circling vultures.
Known to both.
B
I also don’t think the purse was put there after the fact. But I don’t think she was told to throw the purse out either. I think she was intoxicated, and dropped it. That is how the phone fell out of her purse, that is how the battery fell out of the phone. It was after dropping her pursse that she met her demise…I think her intoxication got her into a situation she normally wouldn’t of allowed herself to get into. I can’t bare to think what happened next. Just pray that her remains tell us what we need to know to put the SOB away – for hard time.
I believe she was killed elsewhere and moved to that location already deceased.
I also believe more than one perp.
Local boys who took advantage of her vulnerability that night.
Mothers need to scare their daughters to death. So sad, but true. There is a war going on. How many young women need to die this way?
So he left JPJ and never returned that evening but he certainly did again in November, Dan told us. Where he was when Mettalica was on stage needs to be verified.