Morgan Harrington Murder: Harringtons Debut Morgan Rocks
Charlottesville, VA- Continuing the crusade to memorialize their daughter Morgan and keep the public focused on the dangerous killer(s) still at large, Dan and Gil Harrington will be meeting with media today at 1PM.
The meeting agenda will include the Harrington’s ongoing concerns for womens safety on and off campus, and their fears associated with the fact that there has not been an arrest in their daughters murder to date.
The Harringtons are also expected to announce MORGAN ROCKS.
In response to a hand-painted river rock, lovingly and generously created and delivered to the Copely bridge by blinkoncrime.com contributor Skyler, containing the phrase “Rock On”; The Harringtons have decided to widen the trend.
MORGAN ROCKS
We are starting a “gathering of rocks” at Morgan’s memorial on
Morgan’s Bridge at Copeley Road on the North Grounds of the University of Virginia. When you come to Charlottesville and to the bridge bring a rock and a prayer to add to the collection. Leave both at the bridge!
Morgan, Gil, Alex and I continue to need your support and prayers as we wait for Morgan’s murder(s) to be brought to justice. Your support in raising society’s awareness of the need to change the culture of acceptance of violence against women and in so doing change the laws that allow these crimes to go unpunished.
Skyler’s slate rock was the first. A beautiful painted slate rock with an image of Anchorage Farm, Tibetan prayer flags and an angel rising to the heavens. Morgan, Rock ON!!!
Dan Harrington
Related Posts
Related Posts:
1,174 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
anotherB – re: Agreed.
(To redly, March 25, 2010 at 4:55 pm):
“Only a camera on Copeley bridge would have made a difference.”
In the eloquent words of the ever-sassy Blink: True dat.
(And I hope today was better than yesterday for you, ano-2-da-B.)
acho – re: Cheese Nips
(said:) “The kid may be so ‘off’ that he does not have normal friend relationships. … We are aware of two ways in which he tried to relate to people: one that put him in prison/juvenile detention/whatever, and another that took place inside. Would they allow him to go to clients’ homes alone? I doubt it … at least I hope not.”
As always, excellent deductions, acho. I’d imagine if he had a job (plumbing)/is now once-again employed (by same company?) that the biz is run by someone in the family – or someone who Owes the family or a member therein. With the unemployment rate being what it is – particularly in the blue-collar sector – job candidates/employees with debilitating criminal backgrounds (posing a potential-liability) are competing for work with Average Joes saddling a significant handicap.
And you’re right: Cheesy Poof likely could not could not take on clients with children – which could be any residential service call for plumbing that comes in. As such, (*if* working there again) he probably does more menial labor that does not involve human interaction… further underscoring the likelihood that someone in the Family Circle is throwing his poor mom/step-dad/him a bone.
acho, you also noted:
“(cont.) … I want to try one more time to find as much as possible, ’cause if he has nothing to do with this, then we have spent a whole lot of energy on this kid, and some other BG is laughing.”
Ah, yes – I envision more of a twisted, snaggle-tooth cackle… (but that may be the (Carneros 2005) “Thinky Juice” talking). Regardless! If we focus on “location location location,” Occam’s Razor would cut a path Right To this dude. If he can be eliminated as a suspect because of an LE-documented alibi, well, that opens up a whole new hallway of options – many beyond our purview. But he remains – location-wise, anyway – the Obvious Child. No need to second-guess that, my friend.
As for B’s comment on your post:
“I will add this- Sometimes what you cannot find, is more important than what you can.
Cheesy jumpsuit notwithstanding, he is a dangerous predator, imo.~”
… v-v-v-vehhhhhhhhweeeeee innnntwesting!
As I do not expect further elaboration on the former – and the latter is a given – I’ll wing this noodle at the wall, B:
Perhaps his whereabouts on the night of Oct. 17 are not fully verified. Despite the fact that Johnny Tax Dollar says they should be duly tracked/recorded?
There’s a plus or minus “ping area” of SEVERAL MILES, or I offer the alternative as a hypothetical:
..”Yes, I picked her up hitchiking and dropped her off at X. Did not know she was missing until she was found and I never heard from her again…”
Blink: J2K is Observant! (lol, not Observer) I do know Dr. Feelgood and although it is Motely Crue, They too “Rocked my World, very early on in life”! Just that Bret Michaels, my original Rock God was the first. That is before I met Mr. James Hetfield. Clearly a difference. J2K: I can do some mean pyros with a can of AquaNet and a lighter. My brother taught me, Jersey-shore style! So much for his babysitting techique.
I for one, would put myself out there for any PSA with anyone of the Gods of Metallica and I would even go as far as LOG. I can do an amazing rendition of “Laid to Rest”. I went hoarse and scared my kids. I’m sending a letter to them asking them to match me!
Even if not for the reward but just in general for Morgan’s causes. Hey, it can’t hurt and they only can say NO. I then will tell them I take back my over 175 times of watching their sputum-houckin’, headbangin’, school-girl skippin’, devil-throat’d, wet head: I want to throw them a towel and some dry shampoo, YouTube videos and I won’t buy their no-doubt fabulous soon to be released, coming to your neck of the woods video diary of their opening act for “Metallica”!
I’ll draft it on the plane. So there!
Sky: Hubby says consider it done. Altough he is not quite sure how the legalities work on “Adoption of an Adult”? And Sky, don’t be feeling all by yourself. I know you are a big girl too, that has faced many an adversity. Lean on some of us, will ya!
Blink: Another thing, if LE is having difficulty locating a primary crime scene, how do they know that it wasn’t a vehicle of some sorts. I keep going back to the house fire and then to a possible piling up of wood, over spot and burning. Wouldn’t just the suspicion of a burned area, warrant a looksie?
*RedhillLocal: Does a local remember seeing or smelling a fire that night? or weekend?
Or what if inside a shed or outbuilding of sorts. I think that they are having a very hard time tracking this spot down.
Could a Monday Morning statement help. They have the weekend in the power room to hash it all out and choose their words carefully.
*For saying that they want the locals to help…they really must not need it or us. I’m beginning to sense another surge of frustration and that is why we see more lurking. People are at a loss. I don’t want the Harrington Family to feel this. It is a terrible feeling and makes you even sadder and feel like you are alone in the dark.
If this is all to cover for someone with a name or money or family reputations….HOOEY! I’m thinkin’ that my family faced if not equal! We prevailed!
So Sky, awa, Chad, and all you others. HANG TIGHT! We all need each other. So let’s all remember to share the load. It will be a long haul. But, if you have a thought…post it. What can it hurt?
O/T: We are taking the kids away for a few days. She wants and needs her “Momma”, but by no means, does that mean I will not be here. I will post want and when I can. I am going to try very hard to do has keekee has said. But I am not a professional and only come at it from my emotional point of view, as a mom, a grieving sister, a healing soul, and oh yea…a November seacher for Morgan and now a
“Searcher for Morgan’s Justice”.
Please don’t anyone give up! We are all dressed in those black tights, black skirt, black boots, a Pantera t-shirt and the hope of a beautiful tomorrow. One that brings this family, we have all come to love and support…Justice.
A family during this awful journey needs each and every one of us. Please, I beg, listen to me and get regenerated and refocused! However you can.
Hi Mom3.0! Excellent point regarding Dan Gardner’s cousin and friend and the fact one or both could be female. Ugh!, did I ever jump to a conclusion on that one!
For those wondering about picture and video requests in the beginning, I do remember a request(s) being made to the public re; pictures and videos taken at the concert and, if I remember correctly, the request was made by LE. I believe that is how the picture of Dee surfaced.
Also, I believe LE’s statement regarding the timeline starting outside the arena was made recently.
With respect to Dee, I’ve always thought Dee and her group were…sigh…yet another strange coincidence. Dee resembled Morgan (long blonde hair, etc), dressed similarly to Morgan for the concert and was with either three or four BIB. And, Dee’s group was meeting with Morgan’s group during or after the concert. It is just mind-boggling how many connections there are to untangle and analyze.
“To calculate the costs by volume measure the length, width, and height of each boulder. The boulders are measured in 1/2 foot increments. These measurements are applied to a CUBE CHART to obtain the cubic volume of the boulder. The cubes on the chart equal one tenth of a cubic foot based on a “jelly bean” like shape. By using this process it reduces the possibility of breaks in boulders.”
One can thank a fourteen year old for thinkin’ this up!
So I looked it up on the web. I’m thinking of forwarding it onto the new UVA President, Dr. Sullivan. Maybe she will meet with me and help us out with placing one at the COPEley Road Bridge.
Observer, can you tell her that we will make sure it will be our welcome gift to her from all of us.
It will be tastefully done but UGE!
I’m choosing at this time, to believe that she will make a difference in helping put a stop to another violent crime that started on the campus of this institution. Let this be a start of her own legacy at UVA!
We can be and are Morgan’s voice.
Any thoughts?
Lol at “UGE”
B
Mom3.0 re; your comment, “I don’t understand- can it be as simple as they F-up? What are your thoughts? Anyone?”
I think that pretty much sums it up Mom. That would be my guess anyway. I find it hard to believe there would be a cover-up but I’ve been wrong many times before
Does anyone know who was legally responsible for the safety of fans at this event? Was it the arena in which the event was held or was it the event promoter for Metallica who rented out the arena for the concert? It would be interesting to read the contracts and insurance policies related to this concert.
Just to clarify – I think when everything comes out, if there was negligence re; the video, we will hear about it.
skyler says:
“i got the pix — one of them — tatoo/newspaper girl had her thumb stuck out under the Morgan search sign — I won’t mention the dressing up like a Morgan zombie for Halloween — or maybe I just did.”
————-
Skyler, is this true? WTF? I’d like to see that pic. Also, I heard mention of one of the friends being dressed as a “zombie”, which is probably in poor taste anyway, but a “Morgan zombie”? Seriously? Like how, wearing a Pantera T-shirt or something? If true, disgusting.
I did watch a video a while back of an interview with SS, where she said “this is one of the worst things I’ve ever been through.” My thought was: ONE of the worst things? Not THE worst? She must have had a tough life.
Also, Skyler- I hear your frustration. I think we have all had those feelings, especially of late. Hang in there. You seem like a very kind, caring person. As anyone who reads my posts know, I’ve had plenty of these moments as well- but this case WILL be solved. I can FEEL it.
I caught a few and changed it, but you needed to on your end
All better.
B
I am thinking that LE is just waiting for DNA results to come back to move forward. With respect to warning the community, I think that LE believes that a) she knew her killer(s) or 2) the guy(s) are currently incarcerated. Both 1 and 2 would eliminate the need to notify the community, correct? Or a 3rd would be if one of the guys were dead.
Is LE using Touch DNA technology to look for any skin cells Morgan’s murderers may have left behind simply by touching (pulling, ripping, lifting, removing) her clothes or her purse? If not, then I hope that the Harrington’s will explore this avenue on their own or bring it up to investigators. Maybe even get it all over to Richard and Selma Eikelenboom, the husband and wife team in the Netherlands who developed the technology, to do the testing. Actually there is an organization in VA that does this (http://www.bodetech.com/about-bode). If the shirt and the purse evidence were handled properly, perhaps there are skin cells left behind that will give a full DNA profile. Don’t know about the clothing that was found with her as it was out in the environment for so long, but who knows. I doubt these idiots knew that a full DNA profile could be lifted from her clothing or her purse.
Blink, do you know if this has become part of routine testing here in the US yet?
Yes, very much so, it actually finally cleared the Ramseys in the the JonBenet Ramsey case, posthumously for Patsy, I am afraid.
B
J2k, Yes I can see Observer wanting to make sure to pack a great #of books- But there is always room for J2k is there not?
justiceformorgan, Alas, there seems to be an ever widening group of coincidences and cruel deals of fate during the night of October 17.
Fish, I would definitely be more inclined to watch a PSA with you and your lip gloss and sandals- Thank you for writing to Metallica- I really do hope they will consider doing a PSA for Morgan
Blink, I tried to go to photobucket to see the image- but it says this photo has been removed- any suggestions? Am I doing it wrong? Thank you for your help-
BTW, having seen it- do you see what the moderator sees? Do you see a person on the stairs-Do you see Morgan’s group?
Must have been me, Let me see if I can load it so it shows as an image, which is what I was trying to do. aah.
It seems in the image that folks saw someone fall possibly, and a few eyes are on the location, but it does not have a time stamp, etc. I am going to chat with the mod on it and get the background later today.
B
To Mom 3.0- had to modify the name in your post, kwim??
Blink- are you thinking aloud- speculating or do you go off more than just a perhaps when you wrote in response to the post- of the possible answers given by cheesy jumpsuit?
strictly perhaps.
B
Hi Blink and everyone.I am coming out of the lurking phase to
tell you what a great job you do for others and the community.
I have been reading your posts, and I feel that this case will
be solved soon.I feel like the LE does know who did this and
wants to make sure there are no loose ends.This is a feeling I
have and I wish I knew more,the internet seems quiet.I would
like to tell Dr.Harrington,Gil and Alex.Morgan is in my heart and mind.
She was a very special young lady and will not be forgotten.
I have something special to share,it is a radio broadcast with
Dr.Bryon Cloud From Virginia Tech who lost his daughter in the
shooting that happened there and the comfort quilt that was sent from the Amish.I found it very enlightening.Here is the link and it is the
first broadcast on the top right.http://toginet.com/shows/amishwisdom/articles/241
If Morgan had told her friends @ 8:48 she would get a ride home, why were they supposedly waiting for her in the parking lot after the concert?
Yes, good point, and we are assuming that is accurate as it conflicts with the witness account of Dave Gardner in the first place.
B
Just speculating, but it’s possible Morgan’s party might have traveled at least the last part of the trip with Dave Gardner’s party, convoy style. Maybe what he’s leaving out is something he wouldn’t want to cop to, like “We met up with them at a 7-11 and bought them some beer since they were underage, then we all drove down to jpj together and parked next to each other.”
Mom 3.0, I agree that it would be hard for her to get hit by a train and end up in the field like that (tho I guess with a car, someone could have run her over and then brought her there to hide us—not a theory I believe, but who knows), but we’re going to have to play FACT or FALLACY about that shirt on the bush being Morgan’s. Unless I’ve missed something crucial, I don’t *think* it’s been officially stated or proven to be Morgan’s (or has it?). I find I get confused when folks make declarative statements about the unverified things in this case, and then I have to start researching whether I missed an official statement or something.
Sounds like from WT’s tv appearance, he saw Morgan in the upstairs concourse, which would have been near her seats (and the smoking areas, and bathrooms, etc.). So she was probably up there and not on the floor. (Not sure if that was a question in anyone’s mind but mine, but there we go—she was prolly up in her seat watching LOG.) So she had access to vendors and bathrooms and everything she needed on the upper concourse. I guess she had to go downstairs to leave the arena. I wonder why she went downstairs. Was it because the upstairs bathrooms (or vendors) were crowded and she wanted to check out the ones on other floors? (I’ve done that.) Or did she go down explicitly to leave?
I guess I’ll have to take LE at their word that they know she was there, and that what happened inside the arena didn’t matter, including why she left (which I wish they would tell us, unless they really, truly don’t know).
I wonder if the events of that day will always remain a mystery to us, or if we’ll eventually learn more from the friends. (Not that it’s necessarily relevant, I’m just curious about how the whole day went down.)
Peggy, I am SO with you on your 4:32pm comment from yesterday. I do not believe that Morgan was ever actually inside JPJ that night…the parking lot, yes, but not the building. Even Dave Gardner (who is prolly FOS) didn’t say he actually saw her walk into the arena…her party just parked next to his party where she engaged him in conversation. (Where does this language come from?) I don’t believe Dave Gardner or any one of her friends, and all of the “sightings” are just that. My family and I had Morgan “sightings” for weeks following her dissapearance…she was all over town. But they were obviously not her. I think Sarah Snead’s comment that “they wouldn’t have done it if they’d known…” means that they wouldn’t have walked into the arena and left Morgan outside if they’d known something bad would happen to her. Maybe she walked off into the parking lot looking for old friends, or for some more partying, or maybe she was drunk and asleep in the car. I’m more likely to believe the “sightings” of Morgan going from door, pissed off (and drunk?) trying to get into the arena just before Metallica was to come on. Maybe what she said to her friend on the phone was more like “why did you take my ticket in? Now I’m hosed, I’m stuck outside, really pissed, and I’m finding a ride home.”
Please bear with me for a moment, and hear me out.
This has been an emotionally grueling week.
My friend Bob died on Tuesday.
On Thursday I sang at the funeral of the mother of a member of our choir.
Earlier in the week the 8 yr. granddaughter of a colleague died in a tragic house fire in MD. Her daughter remains in the burn unit on a ventilator.
In the midst of this, and as always, I think of Morgan and cannot begin to fathom the depth of anguish and despair that Gil, Dan, and Alex must be feeling…must have been feeling for the last five months. My week above pales in comparison and helps to put things in perspective.
I cannot wrap my brain around the pain the Harringtons must feel at having had their sweet Morgan ripped so cruelly from their lives at the hands of a monster. How–and why–someone could do this to Morgan is beyond the scope of imagination. Still, I wrestle with that, futile as that effort might be.
And then I become stoic, realizing once again that if Morgan’s tragic death has done anything…if it is to have any lasting meaning…it is to further my resolve to do whatever I can, within the scope of my own capabilities–as limited as they may be–to effect change.
The necessary change we can each make begins with taking that proverbial first step: to first talk with the men in our lives, from our fathers and our sons and our husbands and our boyfriends, to our brothers and our nephews and our grandsons and our uncles and our grandfathers–anyone who will listen–and help them to become sensitized to the need to end violence against women.
We need to balance out the wrong-headed message that is so often offered to these men via tv and movies that de-sensitizes them and perpetrates the belief that violence against women is ok.
It is not ok, not in any way, shape or form, not in any venue. Violence–especially and including violence passively observed in the media–perpetrates violence. It tells men–especially younger, more emotionally vulnerable men–that violence–especially and including against women–is acceptable. Misogyny is rampant in the lyrics of certain musical “artists” (quotes intentional). This cuts across all demographics, from Andrew Dice Clay to Two Live Crew. [In a separate post I will include the thoughts of one musician who describes this far better than I.]
I am not suggesting that it is simply because of certain lyrics that a man will go out and perpetrate violence against a woman. I am, however, saying that this type of message telegraphs to men that it’s ok. Some might even go so far as to believe that it’s “cool”.
I repeat: It’s not ok. It’s far from “cool”. Not for me and not for you and not for your daughter or your sister or your mom or your wife or your aunt or your grandmother or your best friend.
While no one of us can bring Morgan’s murderer to justice, I believe that together we can. While no one of us on our own can turn the tide of violence against women, together we can…one person at a time, one woman and one man at a time. [Remember: this is not a “woman’s issue”, any more than sexual assault is a “woman’s issue”. This is an “every person’s” issue.]
If we can help one man to better understand that violence is never the answer, if we can keep one woman from falling victim to this evil, then we will have done what we can to bring justice to Morgan and honor her memory.
What say you, people?
Are you in?
Are you with me?
Are you willing to make your voices heard?
Ask yourself this: what will I do today to make this happen?
What will you do today to help honor Morgan’s memory?
Observer-
Although I submit your post, among other of your actions, classifies you more of an “actionist” than an observer.
I have an additional thought to your already moving and inspiring “call out” to the readers of BOC and their families.
If you were lucky enough to have a strong Father or Father figure in your life, who was good to you, and who was kind and respectful of your Mother or Maternal figure, call him today and thank him.
By observance, you were lucky enough, through osmosis, to learn that you are worthy of kindness and respect, and no other treatment by a male is acceptable or tolerable. Not everybody had that, and frankly as the Mother of a son, it is a more difficult task today to raise a gentleman than it was many years ago because of the societal temperment and current lack of examples.
To any Dads out there, do not underestimate the power of a strong bond with your daughter. The way you treat your wife/her Mother is the expectation you will set for her as “the bar”.
The way you raise your sons is your legacy, what kind of lives do your want for them when your gone?
B
Rodney A. Hindrew expresses this much better than I in his article:
“Violence Against Women In Music”
“Particularly distressing in today’s society is the level of dysfunctional relationships. Values considered outdated and baseless, such as mutual respect, consideration for another person’s feelings, and common courtesy, are becoming extinct human customs. Especially troubling are the violent misogynous messages infused in hard-core rock and rap music and their negative effects on today’s youth.
Healthy relationships of mutual love, respect, and compromise between men and women of all races and social classes are instrumental to a sane and stable society. Respect and reverence for mother, sister, wife, and daughter as the nurtures of civilization are key to our survival as a species. Many youth today approach their relationships with the opposite sex, mimicking the attitudes of the rock or rap entertainer.
As a musician, I can appreciate all forms of music as legitimate vehicles of artistic expression, not simply attaching aesthetic value to what I prefer. True art forms should express the ugly as well as the beautiful in human expression. However, if the art form explicitly expresses a message of debasement, hatred, or violence without just cause, then I question the validity of the message. A counter argument might claim that violent messages expressed through music are just a reflection of conditions that already exist. Violence directed towards women is an option that misdirects the causes from where true powerlessness derives. Some rap groups, such as Arrested Development or Queen Latifah, have expressed their message through a remarkable artistic medium, combining poetry and syntactic elements of language into a powerful message depicting everyday life of black youth in the United States. Rock groups such as Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden have express their music in the light of positive influences, stressing communication and cooperation in dealing with life’s problems.
Other varieties of hard-core rock and rap have accentuated vulgar messages of violent encounters with women, often depicting debasing sexual acts. Advertisements for hard core rap and rock usually portray women compromising their dignity: models scantily dressed and displayed in sexually submissive positions. The verbal messages are equally destructive, debasing women as nothing more than sexual objects to be abused and degraded.
Do recording industry promoters and producers have a moral obligation to deny the marketing of socially debasing music? Should the Supreme Court be only a barometer by which generally accepted values are challenged by new forms of expression? Censorship of ideas is unconstitutional under First Amendment rights, and music has always been a reflection of the human conditions which exist. But there is a clear moral statement not to accept the post hoc, ergo propter hoc supposition. Women shouldn’t tolerate or condone music which debases their character or dignity. I was astonished that as many women as men sought after Snoop Doggy Dog’s music, which depicts women as debased sexual objects. Rap groups such as Two Live Crew and Luke are on the extremes of artistic expression, marketing their music through sexually explicit messages. Nirvana and Meat Puppets explore hard-core rock fantasy through violent profligated encounters. Even foreign hard-core rock groups who explicitly advocate violence against foreiners through xenophobic lyrics are gaining popularity.
I advocate that any material which explicitly devalues the intrinsic worth of another human or expresses a message of malefaction or malice without justification needs careful examination. The United States Supreme Court addressed the issue of censorship and First Amendment rights in Roth vs. U.S. in 1957. The Court ruled that published or broadcasted material may be banned if it has no redeeming social value. This is not a question of whether only a particular segment of society finds hard-core rock or rap undesirable. I’m not trying to redefine community standards. It is not a degree of local atmosphere to act as judge on the legitimacy of an artistic work, but whether a reasonable person would find value in the whole intent of the message.
The same concerns with violent pornography against women should cross over into the music industry. Parents need to listen to what their children are listening to. Censoring what is disagreeable will only alienate kids, but discussing alternative solutions to problems juxtaposed to how they are solved in minimalist music is paramount in building better relationships. Is there a direct correlation between violence in music against women and the increase in sexually aggravated assaults, rapes, and brutalizations of women? The recording industry has sidestepped its responsibility in marketing sexually explicit or violent material by placing a label stating: “material contains sexually explicit or violent language and is not to be sold to anyone under eighteen years of age.” Abnormally high teenage pregnancies, single parent households, abandoned fatherless children, and battered women are all conditions of a prevailing attitude which promulgates and supports violent and misogynous messages inextricably connected to the sales of this music!
Should the recording industry along with the entertainers be held accountable for what it promotes on the public? A U.S. Senate select committee has already addressed concern (free speech vs. redeeming social value) with Ice T’s Cop Killer album. When does the individual right of free speech endanger the common welfare of the public? Society is now beginning to hold the tobacco industry responsible for promoting poor health through advertisement and sales of its product. Can the same standards of scrutiny be applied to any industry that promotes poor mental health? For the sake of entertainment, we have allowed ourselves to cross the line and permit the debasement of women and the promulgation of violence against them to become the norm. Parents, community leaders, educators, and entertainers must work together to demand maintaining the dignity of all persons addressed lyrically through music. The quality of intent should be carefully scrutinized in music especially targeted towards adolescents. If the intent is to debase, devalue, depreciate or diminish another human being or to create an atmosphere of senseless violence, we have a moral obligation not to support its marketing.”
ALL: Apologies for the two earlier, lengthy posts. Must get these thoughts in before I punch out (depart) here soon.
TO: J2K: And just how did you guess, lil’ missy, that my luggage is indeed replete with books (my fav pasttime, outside of gourmet/ethnic cooking)…along with a bathing suit or two, of course…
(‘Course, you and any other of my fellow BOC comrades-in-arms are welcome to come stow-away in my suitcase:-))
TO: fish: Ah, the “welcome” rock for Dr. Sullivan: I’m certain she will hear from many like me, near and far, about Morgan and your rock will serve as a daily reminder to her of the need to address this important issue, especially on the Grounds of UVA. [I'll be certain to send your regards, fish.]
Well, thanks, all who wrote to me yesterday and last night. Husband returned from a biz trip at dinnertime, said hello, and absconded with my laptop to do conference post-mortem. Gaahhhh, I had so much I wanted to research! So I am just reading your words this a.m.
OK everyone, O will be meeting with Dr. Sullivan upon her arrival. By my reading, that date is August 1. Going to get Dr. Sullivan’s wheels a turnin’, so we can lessen O’s burden–not to say Dr. S. is not fully aware of Morgan’s case; however, I suspect thus far she’s mostly heard the University’s take on it. B, thank you for passing along the suggestion to the Harringtons. I **believe** they can make a difference for UVa this way, and Dr. Sullivan will listen and bring changes. (Perhaps that is my final, post-shiny girl shred of Pollyanna screaming to be heard.)
I have to post this link for you all. It’s an old Hook “week in review.” All I was looking for was a drug arrest, and this came up; my jaw dropped as I read and remembered what a completely whack week that was. (And they don’t even mention the Sutherland fire!) My jaw also dropped because the story says “black-clad” in reference to Morgan’s remains. I know of Blink’s tarp hunch, but I missed such words in the press. Did anyone else see this?
http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2010/01/28/4BETTER-copy.aspx
Am still on that fire. Who would be able to influence the county’s quick “take” that it was accidental, and why, now, is it still open? Don’t you figure the county badly wants to close it so they won’t look like dingalings for jumping the gun?
Yep.
B
Sorry, O will be meeting with Dr. Sullivan *after* her Aug 1 arrival, not “upon” it.
Geeze, sorry, last post for the morning. I have to respond to Observer.
First, all my sympathy after your rough week. Make that empathy. Sad week in my house, too, as I have to communicate news of two cancer relapses in our family, one in a 4-year-old, to my children. I am just staring at the blue sky and hoping for strength. Wishing, too, for wisdom from Gil Harrington, ’cause I know she knows the way to discuss these diagnoses head-on and with grace and comfort.
Second, dear Observer, I am so with you on everything you say. It mvoes me to tears and I badly want to work with you (I guess in a way, I am). I am happy to think you might team with Dr. Sullivan to tackle these issues. If ever I make my return to C’ville, I will hope to be at your service, somehow. Applause from miles away for you.
Love and wishes for a great trip. Maybe we need to lighten things and start an offline book group, ’cause I’m dying to know what books you packed (and wanting to recommend a few, as well). Hope some will serve as sweet escape.
Mom 3.0, I clicked on that cool pic of the fall at jpj with the crowd reacting. It was a person down near the floor, at the bottom of the stairs in the 2nd or 3rd row. You can’t make out the person, but I think it’s some other person who slipped. I imagine there are numerous falls with a crowd of 15,000.
Redrock, I’ve inferred from the friends waiting for Morgan (if they did—we kind of have conflicting accounts of what they did after the show)—that Morgan may have said something like “I’ll try to get a ride, and if I don’t, I’ll meet you at the car.”
Or maybe because they lost touch with her (if her phone went dead at 9:30, and they kept calling getting her vm — tho I have no idea if they called her—I’ll assume they did try) they figured that maybe her battery had died, and thus didn’t know whether or not she had found a ride, and stuck around for awhile just in case she was heading back to the car.
Observer -
As an avid music and concert buff, I must say that I am in full agreement with your statement regarding the lyrics used by bands these days. I really don’t get the point. While reveiwing the utube videos taken the night of Morgan’s disappearence, I literally had to turn off the volume. I could not handle listening to LOG’s performance.
Plain and simple the message is just wrong no matter which way you look at it.
Blink,
I missed this tidbit of information, sometimes it is just impossible to keep up with all the posts on BOC. However, I was not aware that UVA was getting a new president. Does anyone know why the exiting administrator left? Did he simply retire, take a new position (willingly or not), or just resign???? I find the choice of the new President interesting, being a woman and her background as well.
Appears as if this institution maybe looking for a facelift. Some of you may not be aware how much a University such as this relies on the donations of their alumni. Bad press is never good.
Quickly to Sweetpea,
Casteen’s simply retiring, yet staying on in C’ville and as faculty at UVa. That decision was made long before any of this happened.
http://www.virginia.edu/president/spch/09/retirement.html
I will say UVa has had some bad press, but I’ve admired Casteen’s handling of *most* of its challenges. To me, he is a GG, but the buck stops with him regarding University-culpable mishandling re: Morgan.
In addition to serious diversity issues, its investment fund has lots of $$$, just like at many other schools. (o/t: Have you guys read last year’s Vanity Fair article about Harvard’s situation? OMG.) In fact, its head just announced his departure for personal reasons. (He’s worth a lookup.)
All that said, as you’ll see from the Hook link I posted earlier today, UVa’s admissions dept is busier than ever. I think it’s exciting they’ve hired a female president with the apparent interests she has. I honestly bet President Casteen does, too. Were my kids old and accomplished enough, I’d send them there–with some intensive GOF sessions–tomorrow.
Dr. Harrington, Can you get appointed to the BOR of UVA? Or … GIL! You would be adding LOTS of legs to your tripod, and helping so very many young adults out of their parents tents of protection, this may be the gift G_D has given Gil or yourself. And this would be a HUGE influence on Cville! This could be Observer’s next step in service to the community as well. Consider this, as Observer could create the BEST group of advocates for safety of young adults on ANY college campus … a blue-print, if you will for Boards of Regents every where!! A dream? Perhaps. But, the ingredients are all here!
sweetpea says:
March 27, 2010 at 10:38 am
Observer -
As an avid music and concert buff, I must say that I am in full agreement with your statement regarding the lyrics used by bands these days. I really don’t get the point. While reveiwing the utube videos taken the night of Morgan’s disappearence, I literally had to turn off the volume. I could not handle listening to LOG’s performance.
Plain and simple the message is just wrong no matter which way you look at it.
Blink,
I missed this tidbit of information, sometimes it is just impossible to keep up with all the posts on BOC. However, I was not aware that UVA was getting a new president. Does anyone know why the exiting administrator left? Did he simply retire, take a new position (willingly or not), or just resign???? I find the choice of the new President interesting, being a woman and her background as well.
Appears as if this institution maybe looking for a facelift. Some of you may not be aware how much a University such as this relies on the donations of their alumni. Bad press is never good.
____________________________________________________
Casteen retired. It was announced well over a year ago (maybe even two) to give time to find a qualified replacement. He will be missed by the university. His fundraising abilities and successes are legendary. Sullivan was hired because she is qualified after an exhaustive search. It probably helps that she is a woman, as the university is now majority female, but I think it would be dismissive of her qualifications to say that is why she was hired. The main concern with her is that she will not be able to keep up the fundraising successes as casteen because (a) he was so good at it, (b) her background is more administration than fundraising and (c) she does not appear to be as charismatic at first blush. Hopefully she will be a huge success. Regardless, casteen’s fundraisng machine is in place so she may not need to do much more than let it continue.
I don’t think UVA has received meaningful bad press from this. It has a $4+ billion endowment — unfortunately much lower than it should be because of the economy but still one of the largest in the world (virginia tech’s as comparison is about 500 million). Its acceptance rate is about 33%. I am sure they very much want this to be solved ASAP as the worst thing that could happen is for it to happen again and people to think this is some serial killer problem in c’ville or in the student community.
Fish — no one wants to see me in black tights and a miniskirt.
Observer, You are meeting with the new President of UVA. I’m am praying for you and your wisdom and talents.
this is casteen’s bio for anyone who is interested. sullivan’s is not as impressive but she has time to work on that at UVA.
http://www.virginia.edu/president/biography.html
Jeez acho, Observer, and Chad—-I’m sorry there’s so much sad news with your friends and loved ones lately. That’s tough.
Re: that Hook article describing what turned out to be Morgan’s remains as ‘black clad’, I guess I’d never seen that, or don’t recall it, but thinking about it—didn’t the initial news reports talk about a blond girl with dark clothing, which is kind of when I think we all feared the worst?
22.suz says:
March 27, 2010 at 10:01 am
Mom 3.0, I clicked on that cool pic of the fall at jpj with the crowd reacting. It was a person down near the floor, at the bottom of the stairs in the 2nd or 3rd row. You can’t make out the person, but I think it’s some other person who slipped. I imagine there are numerous falls with a crowd of 15,000
————————————
Witness said that Morgan’s fall happened when she went to the floor area to take a picture and fell at the stairs. The picture posted was near the steps at the floor area. LOG is on the stage.
1. Redrock says:
March 27, 2010 at 7:17 am
If Morgan had told her friends @ 8:48 she would get a ride home, why were they supposedly waiting for her in the parking lot after the concert?
Yes, good point, and we are assuming that is accurate as it conflicts with the witness account of Dave Gardner in the first place.
B
—————————————-
Good morning Redrock and Blink.
I was reading so many news articles last night, most of them from October. I need to find the link, but after reading I was under the impression that Morgan drove in her own car to Harrisonburg, met up with friends there in Harrisonburg, left her car there, called her Dad saying she arrived in Harrisonburg safely, then entered a friend’s vehicle and was a passenger in the friend’s vehicle on the drive to the concert at JPJ.
Read the hook first reported that Morgan and friends took Morgan’s car to JPJ, but an editor later retracted that statement. Here’s the link to that…..has this been clarified? Was it really Morgan’s vehicle in the JPJ lot? If it wasn’t, it would make more sense to me, why an impaired Morgan decided to hitchhike back to her vehicle in Harrisonburg. Also, I am under the impression that Morgan had called/text her friend who was inside the Arena and stated more or less that she wasn’t sure what she was going to do – either find a ride back to her car in Harrisonburg or find something else to do and possibly meet up with them later (see link below)….
Truly, without all the info that is available to LE, this theorizing and speculating and trying to put together this puzzle with only a fraction of these pieces seems futile to me, because we may be wasting our energy going off in the wrong direction. Why doesn’t LE give the public more info? The FBI knows how helpful the public can be. They must be on to something and just can’t release it yet. Please say it’s so Blink.
I thought I had pain in my life. After seeing what the Harrington’s are going through and reading about the pain Fish and others have experienced, I don’t know what real pain is. I so want to help, but I don’t know how. I am not a wealthy woman, by any means, so I cannot contribute money, but there are other ways to help. I need to figure that out.
Hawes Spencer, Hook Editor10/29/2009 10:54:51 AM
@J Hey, this is the Hook editor here. Morgan’s dad originally told us that Morgan’s car and keys stayed in Harrisonburg. In preparing this cover story, State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller– asserting a change in info– told us the contrary scenario we put in this story above. So we spoke again this morning to Dr. Harrington, and he stands by his statement: that Morgan’s car was never in Charlottesville. Messages left this morning with Ms. Geller have not been immediately returned, but we’ll update as soon as she clarifies….
Pasted from
State Police Lieutenant Rader seemed prepared to deal with this line of meet-a-stranger thinking at the briefing and conceded that, despite the phone contact between Harrington and the two friends with whom she arrived, there was no arrangement for a post-concert meet-up.
“The friends were aware that they MAY not meet up with her after the concert,” said Rader. “There was indication that she would manage to find a way to get away from the Arena.”
Pasted from
B: sorry to b a pain. Just checking that I can post! This phone all new to me and I think I posted to anothr article accidently. Not sure.
Anywhoo, I’m thinking bout your hypothetical. He picks her up, then drops her off at X-spot and then doesn’t know she was missing til she was found? Where WAS he for 101 days? Hypothetically, that sounds like a load of crap, if he’s saying that! It’s not like flyrs, tv, newsprint was not out there, especially in Cville, about Morgan! Did family send him somewhere and bring him back in November or how bout Jan. 25, clock reset?
This smells v e r y fishy to me!
Ps. No comment needed, unless of course u want but could you just say if my posting from here working?
Your good to go!
B
Here is the hyperlink that should have appeared under (Pasted from) in my post.
http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2009/10/29/cover-findMorgan-E.aspx
I’m not troubled by violent lyrics per se. They reveal to us a troubling undercurrent that we might otherwise fail to notice. They lyrics themselves are not the undercurrent; they’re the messenger. We can shoot the messenger by repressing the lyrics and then pretend the underlying cultural issue has changed because we have forced it out of sight—but that will only have swept it under the carpet. It will not have changed the fact that people actually think this way and harbor these feelings.
Now you could argue that the lyrics help sustain a culture that devalues women, and I’d grant you that; but driving the lyrics underground alone won’t change things. We have to be careful not to confuse the symbol with what it symbolizes, because we could end up trying to cure the symptom rather than treating the underlying condition.
Did I set a record for the most idioms in a single post? lol
observer, thank you for the po box and parlaying our rocks of love to the bridge,i mailed today,have a great trip.
Good Day all-
Thank you Blink for describing the pic for me- also thank you for following up with the moderator- I will wait to hear back from you on what you found out-
Also understood-I know what you mean and its all good-no worries;) It was late and I didn’t see anything-I had way too much to drink in my thinking goblet, therefore I never saw anything LOL
Suz- thank you for clicking on the pic- perhaps you’re right more than one person fell that night at JPJ- maybe JPJ posted the messages not just because of Morgan’s fall but because they took it upon themselves to notice falling- and finding a first aid station was indeed an issue -for all patrons-
Also, Suz, Yes, I can understand your speculation about DG group caravaning with Morgan’s group- interesting about the liquor-
as to the shirt, No, LE never came out and confirmed whether or not it was Morgan’s but I am going off of Blink’s comments, and change in beliefs- that it was indeed Morgan’s shirt also- I am basing this off the fact that all mention of the shirt is banned on other sites….
Redrock, yes I wish we could get veried accounts of what the plan was that night and what happened once the plan was no longer viable.
*verified*
sweetpea;
UVA getting a new president commenced way before Morgan’s murder. Pres. Casteen had been there for many, many years and was, and is extremely well loved and respected. I believe he remains at the University in a different capacity. I don’t believe they are looking for a “facelift” and only time will tell if they will need to “look for one”. I am not ready to judge their actions in relation to Morgan until the killers are found and we have solid FACTS. Having said that, I do wonder why the Harringtons emphasize safety and concern for the C’ville area while UVA (IN ADDITION TO VSP, BTW) are more moderate in their warnings…I trust the whole story will be told, hopefully sooner than later…and I pray no harm will come to anyone else.
O/T to B: You caught me, “dead to rights” as they say. Truth be told, I’ve been an activist since the 60′s and 70′s. We did a lot of marching and demonstrating in those days–good experience for later activism in the arena of sexual assault prevention and events like Take Back The Night. [Let's just say that when it comes to issues of human rights, I know my way around a bullhorn.] I have already decided that, in retirement, I will be working for The Innocence Project (exonerating the wrongly-convicted) or in some third-world country fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Your call to action to thank our dads for the honor they displayed in their treatment of women, i.e., us, our moms, and their own mothers, is a wise one indeed. I am blessed and fortunate that both of my parents are still alive so that I can thank them again, for it is their example and witness that have guided me. [My dad was very much the activist in the arena of aviation safety.]
TO acho: First, I am so sorry to hear the sad news of two people out of remission. May you find the peace and the words to share this difficult news with your children. Perhaps Gil’s gift to you (and all of us) has been in allowing us to see inside her heart as she’s dealt so gracefully with tragedy in her own life. What a truly remarkable woman she is. I’m certain you’re an equally remarkable mom.
Second, your kind words touched my heart; thank you. Please know that I welcome your support and the support of any/all BOC contributors who would like to underscore to Dr. Sullivan the need to address the issue of sexual assault on campuses like UVA. If you ever return to the Cville area, I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with you on this most important issue. [BTW: Not suprisingly, the books accompanying me on vacation cover a variety of genres (just got back from another run to Barnes & Noble; must rein myself in while at that store:-))); we'll have to trade titles sometime/how/way. And you're right: books do indeed provide needed respite; that, and extended observation of the amazing world beneath the surface of the ocean.]
TO sweetpea, re: UVA’s new president: No worries: John Casteen, UVA’s current president, is retiring after 20 yrs. at the helm. [Casteen was UVA's seventh president.] Casteen’s tenure was remarkable inasmuch as university presidents generally remain for an average of five years.
I and many others around the University are excited at the selection of Dr. Teresa Sullivan as UVA’s new president. Colleagues here who have already met her describe her in glowing terms as a warm, no-nonsense individual. I look forward to welcoming Dr. Sullivan to UVA.
link 5150,no,i was trying to think how in past cases public tips have been solicted by le ,i just remember lots of news segments of “this make/color car was at this gas station/atm/store location if anyone has any info please call.corrine gellar did make a announcement similar but no location,time,car description.it was kinda cryptic.icr exact wording.but if that info is not needed for say a composite sketch,falls in line with the rumor they already know who she was with,but if true ,then why arent they (le)asking for witness to verify that indeed she was seen alive being dropped off(as naming the spot would surely bring in more results?right?)so it just seems if they have a last person known to have been with her but dont have a primary scene,or dna yet,they would perhaps gain possible primary scene location by releasing ,at least, car info ,so that maybe someone can put the car at the primary scene. and last person known to be with victim(especially with an rso) is always a suspect,le still says no suspect,i was trying to find whether or not the green river was publicly named as a suspect,before they let him go early on.couldnt find that info does anyone know?
i kinda surprised that no news org. kept an eye on adjacent property house, after anchorage farm find ,for le activity ,such as property,vehicle ,grounds search.(the hook was knockin on the door or somethin right)le told em to back off ‘the property’seems he kinda even suggested an idea of what was close enough,but he did not discourage investigative journalism.
J2K says:
“Regardless! If we focus on “location location location,” Occam’s Razor would cut a path Right To this dude. If he can be eliminated as a suspect because of an LE-documented alibi, well, that opens up a whole new hallway of options – many beyond our purview. But he remains – location-wise, anyway – the Obvious Child. No need to second-guess that, my friend.”
————–
So true. Many of you have probably done this- but if you take a map of Charlottesville and mark out his home, his employer, where Morgan was last seen, where her shirt was found, and where her body was found- it’s compelling. Now, that said- doesn’t mean he did it- but…
Time for my daily harrassment of Blink for info:
Any link between Limberger Cheese and residents of the 1800 block of Red Hill Rd?
Lol Lol. Proximity.
B
I think Dr. Harrington’s “call to arms” if you will was just the second wind that everyone needed. I have read here everday since Morgan was found and don’t believe anyone is going to give up hope without a fight. However, the last few weeks have been taxing. Since everyone’s reaffirmation to the cause of finding those responsible, it seems to me that the level of thought and dedication has picked up immensely. Kudos to everyone for all the hardwork and for stepping back and starting to take a fresh look at old info. Amazing resolve you all have.
My biggest question right now goes back to whether or not Morgan ever made it inside. If you believe Dan Garner’s story, then I don’t think it seems likely that the “friends” left her passed out, asleep, etc and went into the arena. He states that there was no evidence that they were tailgating and her immediately opening conversation with them would indicate she was alert. However, she could very well have stayed behind with his party or another party when the “friends” entered.
IF Morgan never entered the arena, then the friends are much more than shitty friends as Blink has stated. They may not be responsible for her death but if she was never in the arena and they have stated she was, then they are guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice in holding up a murder investigation. Maybe they didn’t kill her but they are still criminals.
I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt though and say she went into the concert. If she did make it in then there was video footage of her somewhere at the disposal of JPJ and UVa. You have to realize that the construction of this arena was a HUGE deal. Not just for UVa but for the ACC in general. This project was to be state of the art and cutting edge. Even if they got the CCTV equipment at the Circuit City yard sale, they still would have surveilance in the arena. So perhaps LE isn’t claiming that there is NO evidence of Morgan as much as they are saying there is no CONCRETE evidence of her because they just can’t tell beyond the shadow of a doubt if who they think might be here is indeed her.
Not to get into a conspiracy theory but I’ve thought all along that there is WAY more to this. A few others have stated that it’s possible Morgan was not allowed to reenter. I believe this to be the case. Even if she didn’t have enough money in her account to buy another ticket, why didn’t she ask one of the friends on the 8:48 phone call to bring her their card and she’d pay them back? I don’t think they would let her back in. I believe when it was released that she was missing, the security responsible for removing her told their bosses that they kicked her out and the footage of her being removed were either “lost” or recorded over. There could potentially be a big legal mess for the University and JPJ if enough investigation were done. Just my .02 and sorry for the long rant.
Re: localcvillegirl–March 27, 2010-8:09
It seems as if many people are questioning if Morgan ever made it “inside” JPJ the eve of October 17th. My question to Blink on the “Morgan Harrington Press Conference” thread : Any proof Morgan even made it into the JPJ arena?
Re: JEEZ!–Feb. 10, 2010-8:53pm–Blinks response:
” The official assurance I have , is that of VSP, when I asked some very serious questions that led me to believe there is “irrefutable” proof of her attendance. I discounted everything but that until I made strong inside connections”—”SHE WAS THERE”
It would seem that statement answers the question of Morgan’s attendance, even without video. My line of questioning was very similar to yours, loalcvillegirl. It has always been very hard for me to understand her friend’s lack of concern for being locked out, in the rain, with no coat, after being injured in a fall, finding her own way home? WTH were they thinking!!
I was wondering if Amy or Sara attended the Take Back the Night Rally in Blacksburg the other night?
One U.Va graduate who was the concert tells News 7 he remembers seeing Morgan before the concert in the parking lot.
“It was definitely her, I’m 100 percent certain of that,” says Dave Gardner.
“She pulled up with her party and got out of her parties car and kind of immediately engaged me and my brother and my cousin and my friend who were at the concert,” says Gardner.
“They weren’t really tailgating. There was no evidence of drinking.”
What does “they weren’t really tailgating” mean? What were they REALLY doing? Dave Gardner, please tell us….
For those who haven’t seen the picture of one of Morgan Harrington’s Friends(?) pretending to hitchhike at the search site–I have uploaded that and some other pictures at this link. There you can also see the pictures of some of her friends partying at Halloween. I think that under age drinking and partying while your friend is missing is just down right disturbing. The picture of Sarah Snead and her choice of Halloween costume is truly most upsetting. She and Amy Melvin were with Morgan on the night of October 17th–when Morgan was last seen alive.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonchime/
Moonchime-
I posted these, or the links appeared here, months ago. I have commented on them directly.
Morgan had shitty friends that night. Maybe, they were just shitty all around, dunno.
I wholly agree with the issues you raise, I just want to clarify, I do not think they acted with malice.
B