Morgan Harrington Murder: A Security Check On Security- Why Did It Fail?
Charlottesville, VA-
On the afternoon of October 17, 2009, Morgan Harrington and three of her friends drove to John Paul Jones Arena, located on the University of Virginia campus, to attend a long-anticipated Metallica concert. Following an apparent fall and chin injury occurring around the time she was visiting the ladies room, Morgan ended up outside the arena and attempted to gain re-entry to the venue.
How and why she got there comes in at a baffling second only compared to what happened to her next.
Nine months ago Dr. Dan and Gil Harrington, Morgan’s parents were notified their daughter was missing which is when their nightmare began.
On November 5, 2009, the day before a search which was organized at the request of the Harrington’s was to commence, a vintage black Pantera t-shirt placed on a bush in front of an apartment complex at the intersection near 15th Street and Grady Ave. was located by a nearby resident.
While this discovery was not released publicly, Charlottesville PD knew immediately it belonged to Morgan Harrington. Sara Snead, one of the friends that accompanied Morgan to the concert, immediately confirmed the distinct vintage design that compelled Morgan to borrow the t-shirt from her a week before the show.
Subsequently, DNA analysis confirmed the t-shirt was indeed the same one Morgan was wearing the night she disappeared.
On January 26, 2010 the remains of Morgan Harrington were discovered by David Bass, owner of Anchorage Farm, located in Albemarle County. Although her cause of death has not been released, her manner of death has been classified as a homicide by the Virginia State Police.
Dan and Gil Harrington marked the nine-month anniversary of Morgan’s disappearance from her memorial on Copeley Bridge 4 days ago.
Gil Harrington’s impassioned statement made it clear that her family’s mission is to prevent what happened to Morgan from happening to another victim and their goal is to educate young women about safety and personal security.
On July 1st, based upon an article posted on blinkoncrime.com inside sources confirmed a forensic link between Morgan’s homicide and a Fairfax County Case. Research on this case indicates it was a violent sexual assault that happened in 2005. The victim assisted in the sketch of a man police wish to interview in connection with both the Fairfax assault as well as the apparent abduction and murder of Morgan Harrington. .
What did it mean to the investigation and to the parents of young women in Charlottesville? We have a serial offender on the loose in multiple jurisdictions and an immediate need to beef up personal security.
As our very vulnerable student body returns to campus next month, blinkoncrime.com provides a glimpse at current conditions.
Unregulated Regulations In Security
The 2004 General Assembly, through House Joint Resolution (HJR122), requested the Virginia State Crime Commission to study safety at Virginia’s institutions of higher education. As a result, DCJS created the Office of Campus Policing and Security (OCPS) to address the law requiring minimum training and employment standards for campus security officers.
Campus Security Regulations for Institutions of Higher Education in the State of Virginia, fall under the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Private Security Services Advisory Board. Below is an excerpt of the unapproved draft meeting notes of their quarterly meeting held December 8, 2009; the first and only since Morgan’s disappearance from JPJ.
The issue of safety and security on college campuses was addressed in a 2006 Crime Commission Study on Campus Safety. This study resulted in the statutory requirements under Code of Virginia (Code) §9.1-102 (49).
College populations represent a large concentration of students between the ages of 18-25 years with limited supervision and life experience. In terms of homeland security, campuses are identified as “soft targets” and are frequently targeted by domestic and foreign terrorists. Campuses also house volatile materials and research facilities that are also targeted by radical elements in society. Campuses host large stadium events and concerts that are potential targets for terrorism and riots. Most campuses also have facilities that are open to the public and are relatively difficult to secure and lockdown. Campus Security Officers are primary first responders to incidents of crime and violence on campus.
Although UVA campus security officers require a certification provided by DCJS, there are ZERO regulatory standards for certification. It was NOT until Morgan Harrington disappeared from the grounds of the JPJ Arena that emergency regulations were sought from Governor Bob McDonnell.
How does a woman on the campus of a University that provides it’s very own Police Department in addition to event security simply vanish without a trace?
By the time Morgan ends up in a hay field 7 miles away, she has passed through 3 different law enforcement jurisdictions and a slew of private campus and event security agencies and personnel. While private security regulations fall under the umbrella of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, they also require a judicial amendment only if and when they are approved via “emergency” status by the Governor.
Who’s Looking Out For The Kids, Exactly?
As the safety on campus study showed, our college age kids are at their most vulnerable in the University setting. Out from under the watchful eye of Mom and Dad and wading through the rich culture and nightlife of downtown Charlottesville, students face a host of potential safety risks.
In fact, during the very development of this article, I received an alert from UVA security that a UVA student was sexually assaulted in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard. While I commend the swift response and warning from UVA PD chief Michael Gibson, I can’t help but wonder if a similar alert upon learning Morgan disappeared from the UVA/JPJ campus would have made a difference for her.
A simple Google of “Charlottesville security” produces the front page for HH Security Services, Inc, a local private security and bail bonding firm. I am no expert but isn’t it a bit odd to claim to protect one’s security and then bond out someone that may threaten it in the first place?
Who is vetting the security that is responsible for ensuring safety?
While HH Security or it’s employees have no known ties whatsoever to the Harrington case, it is a prime example of the weakness of current security regulations, involving students and private events, 6 years in the making.
At H & H Security Services, Inc. we specialize in Private Investigation, Private Security both armed and unarmed as well as fast efficient Civil Process Service. Our full-time professional agents are well trained, well equipped, well informed, and discreet.? Owner Rod Howard is a native of Charlottesville and central Virginia, where he’s been a well respected business owner for over twenty years. H & H Security Services, Inc. is his vehicle in his effort to help serve and protect the community he grew up in. Over the years he’s assembled a team of certified and experienced personnel who share his commitment to the safety of the community.
HH Security, in a business journal ad, claims to hire members of law enforcement and be very well connected with various police departments and security agencies for nightclubs, special events and home security checks as well in 2007.
HH Security is the security firm of choice for Club 216, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Rivals, which are bars frequently visited by UVA students and athletes.
Roderick M Howard, owner of HH Security and H&H Car detailing maintains active licenses issued through the VA Dept of Criminal Justice Services for private security and as a bailbondsman.
While blinkoncrime editors were researching this piece, a review of Albemarle County Court records show Roderick Howard was arrested for felony rape in 1993, subsequently indicted for same and a year later on the first day of trial, pled guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery whereby he was sentenced to 12 months, 11 of which were suspended and two years unsupervised probation.
Howard was also arrested a few times for felony bad checks; both cases ended nolle prosequi.
How can an accused rapist and convicted sexual batterer hold a dual license in the private security sector as well as two classifications of firearms, all of which is monitored by the VADCJS? It is specifically stated in the regulations regarding moral turpitude AND sexual battery that the VADCJS MAY DENY an applicant on those grounds.
According to Mr. Howard’s own advertisement, he has been in the security industry since 1989. Would that mean he was employed in the security field when he was arrested for rape?
Shockingly, It may be perfectly legal. Although the administrative statute for licensure prohibits granting a license to someone with a misdemeanor sexual battery conviction, if Howard divulged the crime in his application and requested a waiver from the director at the time, it is possible one was granted.
Blinkoncrime.com spoke to Lisa McGee, Regulatory Program Manager for DCJS, private security advisory committee:
“…there is a code in the statute that allows the potential for both an individual convicted of a felony and the outlined misdemeanors exceptions contained therein to obtain a director’s waiver. Two felonies we would never even consider are rape and murder, but dependent upon the criminal offense, the circumstances and the length of time that has transpired with a clean record, the verbiage in the statute would allow an applicant to at least request a waiver for our consideration…” Lisa McGee
Ms. McGee was not able to address Mr. Howard’s file specifically, citing privacy laws, but she was able to verify that Mr. Howard’s registration with the agency is current.
There are however, some discrepancies in the press release written to announce the “restructuring” of both companies, announced October 19th.
For starters, there was only a name change to Mr. Howard’s business, which actually took place prior to the October 19 release date, in May, 2009.
These are not two separate businesses. In fact, the bailbondsman license issued to Mr. Howard’s agent, Anthony Halstead, leads back to Accelerated Bail Bonds, which is not a listed entity in the state of Virginia or listed as a fictitious name for H&H Security Services.
I would be willing to wager that the police departments that allow off duty security employment with this firm would appreciate some clarification on both the personnel and licensing issues.
There has been no arrest in the homicide of Morgan Harrington. In a statement released by Corrine Geller, PR manager for the Virginia State Police, VSP has received approximately 100 significant leads from the release of the sketch of the alleged perpetrator of the 2005 Fairfax County sex assault.
Dan and Gil Harrington will be meeting with new University of Virginia President, Teresa Sullivan, next month to address safety and security issues on campus.
“..People think it cannot happen to them, IT CAN– Dan Harrington.”
Editors Note: I am not a resident of Virginia. However, I think the interest of the safety of our children is a National one. Any person that is placed in a position of public trust, most especially those that come into contact with our vulnerable students, should be REQUIRED to disclose past convictions that would negate them that position without some sort of subjective “pass”. How can we know-TRULY KNOW the level of presumed safety if we really aren’t aware of the backgrounds of those in charge of it?
Blinkoncrime.com editors Jason Mateos, Elizabeth Morton and Madeline Tanner contributed to this report
Images by Klaasend
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katie says:
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August 8, 2010 at 6:09 am
susanm says:
August 7, 2010 at 10:04 pm
“there is another incident that happen at jpj, simple assault at 9:30pm oct 17th, it got mis-timed somehow and appears on the uva police incident log on oct 18th just after mid-night ,if you do the math, you see it occured at 9:30 pm october 17 th.”
Maybe it got reported after Midnight on the 18th!
So, a purse is reported stolen (I thought that happened at 7:30ish PM 10/17/1009.) Then Morgan ends up outside bleeding. Kickee says she grabbed his arm around 9:00 and then kicked him. A simple assault occurs, at JPJA around 9:30 PM but appears on the police log after midnight 10/18. Grandma reports seeing a young woman in an altercation with a young man in the parking lot and in the morning, around 8:00 AM, a purse is recovered from one of the parking lots by a Lacrosse player. Four hours later the Harrington’s get a call about the purse. Then Morgan is reported missing. Just sayin’…
hi I just wanted to let everyone know that the F.M. site is back up…Thanks you blink for supporting us from there and I am glade I checked out this site alot of good info I will be sure to check back…
I spent alot of time looking for videos, and could not come up with one that spoke of the kickee. I will say it was a good review of events. Very sad to see the process of events with the Harrington’s.
I reread this article and it was a good refresher-
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ck92oH5QnXIJ:www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/15/concerned-witnesses-before-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/+Morgan+Harrington+Corinne+Geller+kicker+video+report&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Long ago I posed the thought that Morgan may have forgotten she didnt have her keys in her purse. She may well have gone towards her car for that purpose and came across possible taser nut who ended up stealing her purse.?? ‘Let go’ may have been the grabbing of the purse.
My feeble mind is reeling trying to put these pieces together.
I see some changes have occured on ms, and fb in the last days or so. I think we are seeing clean up in progress. Your mention of jeep for sale CVAnative is interesting. Frequent Dee sightings and commentary are very confusing. You never know who is reporting about which blonde, at least Blink has been able to vett some of the situations.
Going back to security, I wonder how many of our security friends have or are moonlighting with RMC? I noted one fella had done that in the past.
http://www.myspace.com/donny31/photos/albums/working-picts/2081216
Waiting patiently.
sorry blink didn’t read Dr H’s post u don’t have to add it
Blink says: “Note the arm lock and loud noise, what is the lot closest to the South Entrance?
*teaching blog alert*
B”
An arm lock and other locks called “submission holds” or pain compliance holds are used by LE/military/corrections to get suspects under control. They are basic Aikido holds also used in Mixed Martial Arts holds.
The wrist lock is important in Aikido as a basic maneuver.
Here’s a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_hold#Pain_compliance_hold
Standing holds (as opposed to on the ground) are used mainly in the Chinese system called Chin Na.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chin_Na
Does it bother anyone else that at almost exactly the same time, Morgan’s phone battery goes dead, a call about a stolen purse and contents comes in and a woman matching Morgan’s description is involved in a “arm lock” with a dude. Can someone please save me from myself, already.
B
All answers are within a short period of time.
Various witness accounts and police reports.
I do hope LE name suspects soon. Better then that arrest the damn culprit or culprits in this crime.
@ MsL August 8, 2010 at 9:55 am
According to these posts, one of Morgan’s friends knew Dee. They spoke on the phone for some reason after the concert (can’t remember why, going to a party, perhaps?), and Morgan’s friend told Dee that they were missing someone. However, this came across as “she will be back soon” or similar, so that Dee and her friends were not concerned about it.
This poster sounded genuine, he identified himself on one of the videos, and he also gave the names of Dee’s friends.
Fish said to kickee in Post #11:
“Callin’ your girlfriend? Like what was she suppose to do?”
Fish,
From the get go I imagined the reason he called his girlfriend was because he realized he had been witnessed in an arm lock with a beautiful blonde and in case it got back to his girlfriend somehow, he would be off the hook, by letting her know his version of what happened before someone else got to her with a different version.
I just keep smacking myself in the head because I never ever ever thought that Morgan may have just said, “Let go” instead of “Let’s go.”
A few things…
1). Is there any possibility that the incoming call about the stolen purse was recorded? I have often wondered why the cops asked if Morgan asked to use anyone’s phone. If Morgan made the call, it would explain this.
2). I hate to ask, but how do we know that Morgan’s bones were not shattered post mortem (animals)? I assume the nature of the injuries, which I do not recall ever being divulged.
3). If Morgan did not have her car keys, why be headed to the lot her car was in? Could she have had a set of keys and gone to the car to lay down until she was feeling better. I think if I was incapacitated, hurt from falling, and locked out of my concert, that’s where I would head…my car, not wander around on a bridge or anywhere else.
I just cannot believe that not one single person saw anything in that lot.
Blink, how long have you known who the kickee was? If he is not a poi why can’t you put him on here with an interview per se? Maybe he could give some valuable input.
MsL
Your comment about the party that Morgan was a part of did not use rational thinking regarding her behavior. This is a major problem in today’s society with young people of that age. They have adult bodies but few real adult skills and concerns.
This is something that scares the dickens out of parents and grandparents. The only way to fix this is to constantly teach them about responsible behavior and safety tips about taking care of themselves and their friends. Will they listen? We all hope they do, knowing full well that most “listen with their elbow” rather than their ears.
We had an incident in our family regarding a 19 year old granddaugher last summer where she left our place to drive home, a 4 hour drive. We always call ahead and let the parents know what time they leave so that an ETA can be known. Five hours later I get a call from her father that she hasn’t arrived. This is West Texas driving and there is a section of 77 miles where the only town is comprised of three houses. We were not worried about someone kidnapping her. she is a competative shooter and had her 9mm pistol. She also had a cell phone that when dialed went to voice mail. We were worried that her vehicle had broken down and she was stranded or that she may have been involved in a wreck. There is more than one route she could have taken so via long distance we gamed out a plan for some to drive on one route and others to drive on a second.
At the 6 hr. mark when we were all set to begin a search,we get a call that she had finally let them know where she was. She had a friend that lived in a town that is 30 miles off her route and she decided to take a side trip without notifiying anyone.
Needless to say when she got home, her father took her car keys and told her she couldn’t have it back for thirty days. She didn’t particularly enjoy the lecture from me.
@ susanm,
Re: report about purse (if we can assume it was *actually* from 9:30PM on Oct.17th)
Are you thinking that it’s possible that Morgan *herself* called in the report of her purse being stolen, and that it could possibly be related to the abrasion on her face and how she ended up outside of the venue?
Or,
That someone else (a witness/bystander) called in the report after seeing what transpired between Morgan and her attacker(s) in the parking area, because maybe they *mistook* the incident for her being ‘mugged’?
Or, am I reading into the significance of the report of a stolen purse from that night all wrong?
oops, wrong link, This One..
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000143608582&v=wall
TexasGrandfather:
I had some luck but no, it wasn’t fun.
Seems you could be right about making a visual on where Morgan came to be. No, not the exact spot. No way.
But, you could be right as to watching the location in general.
I never thought about the trees!
The leaves would have been down on the dicidious ones in October and the months following and well, there is a good deal of conifers but I’m thinking that if one knew where to look.
And, if he had heard about Mr. Bass’s 911 call then if he hauled it over there…maybe just maybe he knew what spot to look from.
Second fire call.
Create a mass confusion in North Garden.
No, Granddad, he has a scanner and listened to it all.
mary and all:
If you stand in that lot. UHall Lot and walk around the back of it.
You would see that it is dark, no, not absent of all light but on a rainy, damp, moonless night, it is a dark lot with nothing behind it except the tracks, uva trailers and then apartments.
Maybe this is what we all need.
A little transparency of exactly what transpired that night.
Police calls, reports, sightings, and oh yea,
locations, locations, locations of each and every one of them.
Seems we have some mass confusion on the who, what, when, etc.
You get my point.
And, I’m back to Kickee.
Well, what was his story?
Did his friends ever show up and did they enjoy Metallica?
Blink, HE certainly is accountable for this time or did he show back up, by concert’s end?
“Somebody please save me from myself.” -B
Oh boy….the stolen purse report. Is that call still open? Did we ever verify where the call came in from? (UVA call box?) Or…is this why VSP had asked if Morgan asked to use someone’s cell phone? – so she could report her stolen purse/phone etc.
Didn’t Morgan have a 44 year old friend on her myspace friend list? I think this is the one who was busy painting bodies on Oct. 17th, though…right?
Concernedbystander – glad to hear you aren’t our kickee.
I did a Google search today and found that there is another business in Albemarle County using the H & H moniker. However, it is “Cleaning and Maintenance Services” (household). The business is registered at 2493 Aspenwood Road. If you go to the gisalbemarle site and enter that information, the property is deeded to a Rod HARDING. I wonder if it is just a coincidence or this is part of the local “conglomerate”. If they are owned by other individuals and not our aforementioned subject, I still have to wonder if they are business partners given the potential synergies with their respective businesses. If there has been some overlap in business, I have to wonder about WHERE they have done work together.
Also, regarding my previous post about the JEEP mud monster “For Sale” located in the front yard of a North Garden property near Crossroads Store on the 29S side of the highway, the property is owned by a Shifflett (correct spelling) if it is indeed sitting on 3460 Monacan Trail Rd. (I made an educated/GIS-assisted guess since I couldn’t see the address #).
Also x 2, would anyone know why there would be three incident reports regarding the same incident (01/26/2010) for the 3329 Sutherland Road fire (see link below)?
http://www.albemarle.org/upload/…/Fire…/2010-02-25_Meeting_packet.pdf
(see North Garden info via link)
I held this to check out any linkage to the HH company, does not appear to be any.
B
8:20pm and 9:30pm:
Morgan Harrington seen at several locations on the grounds of the John Paul Jones Arena.
~~~~~
Specifically, outside of the arena.
8:30pm to 8:48pm:
Harrington interacted and conversed with people outside of the arena.
(Is this arena staff and/or Kickee and we don’t even know it yet?)
8:48pm:
Harrington had a conversation with a friend. Confirmed.
Harrington stated she would try to find a ride home from friends in Charlottesville.
(SS called Morgan, it was a quick call?)
8:48pm to 9pm:
Harrington placed outside JPJ by witnesses.
(Is this Grandma sighting?) and 1st Unknown witness stated in Stuart’s article and then Kickee’s account of Harrington?)
9pm to 9:10pm:
Harrington was seen walking, with a black purse, through the University Hall parking lot.
(Is this where she was walking with but not with per Rader? UVA Men’s Basketball players account?)
9:10pm to 9:20pm:
Harrington was seen in Lannigan Field. This is by the run/walk track. Her purse and phone were found in this area. It is across the street from the side of the bridge where her memorial is located.
(Could this be the limo driver sighting?)
9:20ish:
Harrington was seen at the intersection of Ivy and Copley roads.
(Is this where the witness, Voth per Facebook say she sees her HH?) (Or how about, someone who picked up Harrington & dropped her somewhere? Speculation on my part there!)
OK, this is the best of my ability on a refresher course concerning timelines. It is compilied from multiple online sources and recollection. I may very well be off but not willing yet to give up. See, standing on that bridge did me in again. Took me back to waiting to be told where to go that November day.
Where DO we go???
Anyone?
CW says:
August 8, 2010 at 6:57 pm
mmm…..went to the link and saw he was a friend of J.C.
Lee, yw on the pepper spray links.
Good idea to watch youtube videos on the deployment.
I think they make “practice” cans, too.
Just to clarify, I do indeed believe (strongly) that Morgan’s friends were extremely irresponsible that night, in a variety of ways. I can however see why Dee and her friends did not stay around and search for Morgan.
All these sightings suddenly being linked and adding up – did the missing piece in the puzzle finally emerge?
Looking at the layout of the area – it would have been very easy to walk around the parking lots, they are not that big. All of these sightings could in fact have been Morgan. What would have been a likely scenario? She couldn’t find anyone she knew outside, but someone offered to open her car for her (security? mechanic? locksmith?), they go towards her car, he grabs her, she fights back, escapes, walks towards the bridge to stop a car to get away from there, and is ultimately abducted by the person who assaulted her before or someone else? This is pure speculation.
anoterBsays: I didn’t mean to question what happened from the perspective of the poster. I just don’t know why the people traveling with Morgan would have taken Dee’s advice as to whether or not there was any reason to be concerned. I had always thought that she (Dee) knew someone in Morgan’s party, but not necessarily Morgan. Maybe the poster only meant that the people traveling with Dee didn’t feel any reason to be concerned. I agree with Texas Grandfather, I think the actions of everyone who knew Morgan was missing after the concert resulted more from the immaturity of young adults. By the time I reached Morgan’s age, through family illness, a fatal car accident, and a suicide in my extended family, I had lost some of that youthfulness innocence, but I know still made some bad decisions that I later realized could have resulted in dangerous situations.
Dee knows Dan and Sarah.
B
Blink, do you think anything that happened between 2pm and arrival at jpj on 10/17/09 had anything to do with this?
Way to broad a question friend
B
15.RU Mom says:
August 8, 2010 at 11:05 pm
CW says:
August 8, 2010 at 6:57 pm
mmm…..went to the link and saw he was a friend of J.C.
RE: I’m speculating the possibility that Morgan’s murderer may not be so familiar with the terrain of AF but perhaps has seen the layout of the land through the “eyes” of someone else and then the thinking began; AF would be a good hideaway…
Oftentimes when going to big shows/events people will go in several cars. They plan on following each other in and then try to park next to or fairly close to each other.
(WHO,WHAT, Where?)Is this is how and Dee ended up parked next to Morgan and her crew? I get the feeling that SS, Morgan and Amy met up with those folks on the way and they started the caravan.
(WHY?) didn’t Morgan drive her own car.
(WHO?) said that she was anxious to get inside?
(WHO?) said she was stopped at the door and
(WHO) said that “she had a flask that was confiscated.”
(Has that ever been proven…about “the flask?”
Once inside, she leaves her group.
(WHO?) reported “seeing her standing on chairs/seats/whatever taking pictures.”
(WHO?)reported seeing her fall.
(WHO?)said she went to the restroom and said she seen crying or “Upset?”
(Who?) said they saw her in the beer line? And, was she bleeding, yet?
Did she have a fake ID…maybe she borrowed another blonde’s ID?
Have any of the JPJA Admittance staff ever “OFFICIALLY verified” that Morgan tried to get back in?
DID Kickee say that he was there for the show or just that he was meeting friends at that location?
DG is a UVA grad from NJ, right? And, said he was staying, the weekend, with a cousin and or brother in the C-ville area, right?
His girlfriend didn’t go to the show, right? Just wondering if he is or knows Kickee. Did he try to get Morgan not to go with her purse…was she arguing with him over her keys? Did he call his girlfriend to tell her about the altercation?
I was wondering if anyone has come across any added info of our D Gardner?
* age
* Middle initial
* Does he have relatives in the Albemarle area?
* Did his party stay locally after the concert?
* As mentioned before, where did he live while attending UVA?
* 3 pages of Gardner’s on Albemarle GIS, one on Monacan Trl-are they related?
Blink is this our guy?
Dave Gardner is an equity research analyst at BlackRock in Princeton, NJ. Prior to his current role, he worked on the global proprietary sales desk at Merrill Lynch. He has been involved with Change for Kids since 2006. Dave graduated from the University of Virginia, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the McIntire School of Commerce, with concentrations in Finance and Marketing as well as a minor in Economics. He hails from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he attended the McCallie School.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:jhag0ITQ1IcJ:www.changeforkids.org/about-change-for-kids/meet-the-team+David+Gardner+new+Jersey+UVA+alumni&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Who is Dee? I’m up to speed on it all but her. Who is she?
Dude- we are so close. I feel it. I feel like I know exactly what happened. Man I hope I’m not wrong.
The hh dude looks like sketch
He IS a rapist
Girl stranded alone in parking lot
Who else to trust besides them
Kickee and him perp a & perp b. Pure speculation. I’m tired.
Blink- is kickee’s DNA in the system??? Has he been asked to give a sample? What r u waiting for on outing him?
Is he refusing to give a sample or something? Is his story backed up by anyone seeing her kick him? Again I’m tired. Going baackto sleep. Will replay if this makes no sence. Up at 3am—Threw away my cell last nite. Identified my trashbag in dumpster by yellow ties. I tied the swifter to the broom pole and an umbrella with my robe thingy. Bent a hanger and tied it on to tip to use as a hook. Stood on step stool and. Pole just long enough to reach all the way to the middle of dumpster & retrieve the bag. I have my phone!!!! . By the way…plslet my constant randomness provide some sort of comic relief.
I just spelled everything in that post wrong. Good thing I don’t have a job!!!! I’m going back to sleep.
Keep it coming compadres. Y’all are on it.
@Texas Grandfather: I totally agree with your comments about the difficulty of raising teens and young adults today, they look so mature, but are very vulnerable to making decisions and bad judgements which place them in danger.
One further irony of this case is Virginia’s harsh stance (supposedly) on underage drinking, and, if Morgan had been drinking, or unsteady, why was she not interviewed by police for her own safety?
Surely there were police and EMS personnel in the same area. MH would have undoubtedly been much safer inside, and I fault the company running the ticket taking for not calling EMS, for her own safety, or the police to connect her with her friends.
Aside from that,I am afraid that I am coming to the conclusion that no matter what went on with her friends, her car, or her pocketbook, or the people at the parking lots, the really bad decision may have been to take a ride with a stranger, given the last reports of “hitchhiking.”
Upon rereading articles in “The Hook” last night, I came upon the one where the Harringtons described her killer as violent and sadistic, and said that he (or they) had broken her bones while she was still alive. Mrs. Harrington also said that she did not know if Morgan was hunted on the AF, or was put there after she was deceased.
So, I do not think this is a ‘date rape’ gone bad, or a garden variety offender, but a really sick person still out there, and I think unfortunately with all of the white noise about this crime, most of the young women in the vicinity do not realize the dangerousness of the individual.
I also noticed that there is a “violent” RSO in the North Garden area who runs a “lawn care” business, and that he was convicted of not registering in 4/10. This is in addition to the violent younger RSO, who seems to have a habitual problem from his numerous offenses.
Additionally, the Harringtons have mentioned the Route 29 stalker cases, and the Colonial Parkway Murders as similarities. It is so important for the VSP and the other LE agencies involved in those cases to use the dna testing for those victims, now, that it is available, and not let those serial killers go unchecked, if they are still operating in Virginia. The families of those victims have pleaded for the dna testing to be brought to bear on those old crimes. Does one more young woman or man have to perish because the LE agencies must be forced to cooperate with each other, revisit cold cases, and use new technology on old crimes?
Virginia has a budget crunch like many other states, but the resources must be found to use the most efficient forensics on the old crimes, it may save a life.
Also, interesting is that Bass purchased the farm in 1983, I think whomever did this would have been to the place during the last 27 years, so it may not be an unfamiliar face. Given the remoteness of the spot where MH was found, exactly how many people could have been there in 27 years, enough to develop a connection with the place, and who would not have been noticed by Bass? or not suspected by Bass? A hunter??
That is what is strange about this, that and the fact that the murderer is a violent sadistic killer, and I think that fact has been very downplayed by the VSP, MUCH to the detriment of the young women in the area.
Hello everyone- -great brainstorming going on these past couple of days.
Texas G. father thanks for your response and you too Alexandra.
I hope everyone’s weekend was good- Mine was rather traumatic- my littlest had a mishap that ended with a a late night trip to the ER and stitches.
The trip made me think about how things like this tend to happen during the weekends(no dr. visit) and how a person in the midst of a traumatic event may not always see clearly-…
In my state of mind, I could not find my purse at first and then could not find my medical cards inside. They were right in front of my face, yet it seemed like forever before my brain would let me see them- anyone watching from afar surely would have said I was acting demented and perhaps even irrational or drunk- they were in plain sight.
This called to mind, for me, Morgan and Morgan’s dropping of her purse, and how we once speculated that she could have been trying to find something inside….
Thankfully, I was able to find them and was able to regain composure and calm down, and get back in control.
We already know Morgan’s night did not go well- it has been termed by many here, as a night of unfortunate events- what if things just kept going from bad to worse? She was angry, she was possibly ill, she had fallen and may have needed stitches- (my little ones laceration did not bleed much- because it was deep- was Morgan in need of more care than /she/we realized? Was she in shock and running on adrenaline?
My little one is okay, thankfully, although we have many doctor’s visits in our near future.
I just wanted to share these experiences because, unless and until you are immersed in a situation, you do not know how you will react- or how others may perceive your behaviors…
I wish Morgan’s night would have ended, with a trip to the ER , sadly it did not.
Prayers for the Harrington’s RIP Morgan.
link to The Hook story: http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/17/shattered-bones-harringtons-say-morgans-killer-is-violent-sadistic/
I realize that I am leaving a lot of comments today, but this weekend at a family brunch, I talked with two neices who go to UVA. Both had virtually no impressions of this crime, other than it was a murder, ‘like the Yeardly Love case’, and Morgan was found on AF. One said she had started getting a lot of emails from the UVA police about crimes in her area, two blocks from where Morgan’s T shirt was found on the bush. Her sister’s comment was “stop making it sound so bad and so dangerous, its UVA.”
So, I am very concerned at this point that the young women, and men, on that campus may not realize that a predator is very near, and still in operation. Sometimes I think it would be better if the crime information would be released, not just mentioned by the victim’s parents in one article several months ago, but actually released by the police to put the public on notice of the danger.
Blink says: As our very vulnerable student body returns to campus next month, blinkoncrime.com provides a glimpse at current conditions.
Dan and Gil Harrington will be meeting with new University of Virginia President, Teresa Sullivan, next month to address safety and security issues on campus.
———————
The Hooks new article: Love case prompts new policy at UVA
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/06/love-case-prompts-new-policy-at-uva/
Interesting comments to this article.
Washington Post article: Yeardley Love case prompts U-Va. rule change
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/college-inc/2010/08/yeardley_love_case_prompts_u-v.html
Culpeper Man Arrested for Alleged Abduction
A Culpeper man is under arrested and charged with felony abduction and threaten to burn, along with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery. The incidents occurred July 29 and 30
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/100257994.html
Dear Blink et al.:
I submitted an entry that indicates awaiting moderation when I check on one computer and it does not show up at all on another. No biggie, but want to make sure that you don’t need any additional info. from me.
BTW, I often forget the exact name that I use unless if it automatically comes up the way I entered it the first time. Don’t want you to think I’m trying to be coy.
Thanks.
“Does it bother anyone else that at almost exactly the same time, Morgan’s phone battery goes dead, a call about a stolen purse and contents comes in and a woman matching Morgan’s description is involved in a “arm lock” with a dude. Can someone please save me from myself, already. B”
B, I’m gonna try. For you!
BUT…it will be one discombulated post.
I WARN you.
Maybe someone can clean it up.
Option One:
Morgan has purse stolen from her.
She asks to borrow a phone and while she is making the call for help…HE is already across the street going through her purse and disabling her phone.
Maybe someone points out he went over that way.
(Kickee? Morgan did grab his arm to say “Let’s go!”)
Finish it off with (“and get my purse, Help me”)
He thinks to help and starts to walk toward street alone like Grandma said in article.
Link here, please
http://www.nbc12.com/global/story.asp?s=11369879
Both Kickee and Morgan head to lot but he bails and she continues on to lot.
Maybe Grandma didn’t see all choices made but I believe her. I remember at the time of watching her video, her sitting on floral-ish couch, with tickets in hand, saying this woman has no reason to lie.
(I remember it but cannot find the video either)
Option Two:
Morgan’s purse is stolen from her by Kickee.
She says “Let Go!”
She asks to borrow a phone from somebody.
Calls.
She walks back to arena & then thinks to go in the direction of Kickee. Lannigan Field Lot.
It is dark back there, btw. She couldn’t see her purse.
She walks out onto bridge.
Option Three:
Kickee is a purse stealer! Plain and simple.
But Morgan comes into yet another aspect of a series of unfortunate events.
Someone watching the events unfold.
She is even abducted from the Lannigan Lot by someone known to no one. Security officer perhaps?
She was never on the bridge except to cross it over by the start of the bridge in the Uhall/Cage parking lot.
We all just started her memorial where it is.
Do we know if the dog tracked it to that exact spot?
I don’t think we know that.
Geller is correct when she said there was no sign of a struggle, well besides her purse dumped.
HE struggled with himself on this one.
BUT, she is correct, no struggle because that happened back across the way and not in Lannigan field. Not yet.
I’m basing this all on that Morgan was seen with her purse in the Uhall Lot between 9:00 and 9:10pm.
I’m not even sure to believe the 9:20pm, bridge sighting is in correct order of the timeline.
Make sense???
Unless, someone who was impersonating an officer pulls up and offers his help.
Make sense???
Which then, HE knows Anchorage Farm.
LE has to have POIs. Just have too!
Of course Dee knows Dan and Sarah. Hell, I’m a few months away from knowing everyone too. I could name about 6 spots where JMU students all circulate in and around. There’s not that many.
I think those friends, all of them, need some guidance. Especially, those with Morgan that night. I would imagine this has been pretty hard for them to swallow. Even given their absolutely immature, partying behavior, I hope that their parents have finally stepped in and realized that HELP is not a four-letter word!
Blink On Crime:
Did Kickee steal Morgan’s purse and like Grandma said “The young man walked toward street and the girl walked back to arena”
OR
Did Kickee try to help and then bailed. Had to tell girlfriend.
OR
Is Kickee even the guy Grandma saw? Sounds like Grandma is pretty sure about what she saw. Seemed like the two knew each other.
Well, did Kickee know Morgan?
Well, does Kickee know Sketch?
There, I tried to throw out a lifeline but I’m lame and don’t get it. Frustration, a sense of confusion, and feeling Lt. Rader slipping away on this case, all come to mind.
We, the people have heard zip!
That’s all I got if Kickee is not coming here to chat!
(Which…by the way…I’ll be happy to do)
I have to ask again.
Is Kickee and the guy Grandma saw, one in the same?
I’m beginning to wonder.
So if kickee was outside of the arena waiting on his friends to get in, all of us now knowing that JPJ has a strict no re-entry policy, he obviously had not used his ticket to enter the concert yet. Does anyone know what service was selling the tickets to this event? I know that some places do require each person’s name to be on the ticket and even require information such as address and/or phone number in order to secure the ticket to that specific person. If one of these ticket services was used that required this information, wouldn’t there be a way to check to see if kickee did indeed end up attending the concert? (Just a thought)
Also, could it be a possibility that Morgan’s pocketbook was used to lure her outside of the arena in the first place? She goes to the bathroom (assuming kickee had already made it into the arena at this point) and kickee sees her and follows her to the bathroom, takes her pocket book and runs leading her to follow outside? (injuries could even take place during this time) She gets outside, borrows a phone and possibly calls in the report of the stolen pocketbook and then ends up seeing him outside and this could be the beginning of the grandma sighting…she tells him she is going to call the police, he tries to grab her arm she says “let go”. (Again, just another thought. Can’t remember whether or not she was sighted with her pocketbook during the altercation the grandma witnessed)
Sorry, one more thing.
May I ask if there was any description given of any vehicle, even remotely, related to the bridge sighting?
I agree Susan. My daughter goes to UVa and when I told her about the recent attempted rapes of late she told me she had been emailed the info from UVa already. I was feeling somewhat relieved that she will be living in her sorority house this year which feels much safer to me. Always safety in number and being so close to grounds there will be much less exposure walking to get to an apartment. She said she was looking forward to it and if she needed a respite from being around so many people she can walk over to her friend’s apartment.I said, I don’t know if that’s a good idea isn’t his apartment a couple of blocks on the other side of 15th. Her one word response, “please.” Sorry, it get dicey quickly right in there. Maybe guys feel okay living there but there is no way it’s a good idea for a girl to walk through that neighborhood. Charlottesville can feel reasonably safe in an area and just a block or two over have a feel of not feeling safe after dark. I let her “please” go for now to be addressed later. I get accused of being an alarmist so I am trying to back off some in hopes the message will be better received.
What does being ARRESTED have to do with anything? It gives clowns like those in the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Department enormous power over students who sometimes are in the right in confrontations. How about have you ever been CONVICTED of a FELONY crime while over the age of 18? Common sense is not too common.
first purse, then t-shirt thoughts…just doing some speculation here for exercise.
many of us are sold on at least two perps. young perp/older perp has been suggested, so i am working on that scenario. some of us also feel the purse and the shirt are both plants. i’m not sold yet, but some folks feel the t-shirt was meant to send a message.
so let’s just say what if the purse plant was a message too? or more likely a defensive move by one of the perps. this perp was not witnessed to be in contact with morgan, but the purse was dumped in an area where the other perp was seen near morgan. after the body is disposed of and without the other perps knowledge.
this could go either way – 44 year-old kickee, or the young man the grandmother reported in a scuffle with a blond woman. now there is a reason the t-shirt plant has a message in my mind.
I remeber reading here that Dave Gardner lawyered up within a few days of Morgan’s disappearance. I don’t know if it’s true.
Dee Sporalics is a friend of Dan and Sarah and happens to look like Morgan in many videos because she has long blonde hair and wore a black miniskirt the night of the concert. Dee was in the car parked next to Morgan’s at JPJ. Dee was with 3 guys wearing black, and one is a cousin of Dave Gardner. We saw Dee in videos inside JPJ when Morgan was outside. I hope I said it all right.
I thought I read they were supposed to party together after the concert, but when one of them was missing (Morgan) everyone said they just went home and went to sleep. They said the reason Morgan wasn’t driving her own car was because she was studying in the back seat. I don’t know if they’ve changed that. I hope this is not gossip, I hope I am only saying the facts. We do know that Morgan was murdered.
oops *remember*
mom3.0. I’m glad your little one will be ok. ouch!
I know how it feels to be frantic.
mom3.0 Glad your little one will be ok. ouch!
I know how it feels to be frantic.
Mom3.0 – hope you little one is getting better soon!
Regarding the new UVa policy – I had to sign a form saying that I didn’t have any previous criminal convictions to be admitted to my PhD viva. I always wondered what would have happened if I *had* in fact had a criminal record. Would I still have been able to get a doctorate?
I can see why UVa wants this data, they can now keep an eye on those who are likely to cause trouble, and this is certainly a good thing, for all parties. But are they now able to turn down applicants who have a criminal past, who decide to lead a normal life and get a decent education?
PS: For what it is worth, sex offenders fall into a different category for me, I don’t believe it is possible for them to change.
@ Love_palm_trees August 9, 2010 at 10:33 am
Dee also attended the Metallica concert. She looks very similar to Morgan, and was mistaken for her on one or more videos. It came as a bit of a surprise that she actually also knew some of Morgan’s friends.
Susan
What you ran into regarding the young peoples take on the murders and kidnapping is typical for their age and experience. One could see this same attitude in the comments following the Washington Post article. Immature teenagers and twenty somethings all think they are imortal and bad things happen to other people. They have not yet learned that they are responsible for themselves as well as others.
Schools such as UVA do not take the proactive stance to immediately make an event such as happened to Morgan and Yeardley an opportunity to teach the entire student body good safety practices and that they are responsible for each other.
I don’t think Morgan got into a vehicle willingly. The perp forced her into it with some sort of weapon.
Someone mentioned that the police were at the Taco Bell location during the time Morgan went missing. Was this the University police or the city police? You could probably see the top of the arena from Taco Bell.
Then there is the question of were there any police assigned to be outside during the concert? If not, this is a serious security hole in the operation of the arena.