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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I’m bringing these arrest for Elias Abuelazam over from the other MH posting re: Vanessa Pham.
It probably isn’t relevant but it is quite interesting.
This is what I have found, so far, in a search of Arlington, Alexandria, Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Loudoun, Richmond City, Rockingham, Montgomery (VA) Blacksburg. Civil & General District Courts where possible.
I found the first divorce but Elias’ last name is spelled Abuelazan not Abuelazam. The divorce was final in 2002 from Dawn Costello.
katie says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 13, 2010 at 9:53 am
I look forward to getting a specific life history on this Michigan/Virginia Serial stabber. Elias Abuelazam ex-wife’s father suggests that Abu-El-Azam “got rough with” his daughter. News reports say that the 2008 warrant in Loudon County pertains to a Simple Assault, domestic in nature, against his then brother-in-law. He is also said to have attacked a “friend” on his last trip to Israel. This was in the last six months. From news reports and quotes from family members and co-workers, in Virginia, it appears that Elias Abu-El-Azam lived in Virginia, near Landsdowne/Leesburg area in 2007. his ex-wife, iirc, is from Leesburg and reports show the marriage lasting three or four years from 2003-2008.
So, I’m wondering where Mr. Elias Abu-El-Azam was in September 2005, October 2009, and even June 27th, 2010. It will be interesting to get details of where he traveled, worked and lived in those time frames.
katie says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 13, 2010 at 10:17 am
Found these in Fairfax County:
GT01153707-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 11/05/2001 12:00 AM Prepaid Paid
Court:Fairfax County General District
Charge: FAIL TO OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNAL
Complainant: QUATTRIN, C R
GT01153709-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 12/03/2001 12:00 AM Guilty Paid
Court:Fairfax County General District
Charge: NO DRIVER’S LICENSE
Complainant:QUATTRIN, C R
GT02146083-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 12/04/2002 12:00 AM Appealed
Court:Fairfax County General District
Charge: 085/55 RECKLESS
Complainant: HUBERT, D R
GT04192005-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 12/15/2004 12:00 AM Guilty In Absentia Paid
Court:Fairfax County General District
Charge:IMP.BACKING,STOPPING,TURNING
Complainant:POND, C J
GT06188737-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 10/25/2006 12:00 AM Prepaid Paid
Court:
Fairfax County General District
Charge:FAIL TO OBEY HIGHWAY SIGN
Complainant: FARBRY, C W
(NOTE THIS ONE OCCURRED IN THE TOWN OF HERNDON ON 9/06/06)
Still looking for other areas but this tells me that he was in Fairfax County
katie says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 13, 2010 at 10:24 am
Here are his arrests in Loudon County (That is where Leesburg is.)
GC07005523-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 04/24/2008 01:00PM Guilty Paid
Court:Loudoun County General District
Charge:FALSE REPORT/SUMMON TO POLICE
Complainant: KERWIN, D. M.
GC07005524-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 04/24/2008 01:00 PM
Nolle Prosequi
Court: Loudoun County General District
Charge:NONVIOL FELON POSS GUN W/I 10Y
Complainant:
KERWIN, D. M.
GC10003692-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 08/16/2010 11:15 AM Pending Case
Court:Loudoun County General District
Charge:ASSAULT: (MISDEMEANOR)
Complainant: STANLEY, D.
GT01031293-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 09/13/2001 12:00 AM Prepaid Paid
Court: Loudoun County General District
Charge: FAIL TO STOP AT STOP SGN
Complainant: KING, D. R.
GT03008398-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 05/29/2003 12:00 AM Guilty Paid
Court: Loudoun County General District
Charge:OPER UNINSPECTED VEHICLE
Complainant: LOTZ, T. B.
GT03008399-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 05/29/2003 12:00 AM Guilty Paid
Court: Loudoun County General District
Charge: EXPIRED REGISTRATION
Complainant: LOTZ, T. B.
GT07004209-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 03/19/2007 08:30 AM Prepaid Paid
Court: Loudoun County General District
Charge: FAIL TO OBEY HIGHWAY SIGN
Complainant: DIVINEY, T. C.
GT08045602-00 ABUELAZAM, ELIAS 10/08/2008 08:30 AM Prepaid Paid
Court: Loudoun County General District
Charge: IMPROPER PASSING ON RIGHT
Complainant: WELLISLEY, B. J.
B,
Thank you.
I’ll keep at it.
Dr. Harrington, Gil & Alex,
We all just adore you, your family and Morgan. I am in awe of your whole family and I think Morgan was an absolute lovely, lovely person, both inside and out (but no wonder, look at her parents and the amount of love she was surround by all her whole life).
God Bless.
I just feel like this case will be solved. No stone unturned!
Tarheel, I think the RSVP’s for the concert was on the Metallica website, or the event on Metallica Facebook. Wayne Townsend’s RSVP was there and so was Morgans. just saying.
ahh * was * * were* whatever
crumbs? crumbs? I am really hungry and missed the crumbs! We need more information!
fish
I am old and probably crazy but you are a good judge of photos.
Click on http://www.cnn.com and check out picture about senate candidate indicted for porn.
Thanks,
@ Fish: I knew something was bothering me about that 9:30 time, on the bridge with her thumb out, OR when seen by Granny in altercation. The bottom line, one or the other makes a big difference in theory of the crime, as I see it.
If she was taking a ride on the bridge, from someone who smooth talked her into believing he knew her friends, or whatever, that is quite different from being abducted on campus, and vice versa.
I am quite sure that the VSP AND the UVA Police do not want to believe that she was abducted on campus. That is why the bridge story is so convenient for UVA, if she is off campus, well, that means that it could be anyone on the road, if she is on campus and was last seen with so and so, or the basketball players, that is a horse of a different color.
I have looked all morning on the internet for the Swarovski necklace which Morgan was wearing, to see if it was some sort of necklace which could be convertable into earrings, but I see no similar necklace. If it is convertable, a long shot, maybe, that would explain the earring thing? And from looking at the picture, there were two loops in the front.
Now if Morgan WAS abducted from campus, I can see why UVA wishes to have a witness or a timeline which places her on the bridge AFTER.
But how can we know?
As regards then bball players, there was one who was suspended from the team around 11/11/09, who was a senior. The shirt showed up on 11/05, or thereabouts, on 15th street, which, according to my UVA niece is a “bad area.” I do not believe that the reason was given for his suspension from the team at that time, but then he was terminated from the team, on 12/22 for academic issues.
I do think a termination in senior year is troubling, because he was able to make it through the other years academically, evidently.
I am not pointing a finger at this person, at all, just saying that IF the bridge sightings, or timing, are ‘hopeful thinking by UVA’ and Morgan was actually abducted from the campus around that time, my picture of the suspect pool changes considerably.
I still do believe that the house in North Garden was involved.
This steams me. Guess everyone already knows about it, but it is just horrible! I feel so sad for the Harrington’s and what they must endure. I do hope something happens soon in this case so the Harrington’s can allow themselves to move forward in life as they must, but with the peace they really need.
http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12970973
4.alexandra says:
August 13, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Tarheel, I think the RSVP’s for the concert was on the Metallica website, or the event on Metallica Facebook. Wayne Townsend’s RSVP was there and so was Morgans. just saying.
————-
Alexandra, I think Tarheel was actually looking for the link to the Metallica Facebook RSVP event that Morgan and Wayne both marked as attended.
————-
Does anyone have that link? Who else might have RSVP’s as attending???
Just went to Fairfax Courthouse which happens to house the adult detention center; there were bondsmen galore there (naturally). That complex is 3.1 miles from the 3700 block of Jermantown Rd. Or 10 minutes with traffic; this is, of course, where the 2005 victim was attacked. I would think that bondspersons would handle multiple jurisdictions. Albemarle and NOVA are a mere two house apart. This too has been discussed here before but it really became surreal and concrete at the same time being there and seeing those folks in their uniforms and drivingin marked vehicles.
susan
here is a link to a good pic of the mecklace
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/13/morgan-harrington-case-state-police-say-she-was-hitchhiking/
Thanks Ross
B
way back a relative of WT mentions the RV being fixed…..which makes me think…if all these youngs folks had access to an RV, and WT went to Metallica, wouldn’t it be cool to drive and party in the RV….just thinking.
barney1,
AAAACK! That’s in my territory! No one knows what’s going on with that guy. Both political parties think he’s a plant by the other.
9.21merc7 says:
August 13, 2010 at 3:03 pm
This steams me. Guess everyone already knows about it, but it is just horrible! I feel so sad for the Harrington’s and what they must endure. I do hope something happens soon in this case so the Harrington’s can allow themselves to move forward in life as they must, but with the peace they really need.
http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12970973
———————————————————————-
What a scumbag!!! A beautiful, lovely young woman who cared for people, helped people, a person who was kind to all, is dead, brutally murdered, never given the chance to experience so many things, to do this to the her parents whose pain I cannot even imagine all because some bastard who had no right took the life of their daughter who they conceived, carried, birthed, raised and loved, not to mention the hours upon hours upon hours upon hours of time the investigators, Harringtons, all of us here on BOC and FM have exhausted into trying to find this evil, evil monster who did this to Morgan and the emotions we have all experienced in doing so, and this guys makes a joke of it! Unbelievable!!
Thnx Alexandra and in memory of Gino re the RSVP page
For metallic. I was thinking we have more names now to
Look for.
Could Morgan have been trying to stop a car to get away from someone? That could have looked like hitch hiking.
By the way, there was this student who knew her and drove past her. This is something I just can’t comprehend. If I had seen someone I know out in the streets alone at night in the cold with no coat hitch hiking, I would definitely stop and ask her whether she is out of her mind, or in trouble for that matter.
I am beginning to think that there is huge answers in simple information that is being kept from us…..
If whatever happened inside the arena that caused Morgan to end up outside the arena is irrelevant, as I believe LE says, then why not tell how she ended up outside so that we can all rule out (if it is in fact irrelevant)that something happened inside or that the perp came in contact with her inside.
Why exactly haven’t the BB players spoken if LE says they are free to? They are the last people to interact with her and it would clear up so much if we knew her demeanor, what she said to them, etc.
AND, SOMEONE, PLEASE ANSWER THIS…..How many people claimed to have seen Morgan HHing on the bridge? I only know of one. I do not believe, never have, the HH’ing story. I know the dogs picked up her scent, but doesn’t that mean that she was there at some point OR a piece of her belongings was there AT SOME POINT and not necessarily at the time frame we are thinking, like her shirt, her necklace, her phone, a ponytail holder or hair clip for goodness sakes or she was on the bridge but not HH’ing.
@ Mary
Thank you!
Man, I would love to know what she said to the BB players. If she chatted with them for 10 minutes or however long, she must have told them what happened to her and where she was going. Everyone is college kids and college kids feel comfortable amongst each other.
Speaking of college kids feeling comfortable around each other, Morgan would have felt quite comfortable with another college kid. Just saying because I believe the only way she was taken in such a populated happening place at the time is if she was tasered, cloraformed, knew the person, or didn’t know him but felt comfortable around him for some reason (a fellow college kid, someone disguised as a police officer, etc).
anotherb! what student knew her and drove past her? That night? Was it the student that reported seeing her HH? Maggie Voth knew Morgan? or were you refering to someone else? sorry if it’s already been discussed and I missed it.
I have often thought that she got in an RV.
I believe this is the list of concertgoers that you are searching for:
http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/Metallica/event_whose_going?event_id=10291598&page=1
Fish,
I think the shirt was found Nov 5th, prior to the Cue search.
Thanks E, and sorry Fish if I missed that- my source tells me Nov. 5th.
B
I am so frusrated with this. I have spent the better part of today, (ask my son), studying fb/ms relations. The intertwining of families is alot greater than I expected. I may have just missed this, but I didnt realize so many in NG were supporters of the National Guard, did you all? I was trying to find out if anyone was in the NG Reserves. Anyway, I dont know what else I can find as things stand currently, without more direction.( hint). I did look at another MMA fighter that peaked my interest, getting ready to fight again, possibly tonight, but I dont really know if it is important, ya know?
Blink feels strongly about the taser. In which case, she did not go off voluntarily, IMO. She was in a ‘pickle’ outside and somebody(s) took advantage of that. My quandry is in whether ending up outside was part of it, or another matter all together.
Well here we all sit, all of you wonderful dedicated souls. What avenue can we go down next?
Stay the path E.
B
Not only is the VSP not giving out new specific information on the Harrington case, they are not keeping the case alive among the concerned citizens by re-confirming facts stated in the past or asking for assistance anymore. The VSP public relations department as well as Lt. Rader have obviously been muzzled. By who, the state’s governor? Why, so Charlottesville and UVa won’t get a black eye? Really, what is going on?
Add to this the abject failure of LE to solve the Childs/Metzler murders (the two VT students who were found shot in the Jefferson National Forest on August 27, 2009, near VT) and I for one am losing confidence in Virginia LE. In the Childs/Metzler case the bodies had hardly been removed when one the the Sheriff’s people said that it looked lake an “isolated instance of random violence”. In other words don’t hold your breath until we find the people who did the crime. And they haven’t, even though Heidi Childs was the daughter of a VSP trooper. The entirely plausible scenario of two decent kids stumbling on a drug operation and being silenced wasn’t even considered. Why not?
@Ross: thanks, what I meant was that I was independently trying to find the same necklace listed for sale on the Swarovski site to see if the description included a matching pair of earrings or if perchance the center link came apart to use the two links as earrings. The necklace was not on the current site, I think they probably update their designs quite often.
There are a lot of people selling necklaces made from Swarovski crystals, but from the tag in the picture, it looks like the necklace was made by the Swarovski company itself.
Looking at the serial stabber (again!) and “sketch” after changing the perspective a bit and overlaying the two they really do appear similar. I keep yoyoing back and forth depending on the photos I see of him but the recent court shots could be mistakened as a light-skinned african american man. He looks like a pretty well-built guy, too.
Respectfully, he looks nothing like his own sketch, AND it appears to be a hate crime against African American Men. Not seeing any connection
B
Here’s a court photo of Elias from Miamiherald
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/13/1775096/va-police-eye-stabbing-suspect.html to go with my other post.
Yes, I didnt think I was watching the correct story, when they showed Elias based on the sketch with the hat. To be honest, it reminded me of melon. lol!
The necklace- Blink -\
I went back and viewed past comments (Thanks Ross)- There was a video on youtube early on that showed Metallica and Gorgira backstage- There was a young blonde woman, identified to be Emma the stage manager, wearing a necklace that looked alot like Morgan’s -
Here are some of the posts referring to it- the vid has since been taken down.
I was just wondering if to your knowledge, was this necklace ruled out as being a necklace like Morgan’s? I know the Universe is full of weird coincidences but two necklaces the same? Or strikingly similar?
With GradStudent’s post on August 10, 2010 at 11:54 pm., referencing a person thinking her backpack was his- … Could security have thought the necklace was Emma’s?
I am of course not pointing fingers just thinking aloud- and hoping you can answer my question. TIA
Debidoll says:
November 13, 2009 at 3:32 am
Has anyone else looked at the video of the Metallica interview backstage on October 18, 2009?..the blond girl in the door frame looks a lot like Morgan..long shot..but possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6NJhohzjxU
Judi says:
November 13, 2009 at 1:49 pm
The girl in youtube video of backstage posted above is wearing a necklace that looks a heck of a lot like the one in the picture they just released
fish says:
November 13, 2009 at 11:10 pm
wait a minute!
does anyone else remember being told or hearing that the necklace that LE showed in the photo was not an exact photo or one similiar. if i am not mistaken i heard similiar. i just looked at the backstage metallica video on youtube and tried desparately to see the necklace that the young girl was wearing in the background. she is always in the doorframe. maybe not Morgan but i do think that someone should look into who that is. maybe the perperator took the necklace and gave it or sold it to someone. just a thought! and then maybe the necklace is one that looks so close to the photo. do not believe everything you are told and as Blink said so wisely put it…”we are not eating what we are being served!”
i know for one, that my time in charlottesville meant something to me. i am calmer now and want so badly to believe that it meant something to LE and UVA too!!
bobdog snipped
#105: In the youtube video from the Charlotte concert (the next night), the blonde woman you’re referring to is Emma, the tour manager
To those asking about granny and the video- here is the very first reference to Granny on BOC- This link was to the video, as I remember watching it at the time…
SuzeeB says:
November 5, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Have you seen this tip from a grandmother.
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=11374052
My apologies to Blink and everyone, if it seems I am hogging the board- This is the only time, lately, that I have had to really post-
I like all, here, so want to help The Harrington’s get the answers to what happened to Morgan.
In regards to kickee-
Here are some of the first posts discussing the Hooks account- and Blink’s responses-
Even then She said it was HINKY:
Dakota says:
November 15, 2009 at 11:30 am
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/15/concerned-witnesses-before-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/
Interesting -Does it change perspectives ? Could the “commotion” Morgan had at the entrance of JPJA have been with security, as she attempted to re-enter. Commotion , injury , missing patron and no video footage .
I cannot grasp the lack of footage at the entrance of JPJA . I am beginning to feel a mental disorder may be lurking in Morgan’s past . Bi-polar disorder mixed with alcohol can lead to dangerous and irrational behavior . The statements from the guy about Morgan’s aggressive behavior is laying on my mind . Could the friend’s silence be hiding a deeper secret about Morgan .
Dakota, No disrespect, but how could you possibly diagnose bi polar or an underlying mental condition on the daughter of a psychiatrist because of an unverified witness account, and absent any evidence whatsoever to corroborate such a statement. Personally, I would like to speak to the 44 year old late arriving witness who states Morgan gestured agressively to him and then kicked him. The first thing I would ask him is to see his ticket receipt or stub, the second would be how he knew Morgan Harrington was missing already on the 18th? The rest of us knew nothing until the next day.
H I N K Y
B
Could silence be speaking volumes .
#
sue says:
November 15, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Blink, I think the discrepancy is the fault of the author of the article. She states that the 44 year old man reported what he saw on Monday, October 18th, but later states that the mother of two reported what she had seen on Monday, October 19th.
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wpgmouse says:
November 15, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Blink
Wah, wah, what 44? Have we touched on this?
He’s 44.
B
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wpgmouse says:
November 15, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Blink, read off site about the 44yo.
He’s got quite the story.
Hope he was checked for a bruise from that kick, or any other wounds
for that matter.
As usual your on my page toot sweet. Exactly when does Mr. 44 Yr. old, Im calling my girlfriend who is not with me when a very attractive blonde “approaches me agressively” and then kicks me for not “looping” her arm. Who the eff believes that?
(apologies for the Sunday eff). He’s got quite the story, and apparently quite hotline- he knew she was missing before any news bulletins.
B
Momof3 says:
November 16, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Thanks Blink. I hear ya!
In your opinion is he just “innocently” trying to interject himself into Morgan’s story or does he know more than just some bystander?
If that is direct quoting from this guy, it is at least hinky as to his account. Was ticket scanned and if so at what time and with what other tickets? Could also be the Morgan look alike, but again, that is freaky because “dee” is friends with friends of Morgan’s, presumably Amy. So back to my headache.
B
E:
Thanks on the refresher on the t-shirt. Yes, I believe it was found on the 5th but sent to the lab on the 11th. The search though, starting on November 6th was by Laura Search and Recovery.
I believe CUE was to start with people who knew what they were doing. Hmmmmm, wonder who was on that list or knew someone that was?
Sometime in January. Please someone help me with that.
I do remember hearing Dr. Harrington state they wanted to look at some reservoirs and rt 29 area.
*Am I wrong on that?
Could someone have been a bit agitated knowing it might run close?
Who knew of the mapping of this search?
&&&
susan!
Of course the Sutherland Road fire house is connected.
Oh wait, that is just in my opinion!
I’m with Judi and so many others, why not release something.
Why has it all stalled?
I mean stalled to all of us. I’m not saying the case behind closed doors has stalled but how do I flippin’ know? I don’t!
Nobody is talking.
&&& YES!
I feel something should be said.
Silence IS NOT working.
HE is enjoying a homelife when he needs Lady Observer’s;
Three hots and a cot!
No one needs any more help? Lt. Rader? Pleeeeese.
We are perplexed and confused and stand by your side.
Why nothing?
Even if you want to say “fish, mind your own business”.
Why nothing?
Even now that word is out that people have abused YOUR hotline?
Why nothing?
Even now you can start disseminating fact from fiction.
Lt. Rader, do you need signatures or words of encouragement, support, and just plain ‘kick some ass and give some names’ sent to your boss?
You know we will! His office would be flooded.
Virginia State Police you have our support.
Even tired, confused, frustrated, and at a loss.
We want you to succeed.
We need to you succeed.
We need to be able to call upon you and feel you will be there for us. For our children.
What is the next step?
Maybe it just might help your case that we are waiting to see presented to Prosecutor Lunsford!!!
Somehow her death goes beyond brutal. Goes to a place that people do question if there is some sort of cover up going on.
Someone in LE involved?
Can it be the fear of the unknown? Yes.
I have met some wonderful VSP troopers and know that these officers of the law, eat, breathe, and sleep these cases.
I truly believe that. I have seen it.
May the Lord watch over each and every one of you.
Sorry if I sound emo! (as my kid says)
I just want people not to start not believing in what system we have.
It works even if there are aholes that abuse it.
It does work but it has to be an open line of communication.
No. Not all things but nothing?
So…
21merc7!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It steams me too. More than you know.
This is why I think that we all keep at this.
A young girl that should not be victimized again!
She suffered the ultimate loss, her life and now her family holds it all upon their shoulders.
It’s a great deal to carry, 21m7. A great deal. I wish I could write it out and make sense for you to understand the stress.
There are days you want to crawl under the bed not just the covers and not worry anymore. Worry if the weight will drown another family. See why this family needs love and a ton of support?
They have become a victim. Plain and simple.
Don’t get me wrong, you never think that in your head.
You just keep on with life. Not being his victim.
Always doing the right thing,
seeking justice.
As Dr. and Mrs. Harrington are, for all of us. But let’s not kid ourselves in thinking that they are obligated to do this.
They are not.
They have suffered a catastrophic loss.
It is the rest of us that are.
We must support each other and our communities.
Do whatever we can.
HE must not win.
So 21m7, seems we are going start running on steam.
Like the little engine that could.
“I think I can, I think I can”….”I think WE can!”
August 13, 2010 at 3:03 pm
“This steams me…”
Blink, I know that you must want me to shut up but before I do.
I hope the Harrington Family knows that for every one of them…they have a sh!t-ton of us.(pardon me)
Hang on. We are with you for the long haul.
There! I’m glad I got that all off my chest and now Eloise, tell your son that we are back to the research and Blink, I’ll shut the door, shut up, put a sock in it, pipe it or whatever else I say not say.
Friend, I would never ask you to shut it, heh?
B
love_palm_trees
Its a small world. My father’s family lived in Columbia County Arkansas from 1903 until the death of my grandmother in 1961. Following WWII, because of the housing shortage, I lived with my grandmother for 15 months. My school buddy and I hold the record for the largest bale of cotton ever ginned in the county. Hand picked every lb. and then used a mule and plow to plow under the stalks. We also cut,raked and baled more hay than I care to remember.
Alexandra posts that she believed that Gil Harrington hinted that forensics may have found sperm on Morgan’s remains. This indicates that it was probably on some clothing. I hope this is true because it will give LE something to work with.
The behavior of Morgan that we think we know is strange prior to her abduction. We have a report that she had a flask taken away from her at the door of JPJA. There is no verification of this unless her friends reported it and I missed that information. Then we have a report that she fell either in the rest room or while standing on a chair taking photos. She apparently hurt her chin in some way and a fall could stretch the skin on the chin on impact to the point of splitting it. This could cause an injury that may require stitches,but it could also stun her so that she did not recover her ability to function normally for as long as four or five minutes.
This may explain why she didn’t seek help from the EMT’s that were on site.
I experienced this while playing football. We didn’t have helmets with face masks when I played and it was quite common to get a hard blow to your face that would stun you to the point that you did not function on the concious level. Everything was sort of wiped out,but you still played.
Next, we find that she has walked in high heeled boots from the front of JPJA down to the field ajacent to Copley bridge. A distance of about 1700 ft. or a third of a mile. She has interacted with the basketball players and the boys in black and possibly two others including the person she reportedly kicked. Then there is the report that a student in a car saw her on copley, but didn’t try to help her.
We don’t know why she chose to leave the arena or why her friends did not try to assist her. When I take a group of young people to an event I make them all pair up and promise not to get seperated even when going to the rest room. Of course, in this instance,there is no adult supervision. Young people with adult bodies and not fully developed brains or experience so they let her leave alone.
If Morgan had a flask and was drinking this could add to her confusion following the fall and it could have contributed to the fall.
The Texas Department of Safety has conducted tests using the training class for young cadets over a period of thirty-five years regarding how alcohol affects the behavior of people. This includes both men and women. The results of these test have proven that women do not handle alcohol very well. Some are strongly affected within ten minutes and two or more drinks in less than a half hour can make some women unable to recover for four or more hours.
When Texas lowered its age limit to 18 for the purchase and consumption of alcohol, the auto accidents and DUI arrests of people in the 18 to 21 years group grew so large that they changed the law back to 21.
Next we have a venue that attracts all kinds of young and not so young people. Within that group are some real punks and bad guys who go there for the express purpose of finding a willing young woman and “hooking up” for the evening or longer. Not a safe situation, but one that some young women of today seem to accept.
Did Morgan’s friends think that she knew someone that was not a part of the group and she was going to meet them? Why were they not alarmed when she was gone for ten or more minutes? Only they know the answers.
Dearest Tx Grandfather-
As always, I read your posts with my eyes closed ( not really) and miss my Poppa.
He played for Duke, I owe my love of the game to him, so thank you.
Can I ask you or anyone else to link where you believe Morgan had a flask, and that it was confiscated?
I do not believe Morgan’s friends knew initially how she got outside the arena, fwiw.
B
Amber Dubois a young girl murdered in CA
Her parents hired a dog search and rescue company out of VA. From what I understand they were able to follow the live scent of her even on the freeways! to around the area where she was later found deceased.
Why couldn’t this be done to help trace the route where Morgan was taken?
http://www.examiner.com/headlines-in-san-diego/search-dogs-tracked-amber-dubois-to-pala-last-august-photos-video
http://www.vk9sar.org/index.html
Thank you to Blink and of those here!
A follower from Scared Monkeys, IBE
Lived in Alexandria, taught in Fairfax VA. I miss VA, the people, the history, the land!
OT and hope Blink allows this:
PS.. Help please…I have lost my files and can’t find Meadow Creek VA only the one in WVA. Need to trace my great great ++ grandfather who sent a 1776 letter from Meadow Creek, VA. My family has 14 different spelling of his last name from 1749 on, so my great great +++ grandfather shortened it.It’s easier to trace after Boonesborough.
An uncle visiting him said there were lots of geese around.Is Meadow Creek near the Holston River??
The other night I spent hours in yahoo maps tracing present day creeks in what was the first Botetourt County, Va that extended way into KY. He and/or his son, (some confusion there as to 1 or the same) went via Cumberland Gap then to KY River. He and his family went with, settled, fought, surveyed, lived with Daniel Boone in Boonesborough Fort in KY. Then had farms outside there. He was a frontier surgeon also. One son, killed by Indians is buried on Clydes Farm wherever that is Help.
I did find Meadow Creek Dairy. Things looked Yummy there! The other night I read 300 pages on VA History for the adobe search didn’t work only to get to the end where they said that it might be hard to find relatives in VA for the British burned the courthouses and records. Great 14 spellings of the name and now the British ((smiles)) Thank you in advance
@ alexandra August 13, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Yes, it was her. This whole story just seems so unlikely to me. I can see why someone wouldn’t stop if it was a stranger. It happened to me once, I saw a guy being beaten up by a group of thugs on a motorway rest stop – I called the police but didn’t intervene myself.
But if you think of this scenario – there is a girl you know, and she is obviously in trouble, she is alone, so there is no danger for you, you know her, and you could just stop and ask her what is wrong. But no, you drive past, and a few days later you report it on facebook, under your real name. This just doesn’t add up.
Mary,
Regarding the senate candidate from S.C., I thought the photo shown in the CNN article vaguely resembled Sketch, that is why I mentioned it. Thanks for looking. Funny thing when I went back later to revisit the article, there was a new story up about a man that was a supervisor overlooking clean-up in the gulf beeches and he had been accused of rape and I thought he even resembled Sketch too. It is all confusing to look at others pictures and compare.
Yikes!! That stabber guy looks really spooky and huge and mean. Hope he gets locked up for a long time.
@ Eloise August 13, 2010 at 10:08 pm
This is most interesting. Do they actually serve in the National Guard, or support them in a specific way, or are these people who would like to be a member but were turned down? The latter category tends to include dodgy characters playing war in the woods and working together in close knit groups, this is why I am wondering.
OT/about Elias Abu-El-Azam, where is the earring or hole in his ear where an earring would have been. There was a bar bell ear jewelry noted in his sketch and nowhere is it mentioned that any of the victims noted his Middle Eastern accent, After all , he spoke to most of them and i heard him in court. He had a distinct accent and he has a fairly dark olive complexion. Something seems a little off on this whole thing.
Unless of course, he changed his appearance and accent when he went hunting. Still I want to see a close up of his ear. Where is the piercing?
You cant have it in lock up- it was removed.
B
Speaking of earrings, i found this picture of Morgan with large loop earrings, maybe it was this earring that granny saw:
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/05/hundreds-turn-out-for-harrington-search/
I’ve found several random pics of him that aren’t “mug shots” and i have yet to see any with any earrings of any sort. Believe me, I have enlarged at least five pictures of him and I can’t see any piercing. Just wondering…
Virginia prosecutors are discussing using familial dna to solve crimes:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/rtd-news/2010/jul/18/DNAA18-ar-317678/
If Sketch cannot be located, perhaps someone with a partial match is related and knows him. (That is my contribution, I do not know that this discussion in the news was directly propelled from the MH case.) I do know that certain unsolved serial crimes in this state are disturbing, including RT 29 Stalker, and Colonial Parkway Murders.
Aside from that thought, I am coming to the conclusion that UVA is not a place where I want my child to be when HE graduates from high school in two years, if this case,( with all of the witnesses, the supposed security around JPJA, and the expensive systems in JPJA) cannot be solved by the VSP.
Even though he is a boy, and probably the abductors of MH would not think of messing with him at 6’2″, and 210 pounds, the lack of solving this crime actually negates the superior image of this school in my mind. I just do not want him involved in such a system, and with the possibility of someone on the loose, with authorities seemingly either having no clue, or refusing to give information to let us know this case is on the way to being solved, it seems like a very uncertain place to me. Better he would be in a system which doesn;t have the tarnish of security lapses, upon lapses, and no failsafe for protecting the ones who fall into a position where they need help.
Let me tell you why the resistance- Because it is going to work, and they are going to be faced with criminals that went undetected because they have a 5-8 month backlog of DNA testing and people are going to freak as it is, this is a whole new can.
B
My daughter and I are headed to Georgia to spend a few days with my Mom who is celebrating her 82nd birthday on Monday. I hope to take the opportunity during this “down time” to talk to my daughter AGAIN about ensuring her safety and not assuming she is in a safe environment at UVA, or ANYWHERE for that matter. She keeps telling me “you want to keep me in a cocoon” because at 21 she thinks she is adult enough to handle anything…but I am a nag and just keep telling her anyway. I hope all of my kind, tenacious friends here at BOC get the opportunity to take a little down time and give your wonderful brains a bit of a rest, even if for a day (I know, hard to do) and connect with those that you love. I plan to return to you all with renewed purpose for Morgan and the Harringtons and hopefully clarity of thought. Dr. and Mrs Harrington and Alex, you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Mom3.0 I hope your little one is recovering nicely. Blink, as always, bless you… and bless you all!
OT but in response to your response, B.
“Respectfully, he looks nothing like his own sketch, AND it appears to be a hate crime against African American Men. Not seeing any connection
B”
If it was a hate crime against African American Men he wouldn’t have stabbed the older white man and the other white couple. The media is trying to make it appear to be a hate crime. They play down that he stabbed other whites as well.
Ok, then, but I honestly do not see the relevance to Morgan’s case-
B
38.anotherB says:
August 14, 2010 at 9:44 am
@ Eloise August 13, 2010 at 10:08 pm
This is most interesting. Do they actually serve in the National Guard, or support them in a specific way, or are these people who would like to be a member but were turned down? The latter category tends to include dodgy characters playing war in the woods and working together in close knit groups, this is why I am wondering.
^^^^^^^^^^^
Well, whether they are fans for some reason or have some more intimate relation, I am still working on it. Try the one with the new house etal.
Lee thank you for asking about my little one- Thankfully things seem to be healing well
I hope you have a good time with your daughter- may she be safe always- Happy Birthday to your Mom.
Dew thanks for the link-
Eloise please do not get discouraged- You are doing great-
@Susan here is the Swarovski Rhodium and Crystal Bice Necklace — http://www.crystalclassics.com/jewelry/rhodium/869793.htm
It’s no longer on Swarovksi site as you said and for some reason their images don’t load on archive.org.
But after a ton of hunting around I found it on that re-sale site. Also, I could find no matching earrings anywhere, just mentions of a matching key chain and bracelet. An ebay listing said the key chain was retired and I found an auction listing for one from Nov 2008 for one, so the group has to be from at least before that.