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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@ Blink August 18, 2010 at 1:51 pm
“Sketch- verifiably, a Black male.
Sketch Friends- Could represent each nationality in the UN for what we know.
This is the land of Thomas Jefferson folks, do y’all remember Sally Hemings? ”
Oh, *that* far back in history?
Well, come to think about it, this doesn’t surprise me. Conflicts over land and inheritance can stay in peoples’ minds for centuries. So – even during the time of slavery black and white – well, they didn’t intermarry, that was illegal, but they had children together. Wealthier mixed race families could eventually gain a similar status to the whites. And African features can eventually reappear after generations in a white family.
The slaves lived in “housing” on the farms, and if I am not mistaken one of the anthropology professors at UVa runs a course the conditions the slaves in the Monticello area had to live in.
Are we dealing with illegitimate offspring, and the conflicts arising from this? Or do you refer to the fact that there is in fact a sizable black populations in North Gardens today, who descends from slaves?
Please correct me if my views on American history are nonsense. The above comes from high school history lessons, and that was a long time ago.
Didn’t Duannah publish a book on the local history of the area? She might know more.
Nope, you got it, simply saying the population is very mixed in North Garden.
B
@ susan August 18, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I can’t find the source anymore, but I believe that Blink stated the second rape was committed in an institution.
Correct
B
Correction to the above post – the second *crime*. I have the feeling this was sexual battery, not rape.
Finding out Sketch’s identity is CRUCIAL!
No, seriously, I always thought that one of the reasons why Morgan ended up in this field was embarrassment. One of the persons involved had a connection to this area, and knew it very well, and I believe he has lived there, too.
Conflicts in close knit rural communities can go back centuries, and even if someone has lived there for thirty years he is not considered part of the genuine population. It is certainly possible that someone wanted to harm the reputation of a wealthy white land owner – or that someone who descends from an illegitimate branch of a family wanted to take revenge. There have been a number of DNA studies over the past years, reconstructing family lineages, and the results did cause a stir amongst some.
Myself, I grew up as a “new” person in a very beautiful village, and to this day I am still amazed about the amount of tacit knowledge amongst the locals. They know exactly how families were related, going back several generations, and there were also conflicts between villages going back centuries. These could culminate for instance in a heap of cow dung being found on the main square of the other village on the morning of a local holiday. It was also quite common to yell abuse at kids from the other village on the school bus.
So, I believe that the BG who murdered her sought help from someone who had a connection to this area, and that this person chose the location because he knew he could access it, he knew it wouldn’t be accessed by anyone else for a while (which means he knew where the hunting would take place, but did he know about the daughter’s companions?), he knew it would be accessed after one year (so her skeleton would be found), and he knew that this would have unpleasant consequences for the owner of the farm.
So who did he harm by leaving the body in this location? An elderly lady and her brother, both holocaust survivors, very distinguished and cultured people, who organize piano concerts and fund professorships in Polish studies, and a gentleman farmer and his artist wife who bought the land as an investment.
This case is never going to be solved, is it?
Your assuming it has not been.
Solved, and prosecutable are not always simultaneous.
B
The Marquis de Lafayette mistook one of Sallys children for Jefferson himself while visiting Monticello. (Brodie)
MsL says:
August 18, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Someone on a local blog suggested that he/she suspects a VSP cover-up in Morgan’s case and the Metzler-Childs murders because those deaths occurred so near Tech.
I believe the Metzler-Childs murder was (is?) being investigated by the Sherrif’s Department of Rockbridge County. They are the ones who made the statement the day after the bodies were found that it looked like a “random act of violence”. My question was “Why does it look like a random act of violence?”. To me it looked like two thoroughly decent kids may have stumbled into a drug operation and were murdered. Why the rush to say anything the day after the kids were found in a National Forest and before anything could be analyzed? The progress in that case, as far as we know, has been zip.
As for Lt. Rader, I think he has been told to solve the crime if he can but don’t rock the boat with publicity or upset the heavy money in Blandemar Farms, Burdorian Farms, Keswick, and the other privileged enclaves around and in Charlottesville. Not quite as bad as waiting on the Pope to investigate child-molesting priests in the Catholic Church, but maybe not too far off.
Ok my friends…hold up. I’ve been quiet the past couple of weeks but I believe I have still read everyone’s posts. I think my RSS Feeds are messing me up (very new concept to me- will discuss in a minute)%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Im sorry if I am asking a stupid question- but please answer!
It seems like all of the sudden we are now referring to Perp A (Sketch) and Perp B ….as HIS FRIEND???
……….I get thrown off when we give new names…it’d be like starting to call KICKEE…Kicker —ultimately the same person but can confuse some pple.
am i making the right assumption?
In regards to the RSS feeds,,,,please hekp me! Ive only recently thought to try it…I have it all sent to google reader. Its ok…but I hate that I cant reply through it. IF I can reply through I cant figure out how.
Can ya’ll tell me exactly how ya’ll receive, read, and reply to this board with ease? PLEASE : )
PS….Have I told u all lately how much I love you???? Because I do!!!
computer about to die. no time to proof read sorry for grammatial errors!
@Fish Woohoo! Good for you for telling those people off. I get so sick of people trying to blame the victim in these things. I don’t care if she’d been strung out, naked and attending a concert for the most vile group in music–no one deserves to have what happened happen to her.
And for some reason, when you said how the father was ranting about how his daughter would never do these things, Cindy and George Anthony came to mind…
And in general, I don’t know how it slipped my mind but Mom 3.0′s comment about the first aid signs being more prevalent now totally made me realize a third and highly likely reason she would have gone outside…
Because she felt she was going to get ill (for whatever reason).
At the doctor’s a few weeks ago, I got really nauseous all of a sudden and I instinctively looked for the nearest exit–much easier than trying to find or make it to a bathroom and less embarrassing than getting sick where you are.
And when you’re looking green and heading for the door, who’s going to stop you to say you won’t be able to get back in?
But she would be mad when he refuses to let her back in without a ticket, since he had just seen her run out the door a few minutes before.
Anyway, it’s just speculation. But since she didn’t expect to be going outside (after all, she was heading to the bathroom, right?)it would explain why she didn’t make sure she had her ticket as well.
What is it that makes every fiber of my being not peg Morgan’s killer as a middle aged black male? From the moment the sketch was released I said to myself “nope, not the guy”..Why? I am a 28 year old white New Yorker, I have no racial biases either way…does anyone else not want to believe that this is THE guy?
I personally do not believe sketch is Morgan’s killer, but I very much believe he knows who is, and may have participated in what ultimately happened to her, may have helped place her on AF, and may have participated in attempts to divert searchers and LE.
Sketch is forensically tied to a sex assault in 2005, and Morgan’s homicide ( we do not know the full status of the criminal charges that will be filed in Morgan’s case when arrests are made) whereby the owner of AF did not recognize him via the sketch.
Bad Guys with sketchy pasts help each other out to keep the lock on the closet door.
B
Apparently facebook has added a feature that can show a person’s location based on GPS data of their mobile phone. This will make life much easier for stalkers and other bad guys. There are so many profiles which are visible to the world.
George, I’m going to respectfully disagree with you. My opinion only, and you are certainly entitled to yours. The impression I get of Lt. Rader is that of a dedicated officer. I do not believe he would allow his investigation to be influenced by either some moneyed residents of Albemarle County or the University. Lt Rader, I hope I am right in my assessment of your professional integrity.
With regard to the statement that the Metzler/Childs murders were random acts of violence. If the person who made that statement was attempting to reassure the Tech community early in the investigation, I think he failed. If I were a parent of a Virginia Tech student, that statement would have given me little comfort. I would much rather believe that these two young people were specifically targeted rather than that there is a killer out there who could at any moment choose another couple for a senseless act. The same applies to the death of Morgan Harrington. It would be much more comforting to the UVA community if there was any suggestion by LE that she had been specifically targeted and that no other co-ed or female resident of the county and city had anything to fear. I have heard absolutely noting from either VSP or local authorities attempting to give that impression.
Sometimes I do my deepest thinking while scrubbing the bathtub. I first read George’s comments to mean that he thought the person who made the comment about “random act of violence” was trying to say he did not think the perpetrator had specifically targeted either Ms. Childs or Mr. Metzler. On second consideration, the comment could have been made in an attempt to allay parents’ and students’ fears that the shooter targeted these young people because they were probably Tech students. Why ever he made the comments, I would think the description of “random” did little to ease concerns at least immediately following the shootings. I remember thinking myself when I heard about the deaths, “how much more does the Tech campus have to suffer.”
I know the Childs/Metzler killings are off topic from Morgan’s death, but in a way they are not. Apparently there is absolutely no connection, but both involved the deaths of very promising young people, as did the murder of Yeardley Love. All should have been living through the best years of their lives.
5.DCsteve says:
August 18, 2010 at 8:26 pm
This case is never going to be solved, is it?
Your assuming it has not been.
Solved, and prosecutable are not always simultaneous.
B
———————————————————————-
Oh, please, let it be so. If LE at least KNOWS who is responsible, then I believe that it is only a matter of time until the have enough to prove it and make an arrest. My concern was always that they had no idea on the who. If they do know the who, my hope for justice has just been given a huge boost
Anxiously awaiting the day the arrest is made, which I hope is any day now, preferrably before school is back in full swing so female UVA students can live a little safer knowing that at least this rapist/murderer(s) are no longer roaming the streets looking for their next prey.
http://officialcoldcaseinvestigations.com/showthread.php?t=10456&page=3
I came across this forum. Two interesting things: post 14 and post 28. Farmer Bass only goes out to that part of the farm once a year, and he was last there in August ’09. Someone might know this, and this is the reason for placement of Morgan there in October, so it would be someone who could keep an eye on Farmer Bass and his doings and schedule, and also, when someone saw him start mending fences in January, they knew and …..house burned down???
Post 28, may be relating to a party house Blink already mentioned, it says that there is a college party house on or near the property. I would think it was not on the property.
Does anyone think this ‘party house’ is the burned down house on Sutherland RD? or was there another party house?
Oh, and if one visits the NGVFD, one can see their “training fires” where they set fires and extinguish them on real houses.
I meant if one visits their website. sorry.
MsL says:
August 19, 2010 at 10:28 am
Sometimes I do my deepest thinking while scrubbing the bathtub. I first read George’s comments to mean that he thought the person who made the comment about “random act of violence” was trying to say he did not think the perpetrator had specifically targeted either Ms. Childs or Mr. Metzler. On second consideration, the comment could have been made in an attempt to allay parents’ and students’ fears that the shooter targeted these young people because they were probably Tech students. Why ever he made the comments, I would think the description of “random” did little to ease concerns at least immediately following the shootings. I remember thinking myself when I heard about the deaths, “how much more does the Tech campus have to suffer.”
__________________________________________
Right MsL. People familiar with the climate at VPI at the time because of the Cho tragedy understood that the police were simply trying to allay the fears that the childs/metzler attack was the beginning of another attack on a bunch of students. The police analysis that this was not what was happening was correct.
When Lt. Rader breaks this case, I hope he is ready and able to go after the whole lot of them! All those that helped, all those that kept silent, all those that aided and abedded. Whoever did this to Morgan, if you’re reading this, your days are numbered. The truth will be known.
As has been reported, drummer Johnny Gilmore died on October 22 in C’ville in a house fire, which has been ruled accidental. Probably absolutely no connection to anything else. Just another fire, another senseless death, in the same general location zone as our beloved Morgan’s, also another connection to the music scene. Deaths, fires, music bands . . . . but what if the accident was a covering/removal of evidence? – probably not – or what if Johnny Gilmore was another victim of Sketch’s? What if he knew too much? He was home alone – but was he? What if he had guessed correctl and confronted the BG? I’ve probably just had too much coffee today – but with the lack of any other logical explanation this jumped out to me today as yet another coincidence in the little village of C’ville. Just throwing it out there.
Sketch’s North Garden friend could be black, white, hispanic, and/or a mix of any race. So might be his family.
I do not give a crap what he is!
I just think that we all are trying to find a connection.
Whether HE/they/she, whomever helped out is whatever race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion or disability or cripe even, political party is really, really insignificant for me unless,
U N L E S S !
It helps us find the murderer of Morgan Harrington.
No one said Sketch’s NG partner-in-crime needed to be black.
I believe that his family has all walks of life behind them.
They are an equal opportunity, offender-type of fam!
WE just need to keep searching and not get hung-up on race or what she wore, what decisions she made, bridge or not bridge, just that we keep at it for her.
For the Harrington’s daughter.
It is what I would need from all of you. God forbid.
Important Information Below: Need to know!
Blink, if you are back at Blandemar then do you mean the green barn on Blandemar Farm Drive?
Green barn added sometime between 2002 and 2007.
Plot 88-3F to Plot 88-41A?
I think owned by 1405 Waldemar Drive, Rosentiel Investments?
It is a straight shot back to tree line and yes, I understand it is difficult terrain from there.
(or do you mean somewhere else?)
It wouldn’t be so hard to drive a vehicle from pulling in at the green barn and then out to that spot and everyone gets out and walks, even forcibly? I know…the terrain…???
I think a long time ago we linked to photos someone here on BOC, posted driving this.
They had a reasonably good shot of this barn.
I can’t find the link of photos right now. I’ll keep trying.
Deceiving topography(big word for a fish, trying to keep up with TDBone and TexasPopPop) though. Hills and Valleys.
When you drive out there, TD and Texas, you get a good lay of the land. (Think hillier than the Texas Hill County)
You realize that nothing is totally a straight shot.
Unless one could get back there and see for oneself and one knows this intimately.
I would just like to know HOW he gets her to that point?
People are left roadside, trialside, cityside, in empty-lots side, not all the way back in over fences, through rivers, down embankments, across fields being carried.
Or am I wrong about this?
Educate me, please.
(VSP knows the “HOW”?)
I would even be willing to take on some of the variables of which you speak of Blink!
Walk it; alone, without shoes, in the dark, and give me a rainy night. Oh heck, even put two scary men at my side.
(Just not Sketch)
Wait, I’m at the point, pair him up with me.
See if he can stand me for however long it takes.
I’m stupid enough to believe he would bail.
Plus, he might not be into a middle-age, incessantly chattering, opinionated, prone to exercise-induced-puking kind of gal.
Seems he has a type. Young and alone!
Or even give me his friend. The friend we all believe grabbed Morgan Harrington from the City of Charlottesville.
No matter the specific location, location, location.
Blink, do they leave tracks that told the story of the ‘How’ they got out there?
Was she made to walk it?
Just seems a good distance to carry her.
Unless you are correct and two did.
Did they leave behind significant evidence?
Would anyone like to give me permission to walk this land?
Just about 1700 feet from Barn to recovery site.
Bass? Collina Bella owners? Mrs. Rosentiel???
And would my ever steely, Lt. Rader come with?
Really and truly, solve this one!
It is time.
WHY is it that we, the public; someone needs help from, are allowed to sit in the dark?
If I must sit here…I would at least like to know how it is I got here. Pah Leeze!
Blink, where do I look for people who have stopped contracts with any certain services they may have hired on their properties?
Too broad? Ok.
Where do I look for Blandemar property owners who have stopped security contracts, construction contracts, and delivery (food) contracts?
Or should I just call?
And while I’m at it, may I ask when the barn was built?
Maybe Sketch helped out with that.
Or friend knew that build site.
Or GC’d or subed that site.
p.s. North Garden friend got to know this land quietly, secretly, and without drawing attention to himself because someone let him roam around freely.
He would have never been questioned for being out-of-place!
(VSP knows of him. Yep?)
p.p.s. MsL: We all must say a prayer for Father/Trooper Childs. I believe that there is not a minute in the day that he does not want this solved. There is something about a father needing this and although my Dad was just hamburger-slingin’ kind of dad, he too, wanted the “Wrongful Death” solved.
Blink, is correct when she said a difference between “solved and prosecutable”. Sometimes you take what you get(sad as it may be) and other parents never stop trying and succeed.
Childs, I believe, is never going to stop searching..
I’d bet a million dollars on that.
MsL, Even though Mrs. Rosentiel is wealthy, faced adversity, overcame extreme odds. I do not believe she would want these types of people to be roaming the land she made it all the way from Poland to cherish.
I would like to ask her what it means to her, to her legacy?
I would imagine it represents a good deal in her heart of hearts. Heavy-money or not.
It was too long of a walk for her to get here.
Did someone talk to her? I would guess LE did.
Did all neighbors fess up visitors?
http://www.ampolinstitute.org/ip.asp?op=MrsRosenstiel
“Widowed in 1976, she resides in Miami Beach during the winter season and at her Blandemar Farm in Charlottesville, Virginia in the summer.”
Other wealthy, successful woman have seen the light of injustice and stood up and “did the right thing”.
I’m not quite sure this lady is aware of what happened in close proximity to her land. Although I find that hard to believe.
She seems like a smart cookie.
Anybody?
Not saying there is involvment just someone who she may have hired on her properties/land. And, I’m sure she isn’t even doing the hiring.
Just a thought and IMO and could very well be way off base.
(sorry to have rambled for so long)
By the way.
Support VSP! (the best you can) and see you on the bridge of Hopeley.
Yes, I said hope!
Just to let you all know:
I DON’T KNOW SQUAT!
Just want justice for Morgan Harrington.
Don’t want the money, don’t want the recognition, don’t even want a thank you.
Just want to read someday here…Justice was served!
J4M
Need a headcount for the bridge.
Fish – check!
susan says:
August 19, 2010 at 10:48 am
http://officialcoldcaseinvestigations.com/showthread.php?t=10456&page=3
I came across this forum….
Post 28, may be relating to a party house Blink already mentioned, it says that there is a college party house on or near the property. I would think it was not on the property.
Does anyone think this ‘party house’ is the burned down house on Sutherland RD? or was there another party house?
________
susan, i suppose the party house could be sutherland, but i’d rather suspect it was were jenny is/was living. seems like there were at least a few parties there like the seven mile sleepover…
it was good to read some of the posts in the days immediately following the abduction. with all thats come to light in the last 10 months, i may finally be coming to terms with her being abducted on that bridge.
i liked blink’s solved comment, as i believe it to be the case. i feel like i know the who’s involved, but just not the how. i’d put a couple paychecks on LE knowing the how. i really hope they are just focusing on putting together the evidence for several convictions.
So, to back track, when Perp put Morgan there in October, he knew the area, AND he knew the habits of Farmer Bass about his schedule. He thought he could count on Morgan being found in August ’10, which would provide little evidence, he thought, and it would be an embarrassment to Farmer Bass. In his warped mind, he may have even thought he was implicating Farmer Bass in the crime.
I suspect that either Farmer Bass or his family had had some run-in with this neighbor. Which is not hard to believe.
Therefore when perp saw Farmer Bass getting the tractor out in January (because the heavy snow may have broken some fences??), he knew that the gig was up, and that he had better call in some favors before that tractor stopped at the back corner of the fence.
I would like to know what section of fence that Farmer Bass finished with on the day before Morgan was found, and the evening before the house fire. Was it close enough to let perp think Farmer Bass would be at the corner fence the next morning?
So, every morning when Perp drove to his job in Charlottesville, he would look over at the Anchorage, and see what was going on. He had to be very close to keep this eye on things.
This is a working theory, which is only possible because of Blink’s excellent background on the players. If this is indeed the scenario, credit should go to dear Blink for her job of researching this and all of the players, so that the pieces would fit together perfectly. The VSP should give Blink some kind of award, if this is it, and I think it is.
Also, I would like to know about the crime scene, and where VSP thinks it is, the vehicle, and the rest of the motley scumbags involved.
I do hope LE have something of value and that they do not drag there feet in making a prosicutable arrest.
Poor Morgan, I do fear this was another case such as Channon Christian and Chris Newsom. A violent hate crime born out of ignorance.
The culprits must be found and put away forever or it will happen again. The private location, broken bones and her shirt are signs of quite a struggle and an ongoing attack by multiple people.
jmho
When I hear of a murder in a national forest or national park the first thing I think of is drugs and drug dealing. I don’t think for a minute the two kids killed were in anyway involved, but they may have stumbled across something and had to be silenced. To me that is much more plausible than a “random killer” deciding to kill them in a popular camping area for no reason. The area is not that far from Interstate 81 which is the route of extremely heavy truck traffic coming up from the southwestern states and the Mexican border to the northeastern US. Maybe I have too active an imagination, but I try and look at things that don’t fit. As we all do.
To follow is a link to Counteney Stuart’s article about the wrap up of the Johnny Gilmore death investigation. Honestly, I have been waiting for someone to come up with a theory where his death would be connected to Morgan’s simply because so many seem to be fixated on fire. From this article, it seems he died a very sad, tragic death that could very well have been avoided. I hope all will read the article and check your smoke alarms.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2010/08/06/tragic-end-investigation-complete-in-drummer-gilmores-death/
Up thread someone mentioned a training video from the North Garden Volunteer Fire Department starting and then extinguishing house fires. I’m guessing this is not an unusual event anywhere there are fire departments. I wouldn’t say it’s a common occurrence in our area because there are probably very few houses available for such training. The houses are scheduled for demolition and rather than bulldozing them into a pile of rubble, the owner donates them to fire departments for realistic training. I am sure fire departments jump at the opportunity when they have a chance to train using actual structure fires.
Fish, I read a comment up thread about a Polish holocaust survivor. I am guessing this person is your referenced Mrs. Rosentiel. I did a quick look and didn’t find the actual posting, but I want to let you know, you have addressed an undeserved p.p.s to me. I did not post about this elderly lady.
Blink your comments the last couple of days have been rather enlightening.
I appreciate you taking the opportunity to point out the ways in which Sketch may be overlooked- Things aren’t always black and white, and easily read. Perhaps Sketch is just in the background, never really putting himself up front and center?
To those that said it should be easy to connect Sketch to Morgan-
First, we may be talking about degrees of separation- she may not know Sketch but Sketch may know her or his friend knew Morgan…
Next-
Morgan had friends from grade school. She attended 2 different H. schools. She has an older brother, who has friends and acquaintances. Morgan was a college student- She had friends and acquaintances at other area colleges that had friends and acquaintances- Morgan’s father and brother had friends and acquaintances on the campus. She had friends and acquaintances on FB and on MS- She loved music and went to several major music events- and was friends of on FB and My Space with many-She went out with friends and all these places were filled with people and workers…All these people had friends and acquaintances. Morgan volunteered from the age of 13 – In other words she knew alot of people, met alot of people- came in contact with ALOT OF PEOPLE.
She rode public transportation- She was a very outgoing well liked person. In any one of these places or friendships ECT, she could have come in contact with Sketch or his friends. She may not have even known Sketch was aware of her, she may not have been aware of Sketch or his friend- But He could have said- Hey arent you?…. or hey weren’t you….at the Blue mountain festival or Bonneroo? Don’t you remember me?- I know your…..I’m friends with…. Do you need a ride?
Just speculating…..
Blink you recently wrote:
Your assuming it has not been.
Solved, and prosecutable are not always simultaneous.
B
Is this your belief or are you more than assuming? and D oThe Harrington’s know what you suspect? and last- Will Morgan’s case ever be able to be prosecutable?
Unequivocally, her case will be prosecuted.
B
Does Kickee have ties to North Garden?
oh, and ps. I trust you know who I am implicating as the perp.
I am not being vague about this.
It does seem obvious, but also obviously stupid of the perp to think he would not be picked out in a nanosecond. Some say the brains of 21 year olds have not developed completely. Maybe that accounts for the stupidity.
I hope the VSP has got an eye on him every second of every day.
susan- I fear I do not have the first part of your post- could you have inadvertantly cut it off?
B
re: dolce says:
August 19, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I agree with you. And, I think he looks a lot like Sketch. However, when someone else mentioned this either on this site or a blog…they lit into the person…saying he was such a wonderful person, etc. That may be true, and he may having nothing to do with this case. I don’t want to defame anyone, living or dead. Sometimes I think because I want this case solved so badly, I find a lot of people looking like Sketch.
Your mention of music world, fires, etc. does make one wonder…could there be some sort of connection.
@George While I understand your comment, to me, that would still be considered a random act of violence. But I took the “random act” statement to mean that they were certain that it was NOT someone the kids knew (e.g. a spurned lover) or someone hunting Tech kids. And maybe even that there wasn’t anyone hunting couples down in the park ala the Route 29 murders.
But they probably wouldn’t come out and say they think the couple stumbled onto a drug deal because they may not want the perp to know they know that yet.
Kickee=Sketch?
Kickee=Sketch’s friend (Perp 2)?
MsL:
Sorry.
As my kid would say, “My B!”
(trys this when she forgets homework)
I became confused, which at times, can happen even to the best of us.
Just tying to keep it all straight.
As you know, it can be darn near impossible. If you don’t mind, I’ll carry some little rocks to Copeley Bridge in the a.m. and place them for your little ones.
After all it is what Blink always says;
“We are a sum of our parts”
Between TexasGrand’s Saftey Pen and your Safety Reading, my kid thinks that I have eyes all over the country that is watching out for her. Not a bad thing, as she also has a Godmother in Cville, too.
Ms. Observer, although I will not know you, I will think of you when standing in support of The Harrington Family.
B, I think Susan is referring to her August 19, 2010 at 2:11 pm post.
I get the impression she is referring to good ole Cheesy Jumpsuit, but I’m not really sure. I am not 100% caught up on comments right now.
were any slaves buried in the cemetary at af?
Hi everyone, as I live in Roanoke now, and used to live in CVille, I became very interested in this case, and think that it’s wonderful that I have found this website. As you guys have been here longer than I, I’m sure that you have much more insight than I as well. Some things I question, and hope you might enlighten me on. First, John Paul Jones arena isn’t really all that close to what is considered the main campus, but it is closer than University Hall…as I understand it her purse and some belongings were found in the UHall parking lot…which means that she would have been walking away from campus. I have read that she told her friends that she was going to get a ride from friends in CVille, but the way that she was walking, she would have been going the opposite direction…but she would have seen UVA signs around Ivy Rd, by the track and field practice areas, which might explain why she would have crossed the railroad tracks at the Copeley Bridge, which would have been going toward more of a student area. Then her shirt being found at 15th and Grady..that area is heavily populated with students. I guess what I am struggling with is the path that she traveled, where she was abducted,where her belongings were found, and how the shirt got across town. It doesn’t really add up for me. There would have been very little to gain to go back through Grady and dispatch the shirt…any insight would be appreciated
Blink, I know you promised not to ID kickee. Without telling us who he is, can you tell us anything at all to place him out of the realm of suspicion? Or IYO in or out?
Suspicious, imo. Probably last question I will address wrt Kickee.
B
Gil Harrington’s Blog from August 20th, 2010
Early on we chose to share our story, share our pain. This was therapeutic for us in some ways; like the guy who will lift up his shirt (with little encouragement) to show his puckered surgical scar. The retelling helps integrate this massive body insult into his reality. We have told the story of Morgan’s murder at the drop of a hat for some of the same reasons. In the recitation we hear ourselves and begin to accept the unfathomable – Morgan was brutally murdered.
The intentionality of it bothers me so. How/why could anyone hurt her? On purpose?
If someone had run over her, I would be trying to give forgiveness for a terrible accident. I know Morgan was killed deliberately. I am not in a place of withholding forgiveness. I haven’t gotten that far. My mind still cannot accept, cannot conceive of a reality where someone could actually kill.
What an abomination.
Mogo 241
@ Blink: sorry about the disconnect, I was intending to link it to my series of posts yesterday.
When I found that comment that Mr. Bass said that “he only went out to that part of the farm once a year” and that he had last been there in August ’09, I realized that a ‘neighbor criminal SO who had a rap sheet’ would know that, and could use that to his advantage. The young RSO neighbor could put Morgan there, and safely believe that she would not be found until 8/10, when there would be little evidence. He could watch AF daily as he drove by to his parts supply job in Charlottesville, as farmers get up very early in the am, if they are going to do something, usually.
So, when Mr. Bass began mending fences in January, due to the heavy snow I believe, which may have broken some fences, his tractor started moving around the place. When young RSO saw the tractor get near the corner fence where Morgan was, he had to do something, like burn the Sutherland crime scene down.Young perp RSO would have advance notice when to burn down the place because he was watching Mr. Bass daily.
So, I believe that perp was a close neighbor who knew Mr. Bass’ habits, (once a year to back corner of farm in August), and could watch his movements daily. I believe that perp saw the tractor start up in January, and knew this was off schedule, and that he had better get rid of the crime scene (Sutherland)the day before that tractor started closing in on the back corner where he know Morgan was.
No, I do not think the Sutherland fire was a coincidence, and also this leads me to believe that the perp was a very close neighbor of AF, who was already a criminal, with a rap sheet, and who was escalating his crimes because he had already been caught before and been in ‘an institution.’ I don;t think they kept him long enough. Also, this perp has a history of not being able to control himself.
Perp also has familiarity with the bail bonds people, probably using the same one for his numerous arrests, he probably even has the bail bonds guy on his Christmas card list.
I searched for one Charlottesville bail bonds person (sketch look-a-like), and he came up with a location in Charlottesville, and Alexandria previously.
The granny sighting of Morgan with a young guy (actual perp) is beginning to sound like the one. I think Sketch was called in after the abduction.
Not to wander far afield, but these bail bond people sound like they are out of control, or not dealing with reality. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe that they also ‘provided security’ for Buffalo Wild Wings, and that also burned. Maybe things got salty there too, or they had a dispute with the owner?
This is sounding like organized crime to me. A little mafia in Charlottesville, who think they run the place.
Last month my normal and good-looking 24 year old autistic daughter with the mind of a 7 year old little girl went to visit her uncle in C’ville for the week. I was worried but I let her go. We drove the 4 hours there, I had a chance to place my rock on Morgan’s Bridge, we had a nice lunch and then we drove the 4 hours back. We got home around 10pm watched a little tv and went to bed around midnight. At 2am my phone rang. My daughter said her uncle had to go to the hospital and she was inside the ambulance with him. OMG! He was unconscious and she was with the EMT people of C’ville. I asked her to hand the phone to the EMT and a lady’s voice came on the phone. I explained that my daughter is autistic and it would take me 4 hours to get there. She said, “ma’am, I am only the driver, I don’t know what you want me to do” AHHHH, I woke my husband, reminded him there is a killer on the loose in C’ville, it was 2:30am, my very very vunerable daughter is alone, in C’ville, with EMT, I freaked out. We took coffee and left. We arrived at Martha’s Hospital at 6am, my daughter was sleeping on a gurney, my brother-in-law was coming out of it, he had suffered a heart attack but is alright, we drank more coffee and headed back home, daughter in tow. You cannot imagine the panic, thinking about a C’ville ambulance and my daughter together, my poor brother in law, whew what a scare.
Such is my life.
Mrs. Harrington, you are my hero.
Thank for sharing with us.
You have changed me more than you’ll ever know.
We are here, hurting with you, and here we will stay
until the bitter end. Peace to you lovely Gil, time will help,
give it time.
Susan, as oft repeated here, Buffalo Wild Wings (located in Barracks Road Shopping Center) and Wild Wings (located on West Main Street are two entirely different establishments. You are correct though. I have read that H&H Security does provide security to Wild Wings, I think it’s listed as one of their contacts on the H&H website. There was a fire at Wild Wings several weeks ago. The fire was not major, started on the outside deck. From the location it’s thought to have probably started in a large plant container from a discarded cigarette. I believe fire damage wasn’t extensive with the major problem being from smoke and water. Actually ate there last night and saw no evidence of the fire on the interior. I’m sure mentioning Wild Wings will again bring up the rumor that Morgan’s scent was picked up at Wild Wings (again, NOT Buffalo Wild Wings.) From what I’ve heard elsewhere and read here, an unsubstantiated rumor.
42.alexandra says:
August 20, 2010 at 8:02 am
Mrs. Harrington, you are my hero.
Thank for sharing with us.
You have changed me more than you’ll ever know.
We are here, hurting with you, and here we will stay
until the bitter end. Peace to you lovely Gil, time will help,
give it time.
———————————————————————-
DITTO!!
Blink says….
“Unequivocally, her case will be prosecuted.
B
I have been anxiously awaiting this day since October of 09. I can only hope that it does not take much more time to have enough to bring these perps in. With every passing day, countless of young women are at risk and with the mentality that seems to exist amongst people about what happened to Morgan, LE’s lack of making it a well known fact that there is a dangerous killer on the loose and people need to be extra careful and alert, and with school getting ready to be back in full swing, I am extremely nervous for young women within these perp’s hunting grounds. I fear that it is a race against the clock on who will strike first – LE on them with an arrest or them on their next victim
I know, this case is going to take as long as it takes. I am cautiously optimistic we are in the home stretch.
B
Blink…my posts seem to get hung up in moderation purgatory:
46.first-time says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 18, 2010 at 3:04 pm
B- YOU ARE BACK TO BLANDEMAR???? Please throw us a crumb on WHY? I had just recently changed my mind from Blandemar to Red Hill…not the gate at the bridge, but further up Red Hill, and up the ridge and through the woods, over the creek…but I always believed Blandemar was obviously easier and more logical. CRUMBS PLEASE.
A review of days gone by landscape maps make me feel that a local who knows that property ever so well, would have most likely entered it that way.
B
You know Blink, I respect you. But when people say things like there is “a little mafia in Charlottesville that think they run the place,” I’d like a little documentation to back that up.
I live in Albemarle. I was born here. And I sat back quietly and let most of the digs that have gone through here go. I have to say, the one about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings bothered me some. It really wasn’t a statement on Sketch. It was a statement on the natives of Charlottesville and Albemarle and what our roots are. And I don’t appreciate that. Don’t get me wrong. This has nothing to do with Thomas Jefferson. This has to do with the generalizations.
I grew up in Albemarle County and never heard a bad word about anyone else my parents knew from them. There were no feuds. If you thought something bad about someone, you didn’t act on it; you let it go. Most of Charlottesville and Albemarle is like that. A tiny percentage hate for generations or resent outsiders. My roots run deep, back to the 1700s. Not one of my Albemarle ancestors owned a slave although many had to fight in the Civil War. Not all of us descend from those who abused or owned others, yet my forefathers managed to be fairly prosperous and educated without it.
There have always been those who come here to school who look down on the “townies.” Even those natives who attended UVA. But, they seem to like it so much here that they stay after graduation. Others like it so much that they retire here from New Jersey, New York, California, etc. Charlottesville has been in the #1 places to live rankings multiple times. It isn’t because we have a large influxion of non natives. It is because most of us were raised to respect, welcome and be kind to others. All others. I’d appreciate some reciprocation.
And, please, I would appreciate people who have never lived here not judging us based on some tired old stereotype or some completely undocumented theory. I’m sure if you think hard you know the weak spots in your own communities that people might make broad generalizations and judge you for. If the shoe was on the other foot, I don’t think you would like it or think it very fair, either.
I probably would have let the Thomas Jefferson thing go to. It really takes a lot to make me respond this way and I hope you understand this is not anger, this is disappointment. The mafia thing, I cannot let pass. When you allow these remarks, it sends a message that it is okay to believe the broad generalizations being written or make more. It’s not okay. I know there are bad people in lots of families around here. But, a small percentage of miscreants shouldn’t brand us all, nor should the history of some of our more famous residents.
And, by the way, it was “Wild Wings Café” that had the fire, not Buffalo Wild Wings. See how easily rumors propagate when facts aren’t checked?
Duannah-
I respect you as well, but I have to tell you that what I referenced about Mr. Jefferson and Sally Hemings is a substantiated fact, not a dig. My point in saying it was to open the minds that I seemed to be observing thinking that a black suspect will only have black friends or travel in racially specific circles.
One of my dear friends is a black Nationally known journalist and I would hate for her to dump me, lol.
Your area is multicultural, and an african american male is not going to have everyone running down 29 after him yelling.. that’s sketch!! I am simply trying to give a perspective.
As far as the “little mafia” I agree that it was over the top, but I have to draw the line at censorship of comments and allow those that read them either do what you just did, as in, address it respectfully and express your deserved dismay, so that it is resolved, as opposed to me spending all day refereeing, which I simply cannot and will not do amongst adults.
YOU have been a very staunch supporter for Morgan’s case, and I have developed quite a network of locals who have as well, and I am glad we are all on the same team.
But if I am being honest, there are equally as many locals who still refer to Morgan as that blonde girl they found up at Bass’s. I am not telling you this because it is my opinion, and I am telling you this because I actually have received that in a correspondence, as well as others.
Now, that does not have any reflection in general of the good work your trying to do, but it certainly does piss me off. Gil Harrington herself has stated many treat them as if they are committing some sort of social gaffs by pursuing justice for their murdered daughter.
I commend you for your activism in light of what I think we already know- ultimately, Morgan’s killers are going to be from Albemarle County and the community is going to need to come together and support one another. You will have mine for certain.
B