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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Duannah, I like how you write, I love Charlottesville, I adore TJ, I have explored the information on his relationship with Sally, I know there is a mixture of races and culture in Charlottesville. Unfortunately, there was a murder that happened. A girl that grabbed the hearts of many people around the world. You are caught right in the middle of the negative attention your town is getting because of what happened outside a Metallica concert to a Metallica fan. I hope not to contribute to gossip and rumor. We want these monsters taken off the streets of Albemarle for good, never to hurt another soul again. I’m sorry if I ever offended.
@duannah:I am sorry that I offended you with my comment. I did not mean to offend law abiding citizens, or anyone who was not connected with this crime. What I should have said was that it is seeming to me that the perpetrator of this crime had some (a lot) of help with the arrangements of covering up. I do not think that is my opinion alone.
I am terribly sorry for getting the Wild Wings restaurant name wrong also.
I am sure that many people in Charlottesville are justifiably proud of their heritage, and again I did not intend to implicate those citizens as being part of a mafia.
My concern with Charlottesville, now, the place, not the law abiding people, is that a seemingly normal looking young person may be able to gain the confidence of other young girls, and well you see what has happened. I am concerned that charges have not been brought, and very hopeful that they will be brought, against the right person, and soon.
I am also concerned that there may be some in other positions of trust who are implicated in this crime. And we may not know who exactly they are.
So, for the time being, I will focus on the case, from the internet, but I will not be visiting Charlottesville until this crime is solved, and that goes for my entire family.
susan- I have to say thank you for the apolly, however-
I have a BOC editor that is local, and we know alot more than we can print and I think that sentiment would hurt her feelings, should she see it.
There are bad people, on the loose, in EVERY community. We already know one sketch is known to be at a minimum from Fairfax to Cville and/or North Garden.
Point is, Yes, I am a firm believer that the persons who have murdered Morgan Harrington and perpetrated any and other offenses are in fact dangerous and need to be caught-
But, you can’t boycott an entire community because they may or may not be there.
You just need to be educated about your surroundings when you travel, and take your personal security seriously.
The Harrington’s are there today on the bridge as we speak, I think if they can stomach it, we oughta be able to.
B
In a more forceful way Duannah has expressed a lot of what I have felt about some comments made on this site by people who not only have never set foot in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, but the entire COMMONWEALTH of Virginia. I tried to be a bit diplomatic when two posters made comments related to the death of Johnny Gilmore. People, before seeing resemblances everywhere, please think, exactly what is causing you to see the resemblance. I will not be any more specific. Blink has pointed out that our area is very multi-cultural. There are old biases that do die hard with some, and personally, I think those people are not worth the time of day. As an area, we have worked hard to fight those biases. We have a way to go, but we have come a long way. We don’t want to take a step backward by being suspicious of everyone who has certain resemblances to a drawing.
There have been many who have asked that people quit blaming Morgan for what happened to her. I agree. Whatever is said will not hurt her, but she has a suffering family who do not need additional pain. I also ask, before comments are made about people who you do not know and will possibly never meet, or who are no longer here to defend themselves, be able to back your comments up with facts. I really dislike the little snide “ummms” that some follow up with after posting a totally unsubstantiated comment or innuendo. Or the comment “just saying.” Do we have bad people here, absolutely. One of those bad people could have killed Morgan Harrington. If anyone is protecting that person, know you are an accessory to evil. The community of 100,000 individuals or more who work and study hard are not accessories. Blink believes that ultimately Morgan’s killer will be found to be from Albemarle County. So be it, if true. I don’t really care where he hangs his clothes every night just so long as he finally hangs his clothes in our Joint Security Complex.
BRAVO.
B
In other Charlottesville news. Police were able to extract and threateing email from Yeardley Love’s computer
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20014271-504083.html
Duannah, Haven’t we all learned to shake it off when a post is over the top? I mean mafia? c’mon. It is very very obvious that you and BOC are on the same team. Don’t let someone else’s view fracture what we have. Imagine the comments the Harringtons have had to endure. Yes, people get carried away. Deal w’dit. YOU are way too important a part of the research and prosecute effort to become a weakend link.
@Duanna:I am so sorry that I offended you with my comment. It was not meant to point at the law abiding citizens, I assure you. It was only meant to say that I thought the criminal in this act had some help from a lot of people. Perhaps I am wrong. We shall see.
Again I apologize for a generalization that offended you.
Hi Duannah I am very sorry you have been offended. I respect your writing and the tireless efforts you have made to solve this horrible murder and bring justice and some sort of peace and resolution to Morgan and her family.
For what it is worth when I read the “mafia” comment I did not for a minute take it literally or perceive it as a slur on the entire community of Charlottesville or the state of Virginia. To me it seemed to refer to a group of people from various walks of life who are “in the know” about Morgans murder who could be cooperating together in a criminal coverup, and are somehow involved in what went down.
Please accept my apologies for anything anyone may have ever said here on BOC that seemed disrespectful of your community and your fair state. I never knew that much about Virginia before this abomination happened, and from being a committed reader and sometime poster here on BOC I have learned a lot of very positive things about Virginia and plan to travel there one day. Besides the obvious geographical beauty of where you live, it has really been the compassionate, concerned, intelligent, tireless support for Morgan and her family I have witnessed here from her fellow Virginians and their love of the land, wry sense of humor, history, and fair play that has endeared me to Virginia and the people who live there.
Please stick around Duannah and forgive any gaffs that may occasionally happen. We need you and Morgan and her family need you. You have been a real force in this movement to bring justice for Morgan and help make sure the streets are safe for young women like her now and in the future.
Thank you for that and thank you Blink for all you do
Thanks to all of you for your apologies and I have no intention of going anywhere. I’m staying here to support the Harringtons and try to help where I can. Albemarle is my home and I do love it, but I also am not blind to the people in “the bubble.” The bubble that tries to deflect all the negatives about Charlottesville and deny they have anything to do with our town. I am not like that. I am well aware of our faults. I have been the subject of some eye rolling when Morgan Harrington is a topic of conversation. And what I said to them, I hope, opened some eyes (maybe even bugged out some.) This murder happened here and we can’t shut our eyes to it. Ever. It has to be solved and this murderer has to be prosecuted. I’ll always speak out when confronted with the denial of the naysayers.
I know that all of you are very dedicated in your posts and your support of the Harringtons. We do want the same thing. Whoever this monster is, we all want him caught yesterday. I appreciate the efforts of everyone who has worked toward this goal. I hope everyone of you will be here on the day we see him do the “perp walk” on TV.
To MsL:
In regards to your last post, very well put and I would just like to say a big “AMEN!”
I completely agree with you, who cares where he is from so long as he is prosecuted to the fullest degree and we finally find justice for Morgan!
Do we have folks of all ages here? I’m about to turn 64 – and no, I was not the model who posed for the sculpture of the Sphinx – that was my OLDER cousin Mary Frances. 366 days til medicare. Well enough levity and on a more serious note, Mary Frances had a 22year old son who was murdered on a Super Bowl Sunday a few years back. He had been invited to a gathering with some friends to watch the game. He returned to his car and was killed by a man with a knife who robbed him. The police had a suspect but he was murdered before they could pick him up for interrogation. They found him in an alley – he may have owed money to a drug dealer.
I was at Copely Bridge today for the beginning of the CUE Center tour. I was, and still am, in awe over the strength of Dr. and Mrs. Harrington. I listened to them speak, wondering if I could ever have that much strength if it were my baby girl brutally murdered. After Dr. Harrington, Monica Caison, and Mrs. Harrington spoke, we were each given a live butterfly (carefully and gently wrapped in a piece of purple paper) to release. WE all said “:2, 4, 1″ and then released the butterflies. Monica was given a box of butterflies to release. I brought two of my young children with me and they knew to say a prayer for Angel Morgan and her dear family as the butterflies ascended. When my 7 year old son saw the flyers with “sketch”, he asked me who that was. I told him it was a very bad man that everyone is trying to find before he can hurt anyone else. He asked me if we could print the flyers out on our computer and pass them out.
God bless the Harrington family.
Thank you so much for sharing that, I was waiting to hear back from someone there, outside of private posts.
B
I just want to chime in here. I was born and raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia. My father’s roots go back to the mid 1600′s, my great grandfather was a famous Virginia Civil War, Confederate Officer with Mosby’s Rangers, and my distant cousin or aunt was Laura Radcliff. She is famous for having given shelter to Union Soldiers, here in Northern Virginia.
I have been in an through many states in our country and I have been to Charlottesville on many an occasion. I was even accepted to attend the grand ol’ UVA but chose to go to two other Virginia Universities, instead. I even took my daughter on a college tour of UVA and we both agreed that the political/social environment seemed too conservative/preppy and stuffy for her. We also agreed that the grounds and housing of the University seemed stodgy and even slightly run down (Summer of 2003)or in need of upkeep. But, mostly we thought the entire campus was poorly lit with too many bushes, shrubs, walkways and archways that could provide cover for those seeking to attack another student. We both got the distinct feeling that the layout of the campus could prove dangerous to a young woman walking alone in any low pedestrian traffic time of day and especially after dusk. In addition, we knew that Charlottesville had a serial rapist and that he had not been caught and his crimes spanned many years.
My daughter opted to go to an urban school in Virginia. We agreed that seeing University Police and City Police everywhere she would be going and having well trafficked sidewalks and streets at all hours of the day and night somehow felt safer. And, we agreed that when you live in an urban environment you are less likely to let your guard down. At any rate, there is crime of all types on and around every college campus in this country. There is social bias against people who are different in any way and this occurs everywhere. There are dirty cops, security officers, Fire & Rescue personnel, teachers, politicians, judges, lawyers, etc. in every area of the country. And certainly in our fair Commonwealth. And there are organized groups of criminals everywhere and I would venture to say in both the Charlottesville area and Virginia in general. Because as we have all learned, through research, birds of a feather….
Still, Duannah, I don’t believe that any of the comments here were intended to slight the Charlottesville area or Virginians, in particular.
Alexandra, I remember when you first posted about your daughter coming to Charlottesville. I had hoped she would have an absolutely wonderful time. Obviously, since you found her safe and sound, she was in no danger from the EMT’s but the lady you talked to certainly had not one bit of compassion for a concerned mother. At the least, she could have told you she would see your child safely into the hospital and tell a nurse or desk attendant that you were out of town and would arrive as soon as possible. Maybe she did just that, but she could have certainly been more reassuring when speaking to you. I hope your brother-in-law is doing well and I hope your daughter will be able to return to Charlottesville in the future without such a traumatic ending.
Well, as one who has been guilty in the past of a hmmmmm and a just sayin’, I would like to say I’m sorry one more time. In addition to those apparently offensive comments (on a website devoted to the free expression of ideas regarding crime), I have also gone out of my way to express to the Charlottesville community and local posters that I in no way blame them or their town for Morgan Harrington’s abduction and murder.
I’m a little flabbergasted that some are offended by the Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings reference. I live in the DEEP South; home of Strom Thurmond. To mention these situations is just to acknowledge our past, not to cast aspersions on any person, place or thing. That’s the whole point. We SO need to get over the race thing. I am absolutely dumbfounded that we have come no farther than this in the years since the Civil Rights Act was passed. And it’s on BOTH sides. I am faced everyday with the “go to hell” looks of those who would judge me by the color of my skin.
Our focus is on the murder of Morgan Harrington, who as it happens was white, and the verified forensic connection to a suspect in a rape case, who just happens to be black.
It just so happens that this murder happened in Virginia, in the county of Albemarle, out of the city of Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia, started by Thomas Jefferson.
Profound:
It just so happens that this murder happened in Virginia, in the county of Albemarle, out of the city of Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia, started by Thomas Jefferson.
I have worked on cases whereby the victim is stashed in parts in different vehicles slated for “junkin” , I may never understand how their is an ownership by those uninvolved, but I do respect the sentiment.
B
O/T: Someone asked a genealogy related question recently. In my own genealogy research I’ve found ancestors from both Fauquier and Loudoun counties in Virginia and I’d appreciate it if someone would tell me how to pronounce them. Thanks in advance.
From my neck of the woods (to prove it goes on everywhere and I’m not ashamed to admit it):
http://www.thestate.com/2010/08/20/1426414/usc-suspends-richardson-after.html
Fish Your post of the 19th
Have you ever traveled the entire Texas Hill Country? Your comment that the terrain where Morgan was found is more rugged than the Hill Country of Texas. I totally disagree with that assesment. The Texas Hill Country is what is left from the erruption of a super volcano some 150 to 200 thousand years ago. This exactly the type of volcano that underlies a portion of Yellowstone Park.
For instance, the slope from my property down to the creek below falls 100 feet in a horizontal distance of 250 feet. I can look across the creek to a ridge that tops out at 1450 ft. MSL. In places, it too, has a slope similar to mine. The land around the area where Morgan was found is 600 to 800 ft. MSL and the change in elevation is about 150 ft. over a distance of up to 2000 ft.. Yes, the mountains to the West top out at about 4300 Ft., but that is several miles distant.
Is it possible to walk a slope with a 2:1 ratio? Yes, but you better be careful. Can you carry something heavy and bulky down a slope such as that by yourself? Yes, but no one would do it unless there was no other choice.
You also forget that I have driven the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at various places and walking the land and looking at the trees and other points of interest.
You know that my first thoughts about how Morgan got to AF involved Red Hill road. However, based on your question about the gate, I decided to revisit my conclusion and try to determine if that was the only or best way. It was from the point of concealment.
If concealment was not primary, the easiest way would be to use the road farther south that intersects Red Hill and then take Red Hill to the point where the crossover to the road that leads to the green barn mentioned in your post of the 19th.
If, you look carefully at the tree line East of the barn, there is a double track trail/road that follows the fence line in/under the trees for quite a distance Northward towards AF. This is a much shorter distance to the point of discovery of Morgan’s remains and this may be the reason that Blink leans towards this possiblity.
At any rate, we all want the perp(s) caught and brought to justice. Until proven different, I believe there are two primary perps and then sketch involved. I also think at this point that Morgan was abducted from the lot where the RVs were parked and then moved to the house that burned, where she was murdered and finally moved to AF.
The VSP may have some persons of interest that they do not let the public know about. As Blink says, there is a difference in having a gut feeling, which may be right on the mark, and having evidence that would stand up in court. Sometimes it takes a long time to acquire it.
There may be some hidden meaning in the AF location based on local behavior. This could be something like the legend of the Hatfield’s and the McCoys.
It is a small world. Wednesday I discovered that a 13 year old girl to whom I teach trumpet was born in Carol county, Virginia. In speaking with her mother I found out that their Virginia property abuted park land along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Please read our dear Texas Gndpa post. I cannot tell you what a cornucopia that is.
And to our dearest Fish, thank you for your ability to get us all on the same page. Amazing.
B
Years ago I used to work with a descendent of Thomas Jefferson and Eppington Plantation is about five miles from where I live. It is only open to the public on one day and this year I finally got to see it. Beautiful !!!! But to get to it you have to drive on a gravel road that winds through the forest – I mean I thought we’d never get there. As usual my fave place was the family cemetary – I love to read the old tombstones but many were very hard to read – well they went back to 1700. But the grounds were just gorgeous. Now I don’t know if this is true but Jeff told me that Sally Hemmings was related to Martha Jefferson – they had the same father.
Sorry to hear Alexandra about that awful phone call you received. I am sure you thought every worst nightmare was about to come true. Glad your family is in one piece.
I just returned from bringing my dtr to college. I thought of Morgan and her parents often. I strategically interjected safety tips throughout my stay, all the while my daughter would look at me like “can’t you keep a lid on it ever?!” I also found out my daughter’s roomy’s boyfriend is from Charlottesville. Isn’t that special.( no offense intended) Apparently it is only a 45min drive, I didnt know that. Of coarse I tried my best to make conversation, but she wouldn’t bite.
I thought I would ask if those discussing how a neighbor might know Bass was going to take the old tractor out, has anyone considered the perps Dad may be friendly or at least chit chat w/ Bass? I still think it may be due to their careers in the city itself that might make a person know Morgan was going to surface from her hiding spot.
I wondered how the bridge event was, glad to hear it was a beautiful success. Butterflies are way cool. Did our Fish attend?
I wanted to tell you Blink, I truly dont know how you handle all these cases. I am having quite the time managing btwn our Morgan and the Tree Frog boy. I feel both have the potential to be solved at anytime here, and I cant stand it much longer. It’s all I can do to get my BOC time in and not appear too terribly obsessed, as yes my family feels that way too. I have told them, yes, somebody’s got to be obsessed and why not all of us?
E
Our editors and contributors work every bit as hard, if they did not, your right, I would be off- like my prom dress.
ps. I am totally kidding.
B
Backtracking a little bit…
RE: Event Security Services
It should be noted that under current Virginia DCJS rules, all armed security officers in the Commonwealth of Virginia have the authority to detain individuals suspected of criminal behavior on the contracted premises until police arrive. That means that a contracted security outfit’s armed officers can actually handcuff and detain suspects until they can be given into the custody of police and transported to jail.
Query: What are the guidelines for reporting ANY detainment of individuals- manifests, logs? Who’s providing the proper checks to ensure that there is no abuse of authority by those vested by the Commonwealth?
RE: Home Security Services
This service is simply to provide you with accurate, in-person information on the security of the access points to your property. One of our guards will make periodic rounds to make sure that your property is secure, as often as you desire. In the event that an unlocked/broken door or window or some other problem such as weather damage to your property is discovered, you or your designated contact will be alerted immediately by phone, text message or email. Police will be notified at the discretion of the security officer on scene or at your personal request.
Our staff is trained in all levels of personal security and protection. We are discreet, accredited, experienced professionals who will give your unoccupied property the scrutiny you need, so that you can enjoy your time away.
Observation: If staff do not enter a home or grounds, but check all property, then that individual and service provider would be familiar with all access points to and around the dwelling as well as the lot for which they are contracted to protect.
I’m being purposefully ambiguous here to avoid rolling the dice with regard to naming names or places. I’ll leave that to Ms. Blink’s discretion as I’m hopeful we’re all on the right track with respect to both.
I have to confess and say that I just looked at the findmorgan.com site for the first time in months and it reminded me why I have read this for so long and contributed when I’m able. I looked at photos of Morgan and again saw how a young woman can possess the unusual combination of beauty and being cute. She’s both chameleonic while seemingly true to herself. I remember being far away from home when I saw the news of her missing with her blond hair and fair complexion, startled at how much it looked like my niece, then relieved that it was someone else. That was immediately followed by the realization that someone, her parents, didn’t have the luxury of feeling relief and never will. I’m amazed at what the Harringtons have done to keep their daughter’s name and complex case in the public eye while not only seeking justice for Morgan, but making huge strides to increase awareness about this specific crime and like crimes- they are doing it admirably well. I’m very inspired by their tenacity, selflessness, and strength while facing adversity that I have only experienced for a few false moments before realizing it was indeed their pain that I’d be feeling all the while wanting to join in their odyssey for answers, justice, and enlightenment; and, for all of their efforts, they are really lucky to have someone as dedicated to advocacy for victims as Blink is- kudos again.
Thank you for your kind support of the Harrington’s today.
B
Hey Katie – I was raised in Fairfax County (born at Walter Reed) I moved to the Richmond area in 1969. My mother’s grandfather was wounded and captured by Brvt. General G.A. Custer on the third day of Gettysburg. Custer treated his prisoners very well and being a POW wasn’t so bad. In 1970 I got to visit the battlefield and spent three days with a Gettysburg College student guide. He met us each morning – our motel was right next to the battlefield – and each day took us through the entire campaign. I’m a history nut – it was just wonderful. There were two of my father’s ancestors at Jamestown – they were carpenters who had been bonded out of some London prison for some offences – but, when sober, they were pretty good carpenters – hey somebody had to build the fort. A few miles away from Chester VA is the old fort of Henricus – where Pocahontas married John Rolfe. Well, that was what the guide told me. I did get to visit Pocahontas’ monument at Gravesend, England in 1966.
Y’all make me want to start an American History blog. Thank you all for entrusting us with a smidge of your heritage. It is humbling.
I have a dear, dear friend that lives very near Gettysburg, and I visited the battlefield as a child with my family. I recall my Daddy being very somber and serious. I did not understand all that my parents were trying to impart, but I remember very specifically that I knew we were on hallowed ground.
B
MARY:
Fauquier – rhymes with “walk here”
Loudon – sounds like “LOUD-en”
Have relative buried there. To me, almost all of VA is hallowed ground too for various reasons.
Wow, a Virginia History Blog within the American History blog. Well, most all of early VA history is the story of America! or a genealogy blog. Bet we are all related here in some way!
Thank you nice, well informed Virginians! Thanks to your links I found my 8 generations back grandfather’s farm.
Came via your via rootsweb via ancestry.com hint. I have searched a.com for months and never found the link that you gave! The site of his farm came up in a court case (under an “Early Baptists” book of VA) where the neighbor (I guess a Baptist) was trying to say he improved the land after 1776, near Mt. Sterling, VA so he could keep it and my relative was in a deposition using one of the spellings of his name. In history of signees of the Cumberland Gap, history of Ft. Boonesborough his shorten name is used. The one which the family cares on today.
Will search using the name in the court case. Still “lost” in Meadow Creek.
My ggf 7 or 8th moved there after Fort Booneborough shut down. If he hadn’t “drifted” south, as a family history book says (1898) I would be Amish or Mennonite for the family came from being persecuted in Switzerland via Germany via the Queen at the time (early 1770 to late 1770′s) invited them to settle here.
I remember mom talking about Mt. Sterling and us visiting there. Wish I had remembered more. Am searching road names creeks of old founding fathers around there.
Now with your skills and all the rest of those here, justice will be found for all.
Thanks Blink, Love, IBE
from scared monkeys (5 years I think). God Bless Natalee Holloway, her family, friends and scared monkey friends of which Blink is a member and this site is a scaredmonkey.com Red’s site or am I wrong Blink? Are you “independent” now? I know, you have been “independent” for years! ((smiles))
Everyone keep hanging there! The internet can do Good Works! by those Who Wish It.
PS Blink, I am going to check scaredmonkeys.net to see if they have a genealogy thread.
May justice come to those who caused Morgan Harrington’s death. Wish I were in VA. I’d go “exploring”…legally of course.
Redsy and I are tight. Klaasend is the bestest and makes us look like amateurs she is amazing.
We are related and intend to stay that way, I am very proud of the SM site and forum.
B
Minnie Penney
I taught 4th in Fairfax Co. from 1967-1969. Could I have been your teacher? Lived in Alexandria on a Blvd. that used to be a creek and Civil War encampment.
Ok Blink am on way to scaredmonkeys.net to see if they have a genealogy thread. Thanks for letting us do OT on a “Friday’s date night, oh sure”.
Lol
Blink out
“Redsy”, you, Klaasend are the best!
About 3 years ago, Mrs. Red had me contact Tim Miller, then a family of a missing girl near me. Being in the trenches is hard and I was just on the edge of things.. (Donna Jou). Think I will go over to this thread and add more.
By the way… the POI, later confessing in that case was arrested 2 times in FLA. and sent back to CA. These arrests were the results of a family hired PI following him. If I ever have anyone missing I hope I have or can gather enough money for a PI.
One of the things I learned for all that was that LE does have an ego; (that LE can follow you when doing “Good Works”), there is an old boys network and when there are two jurisdictions well, Some of the facts of one LE were in contrast to the other. One LE was from a large city, underpaid, overworked. The other jurisdiction that was not given the lead (and I wish it had for IMO the outcome would have been different) had more money, more clout but jurisdiction went to where she turned up missing and not her home county.
So when I here of so many jurisdictions in the Morgan case, it saddens me… not that they are so dedicated, which there are, but someone has to take charge besides Blink ((smiles))
Justice for the suffering, missing and all that need it!
Minnie, Sally Hemmings was Martha Jeffersons aunt. Martha’s mother, Jefferson’s wife was 1/2 sister to Sally.
Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings
Haven’t read back all the pages yet to see how this came up, but latest research says the DNA says it might have been TJ’s brother
OK it’s almost time for the big kettle over the fire for the apple butter. Did this around 1968 in the hollows just SW a tad somewhere between Charlottesville and Wayneburg (right city?)
You all come, we will find Justice for Morgan!
Thanks so much messimamm!
This is totally off topic from Morgan, but she was a Virginian so I think she probably would understand my pride in our state. A dear friend of mine, when told that she had a Southern (South is capatalized where I come from) said, “no I don’t have an accent, everyone not from Virginia has an accent.” I think a lot of people in this country, if they were to trace their family history, would be surprised to learn that there’s probably a Virginian in there somewhere. Maybe not from within the boundaries of what we now know as Virginia, but at the birth of our country, Virginia encompassed a much larger land area than its modern day east coast location. I think I have read that much of what is now Ohio was once part of Virginia. Could be wrong there, but that seems to be buried in my memory. You west coasters could be another nationality if our own Thomas Jefferson had not sent Lewis and Clark on their westward expedition. There’s no place in Virginia that you can travel without seeing a marker of a battle fought for this country. Sadly, many of these battlefields do mark a time when our country was divided, brother against brother. Today, we honor all of those young men who did fight so bravely, because they were all American, Yankee or Johnny Reb. Non Southerners often have a hard time understanding how Virginians, North Carolinians, and any other native of a Southern state can take such pride in our heritage and proudly proclaim that our forefathers fought for the Confederacy. Only the truly foolish take any pride in our heritage of slavery, but most of our kin never owned another human being. Some of those young men who marched off to war to fight with General Lee and Stonewall Jackson were dirt poor, but they had a loyalty to Virginia and this little piece of land we call home that is hard to understand today when people are so mobile. I have a mug that proudly proclaims, American and Southern by birth, Virginian by the grace of God. So, if sometimes we native Virginians come off as being a bit touchy, and maybe even a little arrogant, just know it is ingrained deeply in us, pride and love for our home and heritage. It breaks our heart that violence has touched so many here just as it does everywhere in this wonderful country. One at a time, we have to get the people responsible for this violence off our wonderful streets.
Sweet Virginia. I am re-inspired just reading all of your posts and being reminded of all the places and events that make Virginia special. I love our state, and I hope everyone sees how all of this pride of place, combined with affection for the Harringtons and dedication to justice, will beat the pants off those smidges of true evil VSP must find and face. This perp’s/these perps’ day of reckoning will come.
Thanks to all of you. I hope it gives VSP a needed boost as they read about the amazing Commonwealth they serve and consider all the students returning to Virginia colleges and universities this week.
Since I am a Virginian by birth, and our family has lived here, within one hour from Charlottesville, most of their lives, and we pay taxes here, I do feel concerned and entitled to express my comments and opinions on Charlottesville, and UVA in particular, because that is one of the Universities which our tax dollars support, and which would be on the list of universities our children may choose to attend.
In a forum where I used the unfortunate word “mafia” to describe my sense of a group cover-up which may include quasi-LE types, I have offended a local person. Let me be clear, that my term mafia was not intended in the literal sense, such as “The Godfather”, but only to suggest possible existance of relationships in crime which may not be obvious to the law abiding citizen. I am going to say possible existance, and also, this is my opinion, from reading the background, so, NO, I do not have any evidence to back up that idea, except the obvious inferences from the parking lot security…(was law enforcement there, or was quaisi- law enforcement there, or ….., and the fire department doings on the morning of the finding of Morgan. Also the fact that placing Morgan would have been very difficult, and would have likely required a lookout, and some help, as well her abduction possibly requiring the same.–This supports the idea that more than one person was involved and is in the know. Also, the fact of sketch’s involvement, more than anything, I do not see Sketch, as 40+, being in Morgan’s group, he could have been brought in by the killer.
I am not sure what word would better convey that term, I do not think “gang” is appropriate here, because I believe that gangs are usually open about their affiliations.
If there is a word for what I am looking to describe, would someone please chime in with it.
Now, I also want to discuss the “why are you bringing this topic up” look that this case gets in discussion, and defensiveness or non-chalence especially among students from UVA who do not have a clue what has gone on here. I can only suspect that there are some at UVA who do not embrace this case because Morgan was not a student there.
If Morgan had been a student at UVA, and had not been spotted last on the bridge, (which I have questions about), I think that the reaction to this case would be different from both the locals and the students. I think that there would have been more of an ownership of the case, and not so much defensiveness. That is my opinion, before someone asks me to back it up with analytics or hard evidence. But I form that opinion from talking about this case with many people. And the detached response and resistance to understand the case is always about the same.
So, I am searching for a word to replace the offensive M-word to describe the possible cover-up of this crime by persons with the ability to do so.—I just do not think that only one person was involved and in the know– And I am searching to understand the ‘distancing’ reaction to this crime by some of the locals, and students at UVA which I have witnessed. And also the denial attitude which Fish described among the people at lunch.
Is the phenomenon of “cognitive dissonance” involved in attitudes about this crime, especially among the locals and the local students, and maybe even the police in formulating their theories about the bridge?
What a gracious post. This is why I love y’all.
New M word= miscreants.
Tis one of my faves and it refers to just those involved, and their individual character.
Good people of North Garden and Cville- you already know who they are- who are the miscreants that come to mind for you immediately, that would know AF?
B
I live about 3 miles from Copeley Bridge, and yesterday evening and this morning my yard has been populated by more butterflies than we’ve ever had! All colors! What a great remembrance of Morgan!
IBE – No, I’m too old – I graduated from Woodson High in Fairfax in 1965 and from VCU in 1969. I used to live between Rt.50 and Rt.29 – I looked up the old ‘hood on one of those aerial view map sites – the old roads are still there but very large homes are there now.
susan……conspiracy is a good word
sorry OT from Morgan
Ok Minney, I re read your post regarding Martha’s father. You’re right, Martha was the name of Jefferson’s wife, she died early and his daughter, also Martha, went on to found the hospital. Sally was Martha, the daughter of TJ’s aunt and 1/2 sister to Martha, the wife of Jefferson. Virginia had sooo many Marthas. Sally was Jefferson’s sister in law.
I have a friend in London and one of her ancestors told her the story of the CSS Alabama. As many of you may know the British supported the South in the war – that’s why the rebs were called Johnny Rebs – for “John Bull”. One of Margaret’s ancestors worked at the shipyard where the Alabama was built. There is a great website named When Liverpool was Dixie – all about the building of the Alabama and all the arms and supplies the British gave the Confederacy. Our Secretary of State and Attorney General was a fellow named Judah Benjamin – I think he was a distant cousin of Victoria’s P.M. Benjamin Disreali. The Union navy captured a British supply ship coming from Australia off the coast of California. Victoria sent Abe a telegram letting him know she was not amused. She had 5000 Redcoats at the New York-Canadian border. Pres. Lincoln ordered the British ship freed to go on it’s way, saying, “One war at a time, gentlemen, one war at a time.” OK, history class is over….. LOL
OK one last thing – When Liverpool Was Dixie is still there – now back to more important matters —- JUSTICE FOR MORGAN !!!!!!!
Not really critical information but I don’t think Martha -the daughter – founded the hospital. She died in 1838. Per MJH history:
Martha Jefferson Hospital was founded in September, 1903, by seven local physicians; and in July, 1904, the new hospital opened its doors.
@ duannah August 20, 2010 at 10:44 am
Undeniably, there were slaves in the Charlottesville area, and I believe some of the African American residents of the town could be in fact descendants of slaves. Insofar, we have explored various angles of this case, and one of them was that Morgan may have been left on that field because of a dispute over land. Since the owner of Anchorage Farm is both wealthy and influential, this might very well be the case. I actually only modified this line of thought by adding the slave/owner scenario – if we are looking for someone who would leave a corpse on somebody’s land as an embarrassment, this is a deeply disturbed individual. If it was not revenge over a recent dispute, than it could very well be someone who believes that his family had a right to this land, for some reason. As far as I know, and from what I have read some years ago in newspapers, there was recent research into the DNA of various families, to identify paternity issues going back to the times of slaves. This could have brought the issue to public attention.
I have always made it clear that I have never been to the US. I do, however, have various American friends, and some of them are African American. Unanimously, without being asked about the issue, all of them told me that there are certain parts of society where black and white would not socialize. This is also supported by various news reports I have read. The race of a person is still on some people’s minds, and that goes back straight to slave times.
To me, the question, why someone would leave a corpse in that field, even though there would have been easier and safer ways to dispose of a body, namely in the nearby woods, where it would most likely never be found, is absolutely crucial. This is why I asked who would be hurt by such a move. Both the residents of AF and Blandemar are “new” people, even though they have lived there for decades. In the case of Blandemar, this could be hate against immigrants; in the case of AF, it could be hate against a wealthy, and yes, white, landowner.
The whole race issue drives me crazy, and as I have stated before, I am always tempted to specify my race as “none of your business” when someone asks me about it.
I don’t know how someone could understand my comments to be pejorative. It should be absolutely clear, that there is a murderer on the lose in Charlottesville, who has to be brought to justice asap. Myself, I believe there was someone who helped him dispose of the body, and I get the suspicion that there is someone else who knows about all this. As for the rest, I actually got a very good impression of Albemarle and Charlottesville. I knew the place only from history lessons in high school, and obviously, I am aware of some of the research going on at UVa. Apart from the detail about the murderer, it sounds like a vibrant community, with lots of avant-garde arts, and the paranormal bike race sounds fun. The landscape is absolutely gorgeous.
PS: I was hesitant to post this until now because it is not my country, and I have no right to criticize it, but – the DNA backlog for rape kits is totally unacceptable. Don’t let anyone tell you that it is not possible to process them, or to expensive. In the global scheme of things, these are ridiculous amounts of money, and I am sure that there is money spent on less important things. If I remember correctly, women are now in the majority in the US, and this is in your interest.
Blink – this is first-time on a diff computer…
You said: Good people of North Garden and Cville- you already know who they are- who are the miscreants that come to mind for you immediately, that would know AF?
B
OLGood people of North Garden and Cville- you already know who they are- who are the miscreants that come to mind for you immediately, that would know AF?
OK – Im not in VA, I am in Ohio, but I will be the first to say that our local cheesy jumpsuit boy seems to be the local-est miscreant.
Hey guys~ I havent been posting but I have still been reading each post, checking throughout the day and I go over and over the all of the pieces that Blink, Fish, Mom 3.0, Texas Grandad, alexandra, echo, elois, word girl, mary, pinnypennie, acho, msL, katie, judy, susan, concerned bystander….anyone else that I left out (please dont get ur feelings hurt if I didnt mention your name). I am astonished, proud, in aww, thankful, grateful. amazed you name it- at the amazing things you have accomplished in leading us closer and closer to the people or person who are responsible for this terrible terrible terrible crime against Morgan and all of those who love her.
I do not want to take any time away from Morgan’s case- but I read a story today that I feel compelled to share with you and to ask for you look in to. While reading the story below- I thought of the enormous difference this site and others have made in solving the case.
As you may remember- I am from Arkansas. 15 years ago a 6 yr old little girl named MORGAN vanished without a trace from a TINY town in northern Arkansas. She dissappeard from a Little League Baseball game in 1995 while catching fireflies in the parking lot. Her mother has never given up and actually founded the Morgan Nick Foundation that inspired “the Morgan Nick Alert” in Arkansas which is similar to the Amber Alert.
I spent the entire night last night searching the internet for message boards regarding the case and sadly…only found two that anyone had ever even carried on a conversation on- the last posts were in 2008. In 2005 Morgan’s family was featured on Extreme Makeover Home Addition where her mother, sister and brother received a new home. As you can imagine- the family has been through hell the past 15 years (still is) and the situation became dire enough warranting the family to be chosen as needing a new home.
Morgan would now be 21. This case has left a mark on everyone in my state and our hearts break everytime we see her face. The case has even been featured on America’s Most Wanted and has in the past week been featured as one of Nancy Grace’s Cold Cases. To me- it would be like never finding out what happens to Kyron.
I know there are sadly thousands of similar cases in the world- but I feel compelled to bring Morgan’s case to your attention and to ask for you to all look into the case. This case occured in 1995 in an almost rural area. I seriously doubt that anyone other than law enforcement has spent time rexamining evidence, theories in any instance remotely similar to those we have here.
I’ve seen with my own eyes the difference that has been made by all of you and others since October when Morgan Harrington vanished.
I cant shake the possibility that I became interested in Morgan Harrington’s case that brought me to Blink on Crime so that I could ask for you to help in solving Morgan Nick’s abduction. I know its a long shot…but if there’s any chance of finding her alive or just simply finding out what happened to her- you all are THE place to start.
Blink- I cannot describe the amount of respect and gratitude I have for you and the appreciation for the HOURS UPON HOURS you devote to investigating these stories. Ive seen first hand the difference you make. I cant help but feel like working to solve Morgan Harrington’s case could be a segway into finding Morgan Nick’s abductor.
Here is a link to the case. Please read.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/18/grace.coldcase.morgan.nick/index.html
Talk to you all soon.
God Bless,
palm
texas grand pappy and susan have had some great posts recently, such as:
A Texas Grandfather says:
August 20, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Fish Your post of the 19th….
_________________________________
it makes a lot of things clear and brings many elements that remain clouded to light. here’s some gut reactions from me, and thank you both for making these clearer in my mind:
* topography – i think you nailed it. i used to hunt whitetails on farmland in northern nj. she was driven to within yards of where she was found. a 4 x 4 in experienced hands, no problem. mud boggers, young people, could do this in the dark driving with only the parking lights on. low and slow. a gentleman farmer, might not be so bold. those dual tracks you see, tire ruts from multiple previous uses.
* 2 perps, plus sketch – i tend to agree, it is at least one plus sketch in my mind. two or more, plus sketch would not surprise me. at least two plus sketch seem to be involved in abetting. one of whom ( one of the MW’s) has not posted a single post to facebook in the month since blink published this piece, when before he would post at least every 2-3 days.
* susan also had an excellent post. i think one perp was very, very observant about the ongoings of AF. like on a daily basis. the cognitive dissonance post is very poignant too.
* i still need to resolve two things around jpj arena – rv lot or copely bridge? willingly or by force? thinking as i type, the bridge/hh-ing story suggests willingly. i guess grannies story suggests rv by force. still, any combination might be the truth.
* finally if sutherland was the primary, i am left with one thing i said months ago. the missing crucial piece of this puzzle is the transportation to sutherland/AF. they didn’t walk. there is a vehicle, maybe two that could be the key to closing this case.
My great-great-great-grandfather was wounded at Malvern Hill, VA in 1862, then taken prisoner at Cedar Creek, VA in 1864. He spent 8 months at Point Lookout, MD until the end of the war. I’m glad to hear Custer was good to his prisoners but from what I understand prisons in both North and South were hell-holes. Amos was the youngest of 12 siblings. He didn’t own slaves but his grandfather, also my ancestor, did. I have personally apologized to my black friends for it.
I understand the pride Virginians take in their state. South Carolina is also one of the first 13 colonies. Charles Towne (now Charleston) was established in 1670. Every child in the state takes one year of South Carolina history in the 3rd and 8th grades. For years every 8th grader in my town went to Washington, DC in April, by way of the Shenendoah Valley (the most beautiful place I’ve ever been in my life) and Monticello.
I think every state is this way. I think I read somewhere that Tennessee school children sing “Rocky Top” regularly.
One year ago I was deeply entrenched in (of all things) the JFK assassination. Minnie Penney, you must have been right in the thick of things as a young girl.
I know I’m rambling. It’s like the nervous conversation at a funeral, right before the service starts.
Susan
You are exeriencing a form of denial by the townspeople. They don’t like what has happened in their community any more than you or any of those who post here. They do not know how to deal with it and do not know the Harringtons personally. Therefore, they choose to just ignore it. This is the very thing that allows a criminal element to operate within our society. If everyone made it their personal business to protect their neighbors and others that make up the community, this type of crime would be very rare.
College age young people (older kids) do not relate to adult responsablities of protecting others because they think they have no requirement to do so. They believe they are immortal and that bad things happen to others, not to them or those that they know.
We as parents and grandparents have to educate the young ones by whatever means are available to get the message into the social conciousness of their lives. Several of the mothers have spoken of taking children to the memorial on Copley bridge for Morgan and listening to the Harringtons and others speak. This is a powerful way to teach them responsibility and the need for safety.
Wow Mary!!!! My great-grandfather was a Cedar Creek!!!!!! Rebel Yell time. The biggest baddest cavalry fight on North American soil…. The Horse Soldier Super Bowl – Stuart v. Custer. It was a full out charge (think the horse charge in Braveheart). It was later written that the sound of the horses hitting each other was like the sound of someone holding two large rocks and hitting them together. And yes, upon reading this account I went out and hit two large rocks together…ok, I’m a little nuts…and a little hurt…I forgot to get my left thumb out of the way….duh and ooohhh that hurt. I did later repeat the expiriment without injury.
Texas Grandfather, if Susan has been so terrified about coming to Charlottesville since October 17, I’m wondering just how many “locals” she’s actually talked to. And if she’s too afraid to let her 6’2″ son think of coming to UVa (assuming he’d be admitted…it’s gotten so hard to be accepted here), then I’m going to bet she’s choosing to hear only what she wants to hear. Fish had the unfortunate experience of listening in on a bone-headed conversation a father was having with his daughter as he was bringing her back to school for the year. It may not have sounded right, but it may have been his way of letting his daughter know that it’s not alright to walk away from the safety of a well-lit arena…this is a small city, after all (please take care to read all of MsL’s posts…she’s much more eloquent than I could ever be on this subject), and it’s not alright to walk away from a crowd, inebriated and alone. Most people here understand that Morgan is not to blame for her murder, only the murderer is to blame. We want him caught, too, but most here don’t even know if he’s from here or if he was just traveling through. The fact that he also has some history in the Fairfax area makes us wonder where he really is from. The connection to AF is universally perplexing.
As a local who is actually out there listening and talking to other concerned parents, I can assure you we are anything but apathetic about Morgan’s death. We all feel for the Harringtons and are horrified that their daughter was taken from our community.
I’ve been reading here continually but have posted less and less because I think we’re all just going in circles…there has been so little information coming from LE that it leaves everything open for speculation. I feel less and less comfortable with the all the blaming of UVa, Charlottesville, law enforcement, etc. etc. We just don’t know everything that happened that day beginning with WHY Morgan left that arena.
Thanks anotherb, hummingbird, and all the others who continue to show support for the people who are here living the horror of having a young woman murdered in our community. The Harringtons are part of our community, too…we are all parents and family members here. Charlottesville is a beautiful community and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
@ Texas Grand: thanks for your comments. I was struck by your observation that the two ruts in the ground are tire tracks. Bravo!
So, the miscreants ride around back there in their mud boggers. I wonder if they poach also?
Now that the Sutherland house has burned, there still needs to be some further investigation there, since the police did not link the two together. Or perhaps they did and they are just not saying to throw the perps off. I hope that is the case.
The pit bull owner who was in Peru, who was not a tenant, but was a friend, said in the comments to one of the fire news articles, that the fire chief called him in Peru and told him the dog was dead, and the fire was accidental. Odd, if he is not the owner, I think, but nowhere was it indicated that he was the owner, or related to the owner. I think many have read that post from him, and part of it was posted here.
Pit bulls have a bad reputation. I don;t know what would make someone want to keep one as a pet, but maybe they are gentle dogs and good pets and I am just misinformed? I am not in any way implicating the pit bull owner, I am just wondering if this group was used to living dangerously, if they had a pit bull in the house?
The four living in the Sutherland house who have moved on, could have given a key to the basement to a friend, or perhaps some part of the house was always unlocked, since people seemed to come and go.
The key to this case may be having to get one of the miscreants to confess, or it could be a piece of evidence such as cell phone battery found in a car, or other place, or something which Morgan owned which is missing.
My personal opinion, this particular miscreant needs to be busted for some other crime, drugs, whatever, and locked up. The other miscreants will then wonder what miscreant #1 is saying while he is incarcerated. I do not have the idea that miscreant #1 is the model citizen in the area. There was an opportunity to lock him up recently which an astute poster caught. Several times I have read he is missing and wanted, why is he not given time for the extra expense he is putting the state to in that matter.
Why does it seem that he is being given easy time or no time for his crimes?
Given his history, however, I do not think it will be long before they have another shot at locking him up, unfortunately. He cannot seem to control himself.
I hope everyone who has read the several posts about Virginia pride get the gist of what I believe most of us are trying to say. It’s not denial, rather it’s a belief that there’s enough good in our community that we do not believe in a wide spread conspiracy to cover-up what happened to Morgan. Someone used the phrase mafia and someone else took offense. The “mafia” poster then used the term “gang.” I won’t argue, there are gang or wanna be gang members in Charlottesville. It’s possible that one or a couple of these wanna be gang members saw a lone young woman and grabbed her for sport. It’s possible someone who would not be suspected at all grabbed her or it’s possible that a robbery went bad and there was no initial intent to kill her. It’s just as possible that a real predator was out that night, took her and feels not one bit of conscious regret for his actions. Longtime readers have heard often of a very infamous case in Charlottesville. To follow is a brief recap for people who have not heard the story. We in Charlottesville learned from a serial rapist that’s it very possible for a truly evil person to fool a lot of people for a long time. This man raped women in our area for years. He left DNA evidence, but had never been arrested so his DNA was not in any database. This man had a wife and children and held down two jobs. There’s no indication that anyone close to him had any inkling that he lived a double life, that of a hard working man providing for his family, and a monster whose actions were intensifying in violence toward his victims. There was more than one sketch of him through the years, but those sketches from victim memory were not accurate enough for anyone to recognize this man who worked in a public place. That public job was finally his downfall. A victim recognized him one day while she was shopping, police put him under surveillance and soon after he discarded a drinking cup and straw. From that cup, LE recovered his DNA, made an arrest, he confessed and is now serving to live terms. The fact that this man conducted a reign of terror for years was not because LE did not want to catch him, it was not because friends and family were covering for him, it was not because there was any kind of a cover up, it was because he was a man who could look even his own wife in the eyes and not give any indication of his true evil.