Morgan Harrington Murder: A Security Check On Security- Why Did It Fail?
Charlottesville, VA-
On the afternoon of October 17, 2009, Morgan Harrington and three of her friends drove to John Paul Jones Arena, located on the University of Virginia campus, to attend a long-anticipated Metallica concert. Following an apparent fall and chin injury occurring around the time she was visiting the ladies room, Morgan ended up outside the arena and attempted to gain re-entry to the venue.
How and why she got there comes in at a baffling second only compared to what happened to her next.
Nine months ago Dr. Dan and Gil Harrington, Morgan’s parents were notified their daughter was missing which is when their nightmare began.
On November 5, 2009, the day before a search which was organized at the request of the Harrington’s was to commence, a vintage black Pantera t-shirt placed on a bush in front of an apartment complex at the intersection near 15th Street and Grady Ave. was located by a nearby resident.
While this discovery was not released publicly, Charlottesville PD knew immediately it belonged to Morgan Harrington. Sara Snead, one of the friends that accompanied Morgan to the concert, immediately confirmed the distinct vintage design that compelled Morgan to borrow the t-shirt from her a week before the show.
Subsequently, DNA analysis confirmed the t-shirt was indeed the same one Morgan was wearing the night she disappeared.
On January 26, 2010 the remains of Morgan Harrington were discovered by David Bass, owner of Anchorage Farm, located in Albemarle County. Although her cause of death has not been released, her manner of death has been classified as a homicide by the Virginia State Police.
Dan and Gil Harrington marked the nine-month anniversary of Morgan’s disappearance from her memorial on Copeley Bridge 4 days ago.
Gil Harrington’s impassioned statement made it clear that her family’s mission is to prevent what happened to Morgan from happening to another victim and their goal is to educate young women about safety and personal security.
On July 1st, based upon an article posted on blinkoncrime.com inside sources confirmed a forensic link between Morgan’s homicide and a Fairfax County Case. Research on this case indicates it was a violent sexual assault that happened in 2005. The victim assisted in the sketch of a man police wish to interview in connection with both the Fairfax assault as well as the apparent abduction and murder of Morgan Harrington. .
What did it mean to the investigation and to the parents of young women in Charlottesville? We have a serial offender on the loose in multiple jurisdictions and an immediate need to beef up personal security.
As our very vulnerable student body returns to campus next month, blinkoncrime.com provides a glimpse at current conditions.
Unregulated Regulations In Security
The 2004 General Assembly, through House Joint Resolution (HJR122), requested the Virginia State Crime Commission to study safety at Virginia’s institutions of higher education. As a result, DCJS created the Office of Campus Policing and Security (OCPS) to address the law requiring minimum training and employment standards for campus security officers.
Campus Security Regulations for Institutions of Higher Education in the State of Virginia, fall under the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Private Security Services Advisory Board. Below is an excerpt of the unapproved draft meeting notes of their quarterly meeting held December 8, 2009; the first and only since Morgan’s disappearance from JPJ.
The issue of safety and security on college campuses was addressed in a 2006 Crime Commission Study on Campus Safety. This study resulted in the statutory requirements under Code of Virginia (Code) §9.1-102 (49).
College populations represent a large concentration of students between the ages of 18-25 years with limited supervision and life experience. In terms of homeland security, campuses are identified as “soft targets” and are frequently targeted by domestic and foreign terrorists. Campuses also house volatile materials and research facilities that are also targeted by radical elements in society. Campuses host large stadium events and concerts that are potential targets for terrorism and riots. Most campuses also have facilities that are open to the public and are relatively difficult to secure and lockdown. Campus Security Officers are primary first responders to incidents of crime and violence on campus.
Although UVA campus security officers require a certification provided by DCJS, there are ZERO regulatory standards for certification. It was NOT until Morgan Harrington disappeared from the grounds of the JPJ Arena that emergency regulations were sought from Governor Bob McDonnell.
How does a woman on the campus of a University that provides it’s very own Police Department in addition to event security simply vanish without a trace?
By the time Morgan ends up in a hay field 7 miles away, she has passed through 3 different law enforcement jurisdictions and a slew of private campus and event security agencies and personnel. While private security regulations fall under the umbrella of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, they also require a judicial amendment only if and when they are approved via “emergency” status by the Governor.
Who’s Looking Out For The Kids, Exactly?
As the safety on campus study showed, our college age kids are at their most vulnerable in the University setting. Out from under the watchful eye of Mom and Dad and wading through the rich culture and nightlife of downtown Charlottesville, students face a host of potential safety risks.
In fact, during the very development of this article, I received an alert from UVA security that a UVA student was sexually assaulted in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard. While I commend the swift response and warning from UVA PD chief Michael Gibson, I can’t help but wonder if a similar alert upon learning Morgan disappeared from the UVA/JPJ campus would have made a difference for her.
A simple Google of “Charlottesville security” produces the front page for HH Security Services, Inc, a local private security and bail bonding firm. I am no expert but isn’t it a bit odd to claim to protect one’s security and then bond out someone that may threaten it in the first place?
Who is vetting the security that is responsible for ensuring safety?
While HH Security or it’s employees have no known ties whatsoever to the Harrington case, it is a prime example of the weakness of current security regulations, involving students and private events, 6 years in the making.
At H & H Security Services, Inc. we specialize in Private Investigation, Private Security both armed and unarmed as well as fast efficient Civil Process Service. Our full-time professional agents are well trained, well equipped, well informed, and discreet.? Owner Rod Howard is a native of Charlottesville and central Virginia, where he’s been a well respected business owner for over twenty years. H & H Security Services, Inc. is his vehicle in his effort to help serve and protect the community he grew up in. Over the years he’s assembled a team of certified and experienced personnel who share his commitment to the safety of the community.
HH Security, in a business journal ad, claims to hire members of law enforcement and be very well connected with various police departments and security agencies for nightclubs, special events and home security checks as well in 2007.
HH Security is the security firm of choice for Club 216, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Rivals, which are bars frequently visited by UVA students and athletes.
Roderick M Howard, owner of HH Security and H&H Car detailing maintains active licenses issued through the VA Dept of Criminal Justice Services for private security and as a bailbondsman.
While blinkoncrime editors were researching this piece, a review of Albemarle County Court records show Roderick Howard was arrested for felony rape in 1993, subsequently indicted for same and a year later on the first day of trial, pled guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery whereby he was sentenced to 12 months, 11 of which were suspended and two years unsupervised probation.
Howard was also arrested a few times for felony bad checks; both cases ended nolle prosequi.
How can an accused rapist and convicted sexual batterer hold a dual license in the private security sector as well as two classifications of firearms, all of which is monitored by the VADCJS? It is specifically stated in the regulations regarding moral turpitude AND sexual battery that the VADCJS MAY DENY an applicant on those grounds.
According to Mr. Howard’s own advertisement, he has been in the security industry since 1989. Would that mean he was employed in the security field when he was arrested for rape?
Shockingly, It may be perfectly legal. Although the administrative statute for licensure prohibits granting a license to someone with a misdemeanor sexual battery conviction, if Howard divulged the crime in his application and requested a waiver from the director at the time, it is possible one was granted.
Blinkoncrime.com spoke to Lisa McGee, Regulatory Program Manager for DCJS, private security advisory committee:
“…there is a code in the statute that allows the potential for both an individual convicted of a felony and the outlined misdemeanors exceptions contained therein to obtain a director’s waiver. Two felonies we would never even consider are rape and murder, but dependent upon the criminal offense, the circumstances and the length of time that has transpired with a clean record, the verbiage in the statute would allow an applicant to at least request a waiver for our consideration…” Lisa McGee
Ms. McGee was not able to address Mr. Howard’s file specifically, citing privacy laws, but she was able to verify that Mr. Howard’s registration with the agency is current.
There are however, some discrepancies in the press release written to announce the “restructuring” of both companies, announced October 19th.
For starters, there was only a name change to Mr. Howard’s business, which actually took place prior to the October 19 release date, in May, 2009.
These are not two separate businesses. In fact, the bailbondsman license issued to Mr. Howard’s agent, Anthony Halstead, leads back to Accelerated Bail Bonds, which is not a listed entity in the state of Virginia or listed as a fictitious name for H&H Security Services.
I would be willing to wager that the police departments that allow off duty security employment with this firm would appreciate some clarification on both the personnel and licensing issues.
There has been no arrest in the homicide of Morgan Harrington. In a statement released by Corrine Geller, PR manager for the Virginia State Police, VSP has received approximately 100 significant leads from the release of the sketch of the alleged perpetrator of the 2005 Fairfax County sex assault.
Dan and Gil Harrington will be meeting with new University of Virginia President, Teresa Sullivan, next month to address safety and security issues on campus.
“..People think it cannot happen to them, IT CAN– Dan Harrington.”
Editors Note: I am not a resident of Virginia. However, I think the interest of the safety of our children is a National one. Any person that is placed in a position of public trust, most especially those that come into contact with our vulnerable students, should be REQUIRED to disclose past convictions that would negate them that position without some sort of subjective “pass”. How can we know-TRULY KNOW the level of presumed safety if we really aren’t aware of the backgrounds of those in charge of it?
Blinkoncrime.com editors Jason Mateos, Elizabeth Morton and Madeline Tanner contributed to this report
Images by Klaasend
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I looked back at some news articles and the first reference I have found to Morgan on the bridge is 10/28/09, at a press conference by VSP.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/28/on-the-bridge-morgan-harrington-last-seen-over-train-tracks/
Judi
Your question about Morgan being placed somewhere else prior to being moved to AF has been my thought for a long time. I think from four or five days to as long as thirty days. It was raining and messy on October 17, 2009. I don’t have a weather log for the area, but someone posted that it turned warm for a period of time around the first of November.
Apparently Mr. Bass leased his land for deer hunting in the fall and winter months. If this is true, then someone or more than one would have a problem of concealment during deer season. In Texas, November and December are the months for deer season. I would assume that Virginia would have deer season maybe beginning at the middle of October and maybe concluding prior to Christmas.
Most deer hunting goes on during the weekends, but some occurs during the week days as well. If the perps were well aware of this situation, they would wait until a time that hunting would not be occuring.
The ability to smell a body depends on the stage of decomposition and which way the wind is blowing in relation to you. If the body is South of you and the wind is from the North, you could get fairly close before noticing the odor.
Great thoughts everyone- It is good to know you guys are still trying. I know for the most part we are going over already covered ground but – It makes me glad to know everyone is still willing to walk it, in the hopes of finding out what happened to Morgan.
Texas Grandfather, Hi-I understand your point that even those at the top shirk their responsibilities, and I agree with you. I can’t think of any administration that hasn’t used the same tactic of blaming the previous guy, whether warranted or not.
Hummingbird- thanks for always flying around. I was sorry to hear about the earthquake in New Zealand today. I thought of you and hope no one was hurt.
We are all united here in one cause, I’d hate for any of us to get sidetracked into that old guaranteed divider- Politics
Peace- Carry on-
Mom3.0 says:
“We are all united here in one cause, I’d hate for any of us to get sidetracked into that old guaranteed divider- Politics”
Mom3.0 you are a diplomat. Thank you for writing that.
I’m thinking right now of Morgan’s memory trunk with the Obama sticker.
Peace to you too. Hope that your youngest is doing well with follow-ups.
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/05/18/morgan-harrington-murder-anchorage-farm-could-yield-even-more-clues/
In fact, there was a 7 Mile Sleepover exactly one week after Morgan’s disappearance from the JPJ arena that included an invitation list of over 130 guests
Without being graphic, yes, it is possible there was no detectable smell prior to coming into visual detection of Morgan’s remains at the time of the sleepover, in fact, I mentioned I had changed my mind that there were attempts made to conceal Morgan’s remains, some time ago, I do not think there were and the fact that those folks were in close enough proximity underscores my opinion.
B
********
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/05/18/morgan-harrington-murder-anchorage-farm-could-yield-even-more-clues/
In fact, there was a 7 Mile Sleepover exactly one week after Morgan’s disappearance from the JPJ arena that included an invitation list of over 130 guests
**********
Blink, I am trying to correlate why a body would not smell in one weeks time, yet it was not concealed, Am I not understanding you? Would you consider a body in a bag/tarp as not concealed? Or?? are you saying (there are many ways to make a body not smell) but the body was not there at the time of the sleepover . Or???are you saying even though it is possible there was no smell detectable, but not likely, and melon guy’s pictures indicate there was a smell at the time of the sleepover. (I hate writing this about Morgan and my deepest respect to all).
Ode, respectfully, I am not comfortable extending the decomp conversation over my comments to date
B
Next month will mark one whole year. How can this be? I am feeling so discouraged. Why isn’t VSP talking to the public, why so hush hush still? Why were they reluctant to release the sketch? What the heck is going on? Why can’t VSP get to the bottom of who did this?
A large doe was dead in my neighbor’s yard this past January – they were away – and the birds were having a feast. They had her gone in two days. When I went over to take a closer look there was only a little bit of odor – I was just amazed how fast the birds left next to nothing, just her hooves and then they were gone, too. Hawks, crows and vultures.
Here’s the thing. Why did they kill shiny Morgan so brutally? Why go to this extreme? I believe it has been said that her bones were shattered pre-death. To me, this is as important and distinctive a factor in this case as the location.
Also, here’s a copy and paste from an article dated March 19, 2010 on cavalierdaily.com (http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2010/03/19/parents-say-murderer-broke-shattered-harrington%E2%80%99s-bones/)
“The man who did this — and I am confident that it is a man — is being protected by his environment, by people in his environment, and that needs to stop,” Gil Harrington said.”
Interesting……by his environment and/or people in his environment. What kind of environment would/could protect him?
I agree with you about the politics – this is about Morgan and yes, she was an Obama supporter and yes, I saw the photo of her trunk with the Obama sticker over on Remember Morgan. I went there looking for the photo of her with the poster but found the trunk photo which I had never seen before. Maybe she got to vote early by absentee. I voted absentee in early October. Thanks, MOM and Diana.
TG thank you for explaining what you were trying to say, I also agree with Mom3.0 Quote:
Mom3.0 says:
“We are all united here in one cause, I’d hate for any of us to get sidetracked into that old guaranteed divider- Politics”
Diana H I too remember Morgans’ Memory trunk with the Obama sticker and the Beatles and Led Zeppelin posters on her wall….. her vinyl records and “Free Tibet” stickers. She reminded me of myself when I was younger, and my daughter now…God it just kills me that she was so brutally murdered, snatched from her loving family and the world and that her killer has not been found!!
Mom3.0 thanks for the shout re the earthquake in New Zealand my family and friends are OK. It is a miracle only two people were seriously hurt because it struck at 4 30AM when most people were asleep in their beds. However the citys’ infrastructure has been badly damaged, and people are without power and water and it is early spring there but still quite cold in the South Island where I am from.
My dear old mum is in another town 300 miles away on the southern most tip of the South Island, and slept right through it in the rest home.
It is cold down there near the South Pole ….too cold for Hummingbirds…..you don’t see any around those parts, but plenty of Fantails, Tuis, Bellbirds, Wood Pigeons, and yes sometimes even the odd Kiwi!!
A flightless , nocturnal bird, unlike this Hummingbird who has travelled far and loves to flit around the flowers, in the warm weather.
For my Virginian friends a short description of native New Zealand birds, will followup later with Fauna and Flora LOL!!
Alexandria, I think Blink gave us a hint when she said if a sketch was all there was ….. well.. just not enough. Another handicap may be that people will be looking for a sketch look-a-like and not concentrating on other potential suspects. The killer might be 5’6″ with red hair and freckles and his helper a Brad Pitt double. The Virginia crime lab made a mistake on the DNA link in the Sofia Silva and Lisk murders. The FBI had a match and the State lab did another test and got a match on the do-over. We just have to be patient and a little prayer now and then can’t hurt.
Hummingbird, I was in your land for a very short time years ago. I would list it as one of the top 2 Beautiful places I’ve seen. It was green and the houses had lovely flowers and stone walls and sheep and I loved the friendly warm people I met in the short short time. I am glad you are ok. I am sorry about any damage that was done. Best wishes to all.
The people who are protecting the perp from LE , they must realize they are playing with fire.
Someone who has the makings of a person to brutally murder another , a beautiful young woman , and who is able to carry on as usual … what type of animal is it that you are protecting?
Worse than a ravenous rabid wild dog , that under the right circumstances will turn on & devour his keepers , those who shield him from harm.
I would personally be afraid of any “friend” I had who could flip like he did.
I would be afraid to allow him to remain undetected , because he may suddenly have a break from reality & decide that you are out to get him & as a result may attempt to do you in before you can turn him in.
I pray that the people in the North Garden area will take notice , and that they will begin to talk.
Hummingbird,
I was so sorry to learn of the earthquake yesterday & was relieved to hear that there was no great loss of life. I know may will be disrupted, and things will be different , but they are still left here to play the game of Life & that can be difficult at times.
So glad your mom was out of harm’s way .
Yes, you are a true hummingbird, I cannot imagine you as a bird who never flies & does not flit about the world to take in all that is magical & beautiful.
Morgan was much like I used to be in my early days as well. We do have that in common.
And so much like our daughter’s now , free spirits , beautiful souls.
Yesterday was 80′s day at my youngest girl’s school, & she was very excited about dressing for the part , even asking for my help . She looked stunning to me & her smile was from ear to ear.
Sadly , the teachers made her Change her clothes telling her she had broken “dress code” for school. Jeez -Louise , I thought that they wanted true 1980′s style , hair , make-up , and the open 1 shouldered shirt. her shoulder was showing . Well so were other kids , but my 17yr old child is the one who they made change, even following her to the next class down the hallway to her next class asking her what she intended to do to rectify this problem . She borrowed a friends shirt than covered everything .
Sorry for my long winded story , but … you know I was not mad at her . I laughed . I smiled . that’s my girl, spunky & fun & loving & kind.
A lot like Morgan . A beautiful young girl who danced to the beat of her own drum.
I pray for the day of when the nasty , ugly , evil soul who did this to Morgan will be forced to pay. He is scum , not worth y to roam the face of the earth & breathe the same air as we do.
My cousin was in the Navy and he was very taken with Australia and New Zealand – he often remarks about how blue the sky was and how the air just seemed to be fresher and cleaner. He had some great photos of the Maori dancers. And New Zealand was the birthplace of Phar Lap. So beloved was he, that Melborne got his hide and he’s on display there, New Zealand got his skeleton and his heart is in Canberra. I loved the film – it was shown at an “art theater” in Richmond. I figured I would be one of a few people to see it – well I was wrong – there were a bunch of people there including a elder couple who used to live in San Diego – they saw him run at Caliente!!!
OOOppps- my post was to Hummingbird – Phar Lap was a race horse.
Judi says:
September 4, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Interesting……by his environment and/or people in his environment. What kind of environment would/could protect him?
one enviroment that comes to my mind would be LE.
Alabamamom
I am sure your girl looked beautiful. Schools sometimes do not think about what children will do to join in on an event such as the dress like an era event your daughter participated in. They still want their dress codes adheared to, but fail to list any limits on dress prior to the event. This makes it hard on those who use imagination to be historically accurate.
My thoughts exactly about the person(s) who did this to Morgan, evil souls, that is if they have one. I believe those who conduct themselves in evil ways are in danger of loosing their souls.
Gil’s post about the analogy of the canarys used in the mines as sacrificial things used to protect others, shows just how much she is hurting. Let all of us wrap Gil in our prayers to help bring her peace.
Evil abounds in our world when we allow it. However, we don’t have to let evil win, EVER!
In Morgan’s case, we can do things like Lee did in E-mailing the new president of the university. Those that are local can be proactive in letting UVA administrators know that the community supports all efforts to improve the safety situation and some are willing to give some of their time and experience to bring about improvement.
Diana H. My littlest is doing fine now. Thank you for asking.
Morgan and her hope chest, yes I remember.
Hummingbird, so glad to hear from you I am happy to know you and yours are doing okay.
alabamamom, thanks for sharing that 80′s tale with us. I am sure your daughter was beautiful and respectfully dressed. Sometimes those in authority single out the ones that command others attention with their beauty or personality-blaming it on their attire instead. I am sorry your daughter was singled out. I wish there was a way to make life fair.
Texas Grandfather, I hope you are out and about enjoying this Labor Day weekend and will return to give us more of your sage thoughts soon.
Your welcome Minnie Pennie- as to your insights on wildlife behavior- sad, yet interesting.
Yours and Odes posts got me to to thinking about weather again. I went back and researched some more-. I realize that it was nice out for quite awhile.
Many things were going on in and around the area having to do with the weather. For instance, there was a controlled burn in North Garden in the days, weeks before Morgans abduction. The week after October 8th was the beginning of wildland fire season the fire danger was high, and many residents were taking care of their properties, burning brush and what not. Then came the rain, causing flooding for many. Then came the Snow storms. I am including links that I think are rather interesting, in hindsight.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/10/09/burned-controlled-fire-alarms-citizens/#more-21002
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/19/flood-warning-weather-service-predicts-more-rain/
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/12/20/digging-out-us-29-open-but-tricky-driving/#comments
Judi, you wrote:
Here’s the thing. Why did they kill shiny Morgan so brutally? Why go to this extreme? I believe it has been said that her bones were shattered pre-death. To me, this is as important and distinctive a factor in this case as the location.
Also, here’s a copy and paste from an article dated March 19, 2010 on cavalierdaily.com (http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2010/03/19/parents-say-murderer-broke-shattered-harrington%E2%80%99s-bones/)
“The man who did this — and I am confident that it is a man — is being protected by his environment, by people in his environment, and that needs to stop,” Gil Harrington said.”
Interesting……by his environment and/or people in his environment. What kind of environment would/could protect him?
—
Well unfortunately the brutality that Morgan endured is not an isolated incident.
And I agree with Gil. -You asked what kind of environment would could protect him?
Don’t forget Yeardley and countless other victims of brutality that go unreported. I am not saying that Morgan’s and Yeardley murders are connected- or that they were motivated by the same set of factors- for lack of a better word, but that these type of offenders are often times hidden in plain sight, and only allow others to catch glimpses of their true natures/sicknesses.
In researching the weather I stumbled across an article on Justine Swartz Abshire who was brutally murdered in 2006, and was found on a dark country road. She was so badly beaten they thought at first she was ran over.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/11/03/no-justice-but-special-grand-jury-for-justine/
What I am saying, I guess is that between Sketchs first reported victim?, then Justine, then Morgan, then Yeardley, and who knows how many others- there seems to be a problem with brutality.
Susan
Your thoughts about the sleepover certainly have posabilities. Morgan could have been moved to AF concealed in a sleeping bag. The only problem would have been finding a time to slip away from the others to move her to where she was found. There is also the need for using something to enclose the body that prevented odor.
Blink mentions that LE has the resources, but may need to make a shift in their thinking and direction. She probably has information that is not shareable that leads her to make that statement.
Are LE hung up on a particular direction and not exploring others? I hope not. Tunnel vision is not going to solve this case.
Judi
Every state has areas that are closed off to outsiders from a standpoint of the people who live there. They keep to themselves and what goes on in the area is kept there. This is the type of environment I believe Gil was referring to.
Northeast of Houston, for example, is an area known as the “Big Thicket” an area of heavy timber that extends through some national forrests and on into the state of Louisiana. There are families that have lived in the area since the late 18th century. If you are not a family member or a member of another family that belongs to the area, it is very difficult to get information about events or persons.
What are some other areas that could be referred to as environment? A group of people who participate in activities together. Mudders or people who participate in drug activities to name two. There have also been discussions about NGVFD. That group comprises an environment.
I have spent alot of time over the last few days just playing everything over and over again in my head.
Couple things I would like you all’s input on.
First, Gil specifically mentioning the environment protecting him being, not just PEOPLE protecting, that has my mind going.
Contruction I don’t think would offer any protection in it’s environment.
NGFVD – that could be.
Security – that could be.
A Family with clout – could be.
My personal primary thought of how Morgan left JPJ Arena: I think she was out in the parking lot, locked out, upset. I think she met up with some college kids (Book-keepers and limo driver sighting of 4 BIB) and went to a college party that started at UVA (Newspaper lady’s sighting) and ended up at the house fire location, which is where she met her demise. Her purse later returned OR faked “being found” the next morning. This does not, however, limit the suspect pool to UVA students, because once leaving UVA and going to where the house fire was, anyone could have been in attendance at the party, not just college students. Do we know if a particular local RSO whose age is not much more than a college student’s is and who lives near AF ever attends parties at the where the house fire happened? Could anyone who does know anything be afraid of him/his family, too afraid – for their lives – to dare speak what they know or dare go against him/them to stop them from killing Morgan, now also makng themselves accmplishes, making them even more scared into silence?
My secondary thought of how Morgan left JPJ is forced by someone she did not know, that she did drop her purse there during the abduction, BUT I also think that the perp(s) would have had to use a taser, cloroform, or something of the sort to be able to pull this off in such a crowded place, without anyone seeing Morgan fighting, resisting, yelling, etc. Do security personnel carry a taser? I don’t know. But, probably would cause an alarm if seen carrying one.
Your thoughts?
My thoughts are that Morgan’s phone was found with the battery cover attached-
For me, not jibing with the hitchhiking theory, and I would seriously seek to know who those witnesses are, because if they are security lot attendants, we have a problem.
B
Correction to above on last sentence – But, probably would NOT cause an alarm is seen carrying one. Kinda left out an important word there
Also, two toughts on Sketch – 1) he was posed as a security officer (which is the only way I see Morgan leaving with an older person she did not know – I feel confident that she would only have left willingly with someone she knew or a fellow college student or college aged person). OR 2) if Sketch’s DNA is only on the shirt, could he have been given the task of getting rid of the shirt by the leader of their no-good, evil pack?
Given the number of discussions and experiences of so many on here, I found an iPhone Application that helps with personal security. You can enter up to four people that will be notified of your exact GPS location if you are in a situation of distress. It also gives an audible warning to a potential assailant once activated.
The name is Mobile Personal Security System by Wigzag, LLC. It is FREE for thirty days and then there is a monthly fee (not sure how much) thereafter.
I think it would be a great idea to develop something like this in honor of Morgan. The use of the application could be fee-based $0.99 to install and the proceeds could go to the scholarship fund and/ or the school project. It would also be a great way to increase awareness about Morgan’s case and other cases.
Being a self-proclaimed ‘idea guy’, I don’t know how to implement it exactly, but I would think that there are application development/ consultation groups (or digital natives going to VA Tech or elsewhere) that could help.
That is new to me Blink, about the phone.
If her phone battery was missing because she was dropping her purse over and over- as has been reported- I would think she wouldn’t bother to put the back on again. If her purse was found with contents strewn about – and as speculated her phone battery was lost in the fall .. How did the back get back on?
Blink- you wrote:
My thoughts are that Morgan’s phone was found with the battery cover attached-
For me, not jibing with the hitchhiking theory, and I would seriously seek to know who those witnesses are, because if they are security lot attendants, we have a problem.
B
– I would also like to know more about any witnesses/accounts that said they saw Morgan that night- especially HH
Blink- I know MV said she saw Morgan HH. Are you specifically asking about those who saw her HH or those that came in contact with her purse? Do you know of others, possibly P-Attendants or are you just asking, and hoping the others are not attendants? TIA
I thought MV was the lady that said the car of dudes pulled up at Boyds Tavern?
To my knowledge, no witness relative to the hitchhiking has been named. That information is of particular interest to me for sure.
B
Going back to the Fairfax abduction map, one of the first things I noticed was the little bus icon in different locations. I assume those are public transportation stops. My town doesn’t have public transportation so I ask: do busdrivers wear uniforms? like khaki pants/black sweaters? I know Ralph Kramden wore a uniform but that was waaay back in the day and I’m just not urban enough to know whether they would wear something like that now. I assume there’s public transportation in Charlottesville. Would any public bus be in the vicinity of JPJA on a Saturday night during a concert? Same question regarding taxi drivers. Uniforms? Also, it was interesting to me that Virginia International University has a car pickup service for international students arriving at the airport.
Just throwing some things out there.
Hummingbird I also thought of you after hearing of the earthquake in New Zealand — glad to know your family is safe. I thought of you again this morning while putting out the last of my hummingbird food. The “jewels of the sky” are getting ready to fly back to South America pretty soon, right?
B, there is Maggie Voth, of course. She is the only publicly named person I’m aware of who claimed to have seen her hitchhiking, although we do not know whether LE considers her one of the “credible witnesses”:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161409341318#/wall.php?id=161409341318&page=75&hash=158d0dacce75c56cdeed58454e648a1f
Maggie Voth (UVA) wrote
at 6:16pm on October 19th, 2009
I saw her at 930 too, she was on the bridge on alderman trying to hitchhike and was alone.
Lol, did I mention my not so recent head injury, or is that all used up?
I should have known mom 3.0 would never, ever get a witness statement wrong
Ok, does anyone else find it odd that MV said “on the bridge on Alderman” as “Alderman” does not start until she is on the other side of the bridge, and away from Copeley, or do we think she is just rendering what direction she was coming from?
B
Mary,
RE: Bus uniforms are used with Metro drivers- navy pants and a white shirt. However, I’m not sure if that area of Fairfax Cty. is served by Washington Metro (wmata.com) or the Fairfax Connector; it’s right at the dividing line of where one ends and the other begins.
I have hypothesized before, but I think the commonality there is the Judicial Center/ Adult Detention Center in Fairfax County. When I went there recently, the place was overrun with bail bondsmen coming and going; and, I can’t imagine that a bail bondsman would only serve one jurisdiction, say only Charlottesville or only Fairfax. It takes ten minutes to get from the Fairfax complex to the block of Jermantown Road where the 2005 attack took place.
I see your point, though knowing what we know about the recent abduction charges against the C’ville bus driver. I think most municipal bus drivers will wear a uniform similar to what I described the WMATA drivers wearing.
With respect to the shirt: if indeed Sketch’s DNA is on the shirt (and that has not been confirmed), then it goes back to the theory that someone planted it on the hedge/ bush in order to hold that information over the assailant in the Fairfax case to keep him quiet. I don’t think that a random person finding that shirt would display it so precisely.
Changing geats: if there is any connection to the Sutherland Rd. house fire, then I think whoever initiated that was perched in the Blandemar Farm estates area, perhaps on a security round and/or the person has a municipal services scanner.
The possible scenarios at JPJA make my head spin, but given the body language of Morgan and her friends in that video when she kisses one of them on the cheek says to me that they didn’t approve of her planned course of action and that was her way of reassuring them that she knew what she was doing. I don’t know why the friends have been so tightlipped, but I think they didn’t want to implicate themselves and/or Morgan as to what brand of partying they were doing prior to the show and/ or they know of the people that she would be meeting up with and are indeed afraid of providing information fearing retribution.
Whatever involvement there was with the friends, I think that is a main catalyst. Without revealing what truly was going on with them, before,during, and after the separation, I don’t think there will be answers. They need to come forward- and maybe they have- with full disclosure as to ALL events leading up to the time that they contacted the Harringtons about Morgan’s disappearance (as it was treated at the time) the next day. Lack of transparency with that key variable (the level of the friends’ knowledge of Morgan’s points of contact and Morgan’s mindset) in the investigation causes the overall investigation to lack integrity and keep things at a standstill. I would talk to each one of them on an ongoing basis for additional answers and to emphasize to them that this case is not going away until things add up- what was really going on in Harrisonburg up until the time that they were separated at the concert? There is no innuendo here as to what level of involvement they have in Morgan’s death other than I think that there was more partying going on than has been apparently disclosed and I feel there may be holes in their stories that, if filled in, could answer a lot of questions.
I have no way of coming full circle with respect to the bus driver question, but had to get that off of my chest. Fish, care to weigh in? I could use your help- you rock, if you didn’t already know that.
BTW, I had a dream the other night that I met Sketch (at least as he was symbolized in my dream). I was at a hotel having a standard lobby continental breakfast. I notice the logo of his company on his golf shirt (I don’t recall what was on the logo, but whatever it was allowed me to deduct that this IS Sketch). We were in another part of the state or country and I wanted so badly to tie him to Charlottesville without giving my level of knowledge about the case away. I couldn’t pull the trigger in my dream. I was afraid of compromising the case as well as my own safety. I think that there is a metaphor for what happened in my dream and the lack of information coming out of those in the know with connections to this case. This dream is haunting me and makes me want answers that much more.
Shake the shrubs, folks…sorry for rambling.
Blink:
Ok, does anyone else find it odd that MV said “on the bridge on Alderman” as “Alderman” does not start until she is on the other side of the bridge, and away from Copeley, or do we think she is just rendering what direction she was coming from?
As a local, I am not sure I have ever referred to the road in front of UHall as Copeley, and probably would have called it Alderman also. I guess I always thought of only the road in front of JPJ and down to Emmett St as Copeley. So, no, I do not find that odd.
Thank you sdandy, that is what I was hoping for.
B
Part quote: snip,
because if they are security lot attendants, we have a problem.
B
Yes we do….
My imagination runs wild with that thought.
Catch me on a bad day these days and my imagination is going to become the written word.
I am over how long this is taking.
B
NOT REAL FOND OF THIS POST I FOUND….
Stomper June 18th, 2010 | 5:36 pm
“but there was a UVA student Blinkoncrime had the following posted from a person who identifies herself as “Momof3″
There have been a lot of false facts represented as fact by that Blinkoncrime website in a lot of other cases too. That Momof3 person has been putting comments on that site for a lot of years. I guess that college student doesn’t have any school work to do. Sad that the Harringtons have connected with the blinkoncrime group. Maybe they would get more information about their daughter’s murder from the police if they weren’t joined at the hip with a blogger of false facts.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/17/eight-months-harringtons-mark-anniversary-with-frustration-hope/
Lol, frankly, If I have been confused with a co-ed, let them blather all day. More I say!
One of my fave things to read is criticism that I “get things wrong or publish false facts”, without a single reference to the offense or error, and the correction.
My blog is 18 months old, as much as I look forward to knowing mom 3.o for years, the poster is *gasp* factually inaccurate.
I think it is a shame the hook does that silly unmoderated comment business. It drastically undermines some of the good work they produce. If I worked that hard on a piece as some of their writers do, and I had to watch it be reduced to the equivalent of flypaper for springerlovers, I would quit.
As far as the Harrington’s, who imo, are some of the most gracious and determined people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, who says that? This isn’t a personality contest or dodgeball, this is finding Morgan’s killer.
B
Just waded through all the comments on the ‘Hook’ website. They are as frustrated as we are and a lot less civil toward each other.
Really this is the sort of crime that is solved within a very few days, if not hours, of occurrence by any average LE organization plugged in to their community. The VSP is sitting on a massive amount of information with this case – and sharing it with no one.
We keep going over the same few known facts hoping to find discrepancies, which we do, but the VSP isn’t taking questions to resolve the discrepancies and UVa’s response seems to be: “Morgan who?”.
I really think it is time for the Harringtons to request that the case be transferred to the FBI. I will gladly sign a petition to that effect or write both Senators and my local Virginia Congressman or even go to Washington if it might make a difference.
mom3.0
Yes, I was out and about. Saturday morning I took our community band to play a concert for an area lions club fund raiser. I was the conductor as our head conductor was in Baltimore taking care of his 89 year old father and making certain that his property was secure for the hurricane.
We played an hour for the event and our program included selections from the Music Man and My Fair Lady. We had scheduled a level 4 (difficult) piece from the Wizzard of Oz, but couldn’t play it because critical instrumentation was missing. Too many were taking the holiday.
CentVa Native Away
This program for the phone must be similar to the software that can be found on Clint Van Zant’s site.
I am sure that Va. Tech. has people that could do a similar program. There were two brothers that were professors in the 1970′s that wrote an assembler for the early 8 bit and 16 bit microprocessors. I can’t remember their names. I have their books somewhere in storage. The problem is being able to produce a program that does not infringe on thecopyright or patents of existing commercial programs.
Mary
I don’t know of any city transportation drivers that do not have a uniform. Maybe in some very small communities they might not.
Blink
You early on hinted that there may be some LE/Security problems in this case. Are we into a problem of “the blue wall of silence”?
When ATG asks me a question, as he is my virtual stand-in, quasi unrelated poppa-
I say yes, in this case, there is potential for such an issue, real or perceived.
B
Thankyou everyone for your thoughts and prayers re Christchurch New Zealand, and the devastating earthquake that just happened there. I live here in the USA on the West Coast now but travel frequently to New Zealand my homeland.
I do have family there, no one is injured and to the best of my knowledge their houses are still standing, but many peoples homes are beyond repair and not habitable. it is a big shock for the city and its’ inhabitants. I feel so sad for the families and the elderly . It is still frosty damp and cold in the mornings and at night …..poor frightened little Kiwis say a prayer for them.
Americans and New Zealanders have fought side by side in two wars and have a great loyalty and affinity with one another. In general New Zealanders are very friendly and down to earth, and have a genuine concern for their fellow man, a human attribute worth striving for as Texas Grandfather likes to remind us of.
Mary, I have never heard Hummingbirds referred to as “Jewels of The Sky” but they do shimmer like rubies and emeralds in mid flight, and we are lucky enough to have them year round in Southern California. I guess it is almost as warm here as South America.
Alabama mom, thank you for your lovely sentiments so sorry your daughters parade was rained on …sigh
but so glad she has a mom with a loving heart and a good sense of humor to help chase the raindrops away. I have a little hideaway in North West AL and travel there at least once a year with my daughter.
I just love the people, the trees , the afternoon summer thunder storms. So I am a part time Alabama mom as well !! Actually the peace and the green and the under population of Alabama really remind me of New Zealand, which is a big reason I bought property there.
Minnie Pennie, I remember Pharlap and yes the Aussies and the Kiwis are so proud of their famous horse.
Ode, how lovely that you have been to New Zealand and liked it so much I hope you get to go there again sometime.
Always good to hear from you Mom.30 my Misty Mountain friend.
Rock on dear Blink and one and all at BOC …justice for Morgan …peace to the Harringtons xxxx
We may have an issue that will take a while to solve. This could be like the Peterson case in Bolling Brook, Ill. with the rogue cop. It took two years to get enough on the guy to put him in jail. The legislature had to enact a law that allowed a special case of hearsay evidence to be used in court.
Let us all be patient, don’t give up the fight for Morgan and improvements in safety for the University.
Blink; I am proud to be your virtual stand-in,quasi unrelated poppa.
Sage advice and thank you.
B
Hello my dear friends…
I have been unable to spend as much time on here as I would like to. Unfortunately, I went away for almost two weeks without my computer. I’ve tried very hard to keep up…but there’s only so much I can do.
With so little confirmed info provided to public- Its tough to separate fact from hearsay.
Review: (sorry if redundant)
Why Morgan went outside arena (UNKOWN) told friends she was going to the restroom & then called to say she’d gotten a ride home.
Both granny and kickee’s stories have not been confirmed.
Only certain items of Morgans were found outside the arena
No security footage or patron footage obtained with any info (that we know of)
Last seen by an unknown witness on the bridge.
The owner of a security/bailbond business was charged with rape (early 1990′s) but copped a plea to a lesser charge. This owner bares are striking resemblance to Sketch
Sketch- raped/attached Fairfax female in 2005 in a random, brutal manner. He was in a uniform of some type and though he left DNA evidence- has never been identified.
Morgan was discovered in a VERY remote area of Bass’ farm. In an area that he only visited usually once a year. It is suggested her remains were covered with hay. IT HAS NOT BEEN STATED THAT SKETCH’S DNA WAS LOCATED ON MORGAN?? correct?
The remote location screams that someone local chose this spot for a specific reason (other than he knew of it) May not be a local to the locals…but a local to cops of chville
Bass farm:
no car/truck could have gotten back there
hunters frequented
COULD WE REVIEW ALL OF THE SUGGESTED POSSIBLE ENTRY WAYS?
Blink sees a high likelihood that the Bass farm was chosen for some sort of spite.
-people had parties out there
IN MY OPINION: I SEE
My first initial reaction what to question who else…SECURITY.
Think about the following things in regards to security & this case:
-Control surv video of the arena
-one or more of them did not let her re-enter the arena
-they are widely viewed as a trustworthy safe haven & sometimes authoritative
-wear uniforms
etc
Morgan left for one of 2 reasons…willingly or unwillingly
willingly- with someone she knew or trusted (if I thought I locked my keys in car or anything…security would be my first call. period)
*There has been NO mention of anyone hearing a struggle besides granny
unwillingly- drugged or tasered
Im going to stop typing now because I feel like im rambling.
Note to the Harringtons:
Not one day has gone by that I do not think of you and pray for you. Words cannot describe how sorry I am that this monster or monsters took away your precious, sweet, gorgeous, loving, vibrant, brilliant baby girl. I sit here having so much to say that I cant even begin.
I pray that God wraps the arms of his angels around you, Dan & Alex and never lets go. Dear God, please comfort them, keep them strong and help them to remember that they are NOT alone. Dear Lord, please ease their pain. please. Lord, also- please make way for a swift and complete investigation that detains these monsters before they can do this again. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
Gil, Dan, Alex- Morgan is NOT FORGOTTEN AND WILL NEVER BE. We are hear for you and our support will not waiver. I will continue to pray for you everyday (way more than once)
I wish I could write my real name- but anyhow
With God’s Love,
Palm_Tree
still having trouble posting blink
No, you are not deetee, you were just in moderation.
B
George says:
September 5, 2010 at 10:39 pm
…Really this is the sort of crime that is solved within a very few days, if not hours, of occurrence by any average LE organization plugged in to their community…
in response to geo…
this is the first case i’ve ever followed AND researched, but yep george, i really get that feeling.
wish i could tell you what the trouble was, i usually can troubleshoot software, web, computer stuff, etc. not this time.
LPT,
In your review you said Morgan called to say she’d gotten a ride home. My understanding is Morgan RECEIVED a call at 8:48 pm from one of her friends and she told them she would get a ride home, not that she had FOUND a ride home. (caps cause I can’t underline or italicize – not yelling – sorry).
Not known whether the 2005 Fairfax perp had on a uniform or not — just speculation because of the light pants and black sweater. Again, this is my understanding.
As with all the information in this case, it is not entirely clear that the DNA from Sketch was found on or with Morgan’s remains but it is my personal belief that it was.
I will have to go back and find the post from Red Hill Local where he outlines the most plausible entry spots. Many posters here as well as Blink had discussed it, dissected it and understood it, but his post had it all together in a few concise paragraphs. I won’t be able to do that until after work today. Yes, some people do have to labor on Labor Day!
One of your statements hit me like a ton of bricks: Security would be my first call too if I was locked out of my car.
As far as the Maggie Voth statement “I saw her at 930 too…” Why didn’t she say AROUND 9:30? She seems so sure of the time. I mean she saw her at EXACTLY 9:30? Something is off about that little facebook exchange.
Also after work I’m going to post a snippet of an old post I found regarding the parking lots that night. This thing is NOT over people! This is just the calm before the STORM!
Mary is correct about the call to Morgan at 8:48PM
B
thanks blink, but i was having trouble. my problem is that i type a post, hit submit, the page reloads, but i don’t see the post with the “waiting in moderation.” message. the page reloads and the submit form is empty, so its like my post vanishes – not in the mod q and not in the leave a comment form.
so i try to copy and past before i hit submit. then when the above happens, i paste it back in, submit and get the message that its a wordpress error and looks like a duplicate. still, i don’t see the message waiting in moderation.
i’m posting from firefox on a pc and a mac. the error i get happens on both. i’m not ruling out operator error, but if it is i’d like to know what i’m doing wrong. just saying.
I use firefox as well deetee and your posts are up so I am just not sure. Will tell IT, thanks.
B
I live right here in Charlottesville and yes, I would have liked to have seen this case solved and Morgan brought home to her family, alive and well. Sadly, that didn’t happen. There are people who almost certainly saw her after she left the arena, there are others who THINK they saw her after she left the arena. There is NO ONE that we are aware of who saw her taken, whether it be from the RV lot, the bridge, or someplace else. I say someplace else because it’s not yet known whether her departure from the area of the arena was voluntary or involuntary. It’s very easy to say she would not have gotten into a car with someone who looked like Sketch, it’s very easy to say she would not have stood on that bridge looking for a ride from whoever decided to stop, but the truth is, we do not know. Whether it be that she had a fight with her friends and left the arena in a fit of anger, was drinking or drugged and wandered out without being aware, or simply needed air, her nigh did not go at all as she anticipated. She was outside, and could not re-enter. Maybe the friends know, maybe LE knows from their investigations but we do not know how disoriented or how angry or anything about the state of her emotions by the time she reached the vicinity of the bridge. I personally do not believe speculations that she went to a party of any type with someone who picked her up after she left the arena unless it was a very small group involving only 1, 2 or maybe 3 people, all involved in her death and with a reason to keep silent. If there were multiple party goers, someone would remember having seen her. I don’t say LE has handled everything perfectly, I am sure mistakes have been made, but as George wrote “Really this is the sort of crime that is solved within a very few days, if not hours, of occurrence by any average LE organization plugged in to their community. The VSP is sitting on a massive amount of information with this case – and sharing it with no one.” Are you saying that Morgan is the only person who has disappeared seemingly without a trace, to later be discovered dead? Oh, if only that were true. Also, don’t forget, Morgan disappeared somewhere around 9:30 p.m. on the 17th. The fact that she was missing was not reported until mid-day or just a bit later on the 18th. Her purse was located the morning of the 18th. Apparently, it was thought to be a lost purse and treated as such. Dr. Harrington was contacted sometime the morning of the 18th about the found item. He called and spoke to his daughter’s roommate and discovered THEN, almost 15 hours later, that her whereabouts was unknown. I cannot imagine the cold, numbing fear her family must have felt when that fact became known. Dr. Harrington called LE, and he has posted on this site that her disappearance was treated as a missing person from the very beginning. A missing person, who by the time she was reported missing, possibly had been dead for many hours.
Posters put so much faith in the comments of Lt. Rader that the person(s) responsible for Morgan’s death has/have to be familiar with the Anchorage Farm area. Then, almost immediately, posters start questioning the abilities of LE. If LE is totally incompetent, then it’s very possible they are entirely wrong in this assessment. By posters, I’m not referring only to Blink posters, but all who have commented on various sites. Let’s just suppose for a short time that LE could be wrong on that issue. It’s just possible that there is one bad guy, the person now infamously known as “Sketch.” It’s also very possible that today and even 5 years ago, Sketch looked almost nothing like the composite drawing. In order to have a certain security person fit the description, it has been speculated that he could have been shorter. Very possible, but it’s just as possible that the face has very little resemblance to the the actual perpetrator of the Fairfax assault. Remember the Israeli stabber just a few short weeks ago. There was nothing about his sketch that would have lead to the actual man. I’m not trying to say that there are not people in our area who know exactly what happened to Morgan, it’s very possible her killer walks our streets everyday. I’m not trying to say that people who came in contact with Morgan, be it other concert goers she encountered in the lot or security did not fail her. Maybe help should have been summoned, but they maybe, she didn’t seem to want or need assistance. Dr. and Mrs. Harrington believe she disappeared from Copeley Bridge, that spot is where they return to, time after time, I think because they truly believe it is the last place their daughter is known to have been alive.
As for discrepancies, many if not most of the discrepancies have not come from LE, but from people who advance theories, and then others who have difficulty separating those theories from facts. Speculation and theories, when repeated over and over, become the same as fact in some minds, whether based on any type of truth. Again, I’m not referring specifically to posters here but to posters on our local news sites, The Hook and several others.
I am sure LE knows more that the public, I certainly hope so. They probably know much more about what transpired before Morgan’s group arrived in Charlottesville, much more about what happened inside the arena. They probably know whether or not there were any plans for after the concert. It’s possible they know why she left the arena. They probably know a lot more about her state of mind while wandering through the parking lots. They may even know whether or not she died on Anchorage Farm. It’s possible they do have their suspicions about some who have been mentioned here. It’s also possible that other than Sketch’s DNA either at the Anchorage Farm site or on Morgan’s shirt, they have no evidence linking anyone to the crime. It’s hard to believe that a crime could be committed in such a public area with nothing being seen, but just possibly, that’s exactly what has happened. Maybe the kidnapper is an experienced predator, or maybe he/they is/are inexperienced bad guy(s) who acted on impulse and happened to have the good luck(and bad luck for LE) of making a quick grab of a vulnerable young woman and then deciding she had to be disposed of to protect their idenities. Possibly the bad guy(s) has/have never done anything of this type before, but are so devoid of the normal guilt reflex of most people, that they have done nothing to arouse suspicion. Just as possible, maybe there are family members covering for one bad buy who acted on impulse and is now certain every day of his life that he’ll be discovered. May possibilities, making for a very difficult case.
The last I heard, LE reported that they were working through over 700 tips. We’ve heard of only a few because some people chose to come forward to reporters. For all we know, these individuals have been completely debunked while there could be some who have presented very reliable information. Do we really think it’s logical or even advisable to be presented with a list of every tip and told exactly why that tip has been deemed to be unreliable? All of us want to know what happened to Morgan. We want to see the bad guy behind bars, yesterday rather than tomorrow. For every day that the person(s) responsible remains free, there’s the potential that the crime will be repeated. If the evidence is not there to make an arrest, then what do we expect LE to do, arrest someone just so the public can feel better that there is a person in custody. If they have someone under suspicion, should that person be tipped off so he can be extra vigilant?
Morgan’s family members have every right to be kept totally informed. If they feel not enough is being done to find their Morgan’s killer, they have every right to make that feeling public and to ask for whatever additional assistance is available to them. LE has the absolute obligation IMO to answer all of their questions if the answers do not jeopardize the investigation, but they also have the obligation to keep secret any information, even from family members, that could jeopardize the possibility of an arrest or a conviction.
Happy Labor Day!!
I am finally begining to feel a little better. That illness kicked my butt.
I managed to do some reading, on the coincidence & clue thread. Boy, alot I had forgotten about and that was not that long ago.
I was wondering Blink, can you give any clues on the following:
A). D. Gardner is in the construction business
B). D. Gardner is in the military
C). D. Gardner is married w/ children
D). D. Gardner has relatives in Albemarle county.
E). All of the above
I have read he is not a FF.
And yes, I too believe that certain info may be given more or less weight due to its source by our investigators. IE: ” fred from security def saw xyz, so that cant be possible.”. It’s a shame but a natural course of events. They need to think out of their box.
And geez, I knew my chronic typing of the word coarse looked wrong, and no one corrected me. lol!
On an OT note, my little man begins middle school tomorrow. I wish they could stay in Elementary school forever.
Yes only to the last question E about relatives in AC.
He is not on my radar, fwiw
Glad your feeling better and I share your sentiment 100% on little man.
B
Several typos, but to correct one-Many possibilities, making for a very difficult case.
Wow, great post MsL. Thanks…your posts always encourage the use of common sense. Mom3.0, dianah, and hummingbird, I, too, immediately thought of Morgan’s trunk with the Obama sticker when texasgrandfather made his POTUS comment.
“Do we really think it’s logical or even advisable to be presented with a list of every tip and told exactly why that tip has been deemed to be unreliable?”
“If the evidence is not there to make an arrest, then what do we expect LE to do, arrest someone just so the public can feel better that there is a person in custody.”
******
I’m really not in the mood for this kind of sarcasm today. What would you have us say and do to help keep the case in the public eye, MsL? Or would you rather we just stop trying to help at all?
I missed that in Msl post Mary-
I will answer Msl query from above-
What I would have them do, is something different. If in 11 months there is no arrest in a murder case that is tied to a sex assault from 5 years ago we have what we call ” a potential breach in the safety and security of citizens within the community of the assailant.”
How many of those Fairfax Sketch “wanted” posters do you think are hanging in the highly traveled areas of North Garden, C-ville and Fairfax? You think there is one hanging in the new ACPD North Garden PD satellite office?
That would be a negative. Thus my demeanor these days on this case.
B