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
Related Posts
Related Posts:
2,469 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
I cannot help but hold the friends at least partly responsible. Morgan went there with a group of friends whose tickets were purchased by Morgan’s Dad.
But, putting the who bought the tickets thing aside, they were Morgan’s friends (supposedly).
There is NO excuse for them allowing her to be all alone locked out of the arena with the keys to her car inside the arena.
There is just no excuse.
And, to ice that cake, I really feel that they know more than what they are telling. I, personally, do not believe the Morgan went to the bathroom story or the Morgan was studying on the way to the concert story.
If they really were Morgan’s friends, Morgan wouldn’t have been alone and they would not care about covering their ass, they would want Morgan’s killer(s) caught and they would tell what they know. But…they are not.
They personally know the Harringtons. They know what wonderful people they are. They know the pain they are in. Yet, they keep their silence. What a shame! And, I’m sorry to say, I do not get it.
There is one possibility I have come to consider with regard to the friends silence-
What if they suspect someone they saw at the concert. There has been no arrest, I could see them having a security concern.
B
Good morning everyone-
I have a son who is 16 years old. He was at a park with his girlfriend recently near downtown Richmond. As they were leaving around sundown they passed a man in a motorized wheelchair. As they passed him my son thought it appeared the man was trying to flag them down. So they turned around and went back. The man was flagging them down with one arm kind of turning in a circle. So my son got out of the car and approached the man. My son was telling me this story and I was mentally freaking out. As he got closer he could tell the man had cerebal palsy and couldn’t speak. He motioned to my son to look down and my son realized that his wheelchair was stuck in some mud. So my son pushed him out and back on to the road. The man was still motioning to my son and to the ground. My son started to look around and saw the man’s glasses were a good distance from where he was. He got the glasses for him and the man headed down the road. I tell this story because I’m looking for feedback b/c I’m so conflicted. I am absolutely proud of my son for doing what he did. I was feeling so proud when he was telling me at the same time my hair was standing on end b/c it scard the hell out of me. What does one do with the gift of fear in that situation? How do I tell him that what he did was awesome and at the same time could have possibly gotten him hurt or worse? I went with tellig him how proud I was. Looking for advice, b/c I think I should go back and tell him that man could have been staging that scence and could have hurt him. But I don’t want to jade him on the good deed he has done. I do have conversations often with my kids to tell them all the things that can go wrong; but he didn’t think of it in this situation and I don’t know if I should be worried or not. Sorry for the rant, but I’m really conflicted on this one…
From FM,
Morgan’s Dad Morgan’s Dad is online now
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 290
Default Gil Harrington’s Blog from September 16th, 2010
You can’t please all of the people all of the time. Dan and I are grateful to have a permanent stone memorial to Morgan on the bridge. We have worked very hard to ensure that the tragedy of murder not negate Morgan’s impact and value to the world. We believe that by creating legacy Morgan would still be a catalyst for good in the world, that the accomplishments of her short life would be acknowledged, and that Morgan would be remembered. From the beginning we have been determined that the evil that killed Morgan would not erase her. Yes, this memorial is a good thing. It’s hard to erase something written in stone.
241
_____________________________________________________
susan — thanks for the link. richmond is not the safest city IMO, but I always thought the tougher area was near VCU, not richmond. It sounds like they have an issue with some local punks wanting to mess with the students right now. Hopefully they will catch them soon.
Hi PamVa. I would tell him to do the good deed, with a can of pepper spray in pocket..but definately do the good deeds
I would just like to say thank you to Gil and her Sept. 16th Blog. It comforts me to know her feeling about the stone memorial.
Blink said: “I think he grew up hunting, fishing, and roaming it all, not just AF”
Have to ask: I know that you could be referring to a lot of different people but, are you talking about CH? (now incarcerated)
no.
B
Blink wrote: There is one possibility I have come to consider with regard to the friends silence-
What if they suspect someone they saw at the concert. There has been no arrest, I could see them having a security concern.
B
EXCELLENT point, Blink. Never thought of that……
Eloise — Wow — Hope this is *definitely* a better day!
I put up a post a few days ago regarding the friends – but I think it went “poof” – off to cyberspace never never land – anyway I’ll try again. First I am not accusing anyone, but they do control the story. They are the only witnesses to what Morgan did, said, etc. that evening. They are the eye-witness reporters of the entire story – from getting in the car, entering the arena and Morgan’s leaving. I don’t guess anyone has made any statements but no doubt we will learn their testimony when this case goes to trial. Or as much as their attorneys will allow. I am in favor of “lawyering up”. Even if you did nothing wrong you need to look out for yourself. Lady Justice might be wearing a blindfold but that’s a big sword she’s got in her hand.
@ PamVA: That IS a very conflicted situation, for my opinion, I would usually always try to help a handicapped man in a wheelchair, but in SOME Richmond locations at sundown, my advice would be “just do not even be there, unless you are with a very large group, including very large young men.” And there are still further locations I would not at all in any circumstances be there at any time day or night.
If there are any Richmonders on the forum, they just might happen to agree with me, and know what I mean. Richmonders are not defensive about being on their guard, and pretending that everywhere is a safe haven. I need to drum this issue more into the heads of my boys, given that they have had an upbringing which has not put them in “these unsafe areas.”
I suppose it may be norrmal for this unfortunate man in a wheelchair to go out alone, poor soul, but I think you are correct in thinking about the what-if’s, what-if it is a set-up, and someone is making the man do this and hiding in the bushes, and what-if it is a set-up and someone has harmed the man and thrown his glasses down, and put him in the mud and is hiding in the bushes to attract another target. You are very correct to be concerned, and to school your son about danger, I am currently doing the same with my sons.
I don;t know the park location you are speaking of, so I can not say if it is one of those “supposedly” safe places, but there are just some places I would not be at sundown or after in Richmond, same as at the spot on the mall in Charlottesville where the homeless man was beaten. I call that, and the two college incidents recently at Longwood and at U of R, a “wilding.” As in the “wilding” that occurred when the Central Park jogger was beaten nearly to death years ago.
So, bottom line, my opinion being a Richmonder, is that Richmond has a huge crime problem almost particularly IN CERTAIN AREAS. When that sort of violence enters the University of Richmond area, it calls for a paradigm shift, and I have already this am notified my son’s private high school of the Longwood and U of R incidents. I have also called the police at U of R and connected the Longwood incident for them.
We as parents need to bring these incidents to the attention of our kids, and let them know that they need to be on their guard whenever they are in an unsupervised setting alone, or even with one person.
That is my opinion, and if anyone wants to debate how safe “some areas” in the City of Richmond are, hold your breath, it is not a point I am going to debate.
@ PamVA: just as a sidenote, I have noticed over the years that the crime, (thefts/robberies/burglaries) in Richmond tends to escalate going towards Halloween, and into the Christmas holidays.
Richmond Police have said in the past that they see more crime (murders/shootings) in the “projects” on the steamy hot summer nights, but the thefts and break-ins in the west end part of the City tend to rise going into the fall and holiday season, as I noted above.
B said: “no. B”
Thanks. Saves some time going into that sad life.
Please forgive me..
I was attempting to propose a scenario that needs to be checked out by LE and although I did first consider this, I am not suggesting that her friends are culprit or accomplice.
LE needs to look at all possible.
I think the shirt location is one of those places that needs to be researched and people interviewed. I would go so far as to put a sign up at that loaction requesting witness information and include a reward.
MsL…I am just catching up at BOC and I am so sorry for your loss my friend. I know about suicide and the impact it has on those left behind. My husband committed suicide in 1993 when our daughter was 4 years old (no sign it was coming, and just days before Christmas). Although we eventually “moved on” with our lives the best we could, we will never, ever be whole, and my daughter will never know her father…that haunts us both to this day…my heart weeps so much for her. The worst part of it was not knowing what had happened to him for days. That is one reason I hurt so badly for the Harringtons..the tragedy not just of the act itself (horrendous enough, be it murder, suicide, or accidental), but also the “not knowing” but fearing, unanswerd questions that can never be answered, the guilt left by “what else could I/should I have done”. We all have tragedy in our lives, but I pray that no one has to endure the pain of being in the aftermath of a sudden, horrific death. It is clear that Fish fully understands and endures this pain and I asks God’s peace to all who endure it. Some days that is all you can hope for. I just continue to pray that at least the Harrington’s be granted some answers with the capture of her killer(s). But I fully understand that the circle will always be broken. Let’s keep at it and maybe, just maybe we can help find the missing link. J4M.
Fish, thank you so much for your candor. It takes an enormous amount of courage to translate our rage/frustrations/stark-reality into words like yours so full of meaning and so very thought provoking. All I can do is humbly thank you.
TO ALL FACEBOOK MEMBERS….
Please support this Facebook cause –
STOP ALL REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS FROM BEING ON FACEBOOK!
susan
You are so right about being careful of a setup. Young people who are caring and want to help others need to be taught to look carefully all around before proceeding to help a person appearing to be in distress. Particularly if it is in an area that they are not familar with. If nothing else, they can at least call emergency services on a cell phone.
Eloise, and everyone that has someone they worry about, & to all Virginians, I am sorry to hear about the latest attacks. I am glad to know that they have descriptions of the offenders. Hopefully it will not be long before they arrest these people. I hope the latest victims recover soon. These latest attacks prove some things for me JMO:
1.
it seems BG’s especially around the college campus’ seem to be emboldened right now without arrests from several earlier attacks- the beloved homeless guy- the head shop owner from the corner ect. ect
2.
These particular offenders are being egged on as a group- or working as partners.(it does not sound like ‘gang’ activity to me though) They are fearless and feel empowered by one another.
3.
These latest attacks prove to me that is not only women that need to be watchful- and careful but men as well.
WordGirl’s
advice, to everyone is sound. Please, don’t give out too many identifying details. It is not safe to do so online, ever, not even when you are “talking” amongst ‘friends’ thank you for the reminder Word Girl
Pam VA,
Hello.
You have obviously raised a fine caring young man.
I agree with EVERY concern Susan wrote about,(not about the area I dont live in VA, but to the cautionary words and advice ) I am going to give you some other things to think about, as to balance the scales.
First let me say, I am a mother too, and had my son told me the same exact story I would have felt just as you do- Scared, yet proud- partly wanting to scream out the dangers and partly wanting to commend him for being the type of man I had always tried to raise.
PamVA- I think both reactions are good.
I think your son listened to his gift of fear, and I also believe he weighed his and his gf safety against his sense of aiding another human being in desperate need. I do not think he ignored his gift of fear at all- I believe after walking on he processed the man and did not see him as a risk but genuinely in need of help.
Could he still have been a risk? Definitely but there lies the conundrum.
Your son knew to leave at a safe hour, when there was still daylight. He knew to walk on past the man at first, second and third glance. He knew to keep his gf at a safe distance away, in case something did happen-(hopefully she had a cell phone ect)
This does not mean that their weren’t still dangers for your son. Perhaps a better way of handling it would have been to find a police officer and tell them of the WCMan’s possible plight. We can never really be sure of others intentions ever. As Susan said, it could have been a set-up.
I think your son handled the situation rather well. And I believe your concerns are right too. Perhaps telling him you are proud of the man he is becoming and at the same time going over your concerns with him and other ways to help would be good.
I do know that no adult, whether, able -bodied or not, should ever ask a child/teen for aid: could you give me directions?- help me find my puppy?, get me out of the mud?
But if the man didn’t ask your son, would he have ran into someone that would have taking advantage of his plight? I dont know. Perhaps he too, was listening to his gift of fear when he chose your son to ask.
Raising children is the hardest job. There are no easy answers. We try to teach them to be kind, caring members of the community. To live by the Golden rule, but at the same time we are teaching them that their are people that will take advantage of their kindnesses. We try to instill a gift of fear at the same time, worrying that our children may become prisoners of their fears.
Thanks for raising your son to be a good person PamVA. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
The Friends- Notice please I did not put quotations around the word friends.
I have spent many hours pondering the choices, actions & inactions of Morgan’s friends.
I do still believe that they were holding back information in the beginning. I hope they are no longer holding anything back. For the sake of the investigation, for the sake of the criminal case, and for the sake of their and the Harrington’s well being, I hope they have told everything they know, or think they know to the police.
They must live with what happened to their friend, Morgan Harrington for the rest of their lives. Any decisions they made that night will bother them forever. Each of them could have just as easily been in Morgan’s shoes that night, each of them know this, and I am sure it haunts them. What a heavy burden to carry. I hope they are doing well., and that they are making the best of their lives moving forward.
I’m with loves palm trees: Can we have a cheat sheet for all the initials…say something like:
JB the AF farmer’s daughter
JC or Melon Man the Richmond friend of JB who attended her “seven mile sleepover” and whose facebook page is full of pictures of nearly the exact same sight, on AF, where Morgan’s body/bones were recovered. He has a blended family and his mother lives in Charlottesville.
Mr James B The missing young adult with the scary FB (facebook) page who somewhat resembles EH, the sex offender who lived off of or very near Red Hill Rd and AF and who was late on registering, was MIA and found again only to have to go to court on a destruction of property charge.
NGFD the Fire Dept. in the town where Albemarle County LE just set up a satellite PD. This is located in very close proximity to AF.
NGFF an employee of that NGFD facility.
RH owner of H & H Security, the Bail Bonds Co and the car detailing company. He had a felony sex offense plea bargained down to a misdemeanor sexual assault and somehow got through a background check with the agency that governs security firms. He employs many people associated with sex offenders and seems to have close ties with are LE. He looks very much like “SKETCH.”
Sketch, the man who sexual assaulted/raped a Fairfax City woman and pretty much left her for dead. His DNA has somehow been linked to DNA found in the Morgan Harrington murder investigation.
Please feel free to add to this list in any way that can assist us and to correct any mistake that i have made.
oh, I forgot…
IIRC, EH has a cousin who is the NGFF who may have taken a long over night round trip to New Jersey after a long night of fighting the Sutherland road fire and this would have been right about the time that mr bass discovered MH remains. He also seems to be friends or somehow linked with an employee of Accelerated Bail Bonds.
JR, the MMA fighter who is an Accelerated Bail Bonds employee and who seems to also work security for H & H.
He does not appear to be anything close to the “RAY”
of sunshine that his name might suggest.
IS JR
oops, I hit send before i finished my question. Is JR friends with the NJ trip taking fire fighter whose initials escape me?
Personally, I don’t understand the friends, and maybe this is a generation problem, even though I am not that much older than them. Their reaction reminded me very much of the Frankfurt case I posted a couple of days ago.
I can totally understand why they would want to give the impression that Morgan was ok when she was locked out of the arena – because otherwise they would technically have abandoned a person in distress and taken her car. Could that be construed as theft or manslaughter through neglect? But this is now, in retrospect. Why did they leave her outside without help in the first place? Because they couldn’t be bothered? Because they thought “this will teach her”? What was going on in their minds? And what was Sarah’s role? How much did the others know?
This whole story is so appalling. Her being locked out, being abducted and murdered, and dumped in a location that would only be accessible by a very limited number of people. When I first saw a map of AF, I was convinced that the case would be solved through good old police work within a few weeks. And to me, the fact that local police hasn’t put up the sketch borders on passive resistance. How can anyone be so phlegmatic? Even if he didn’t kill Morgan, it would in any case be a good idea to get this person behind bars.
Hello all, I will say today is not that new & improved, but it will get better. Texas- I agree w/ you assessment on teens and their behaviors. Recently I was at a middle school orientation for my up and coming child. The amount of chatter and goofing off by PARENTS during the presentation by the principal was unbelievable. I told my husband, no wonder children have behavior problems, they are given no examples of respect or appropriate behavior by their own parents. It is a huge issue in my mind.
WG & Mom- I am thankful to you both for the reminder regarding location & safety. I guess I felt that email was pertinent to us and that I was ‘incognigo enough’. Thank you.
Susan, thanks for making those calls. I let my dtr know of your actions. They do sound like similar events re the 2 men. How unusual really. And I agree of your assessment re Richmond.
PamVA-
I will tell you I was holding my breath while reading your post, hoping it wasnt going to go badly. Maybe we are all paranoid(lol), but I thought of the same things you were worried about. But, I will say, my natural instinct would have been to help the man. Long ago, my hubby & I were in the Bahamas, and these little kids were trying to sell Chicklets, they were going out of their way to have us go “into the castle”. Well, long story short, there were only 2 big men in there playing cards. We truly believe it was going to be a set up.
From Mom at 5:15 today-
~snip~
“I do still believe that they were holding back information in the beginning. I hope they are no longer holding anything back. For the sake of the investigation, for the sake of the criminal case, and for the sake of their and the Harrington’s well being, I hope they have told everything they know, or think they know to the police.”
I agree completely w/ the above about the friends of Morgan. And I think in retrospect they may have an inkling of who may be associated, as Blink suggested. I think maybe some of the details they have hopefully since shared w/ LE, may be a tidbit that has proven to be very important. JMHO- spec only.
Prayers to Lee & MsL for you sharing of such private circumstances.
Katie, thank you.
Did someone think to go back to the victim of the 2005 attack and speak to her in her native language? She might be able to have/remember more details if you can speak in your own way just one little mark/teeth even aftershave etc might give him away!
I can only hope that the friends are at least telling the police the truth.
The wild partying just days after Morgan disappeared has never sat well with me (No, I do not think they are directly to blame). Knowing Morgan, they must have already known that something happened to Morgan. Now, me, if something like this happened to one of my friends, I would be a wreck. I most certainly would not be partying like it was 1999.
@ Judi September 16, 2010 at 7:24 pm
To me, when I first read about the case, on CNN I believe, it was immediately clear that she had fallen victim to a crime. They found her handbag for goodness sake. Even the most naive person must have realized at that point that she had not just run away, in particular if they knew her.
Susan,
semi O/T
I wanted to share w/ you what my dtr just emailed me-
You know its been way more than just 2 incidents since August right? Its more like 6-7 things. There are gang initations going on right now (same every year at this time) and so they go around flashing guns and hitting people. There was also a drive by down past the hospital. Below is part of an email i got you can look at all the incidients from this year and in the past. Dont know which link is which, but im sure you will find that all interesting.( this was part of link from before)
Nice to see she has been sharing all along, you know?
“According to a police report, club security manager Rod Howard saw the two men reach behind the club’s back bar and take two beers each”
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/cdp-news-local/2008/jul/29/uva_football_players_face_charges_of_larceny_after-ar-68572/
Apparently you have to fill out a survey first. Then after getting half way through, minimize the window and the video will be unlocked..
http://simplevideo.info/watch/rod+howard+charlottesville
Omg I cant fuss with that mess anymore, what did it say, lol?
Melvin And Howard Full Movie • watch-surfside-six-free.podzone.org
Jul 24, 2010 … Owner Rod Howard is a native of Charlottesville and central Virginia, where he’ been a well respected business owner for over twenty years. …
watch-surfside-six-free.podzone.org/melvin-and-howard-full-movie.php
That link did not work for me crimewriter-
B
Trying again..
“Melvin And Howard Full Movie • watch-surfside-six-free.podzone.org
Jul 24, 2010 … Owner Rod Howard is a native of Charlottesville and central Virginia, where he’ been a well respected business owner for over twenty years”
watch-surfside-six-free.podzone.org/melvin-and-howard-full-movie.php
Per the H & H Car detailing website Roderick Howard lists a contact number for himself there at-
http://www.manta.com/c/mm0yg1t/h-h-quality-car-care
that is the same number and name of Rod Howard as one of two points of contact for rental property at this link-
http://charlottesville.freeadsinus.com/us-i-offer-i-id-i-270178-i-3bdrm-2bath-country-living.html
Yes, he actually owns it and is renting it out.
B
Same rental property but with picture included..
http://keswick-virginia.olx.com/3bdrm-2bath-country-living-iid-104944636
Aside from the Keswick Property where I’m assuming is his general residence?
Nope, lives at the crib on Grady
B
Going back to the beginning peeps.
He was in earshot. He overheard the 8:48 PM phone call and he knew she could not get back in, and that the friends were not coming out, and Morgan was headed were she was headed, alone.
There is other cases these guys are responsible for, possibly failed from a while back, or more recent from a different state.
To this day, the Laura Pepe thing bothers me. I am not comfortable with that story.
Omg I cant fuss with that mess anymore, what did it say, lol? -B
RE: I don’t know and I’d like to, lol. Send it to one of your editors/IT’s and see if they have time to unlock it tomorrow. I’d hate to be Mr. Blink in the winter when it’s cold. Go to bed!
O I am. Long Week.
B
Nope, lives at the crib on Grady
B
Why isnt that special.
I just heard that in my head, lol.
B
Judi you asked:
September 15, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Does anyone know, for sure, exactly where the dogs picked up her scent?
Does anyone know, for sure, if she was even ever on the bridge?
No one that I am aware of knows of anything for sure. LE hopefully. But to me all witness accounts are clouded by the fact that there were so many girls that night that were dressed like Morgan, looked like Morgan- could have been Morgan-(as shown in videos) it was dark -it was raining -
Many of the witness accounts cancel out other witness accounts.
Edward, I felt much the same as you in the beginning. following Occam’s razor, lack of pics, ect I too thought the friends could have been involved. With the DNA and the fact that they have not been arrested- (I think it would be relatively easy for LE to connect those dots if that was the case) I have come to believe that Morgan’s friends made alot of very poor decisions on that night and after that night.
But right now, with the evidence we are aware of, IMO it points to them being not so good friends, and nothing more nefarious than that.
Do I still question the accounts from that night you bet. Something is off ALL around. Why didn’t we have a good description of what Morgan was wearing that night. I KNOW that girls take in account every detail of their friends outfit- they pick it apart and comment on it to a strange degree- why did we not know what kind of boots Morgan was wearing. Searchers were looking for the WRONG boots.
Minney Penney I agree that we only have the friends word on what transpired that night, and I would be lying if I said that it didnt bother me-
It took alot for me to move on from holding the friends accountable for something and questioning their friendship- it took alot for me not to put little quotes around that word.
IMO, we have to leave the friends be, we can not truly focus on other areas if we are still holding on to that line of thinking and our disgust of the friends behaviors.
Morgan called them her friends. She waited 6mths to go out with her friends. She got into an argument with her friends. All of their judgments were clouded with anger, possible booze and/or other.
Morgan’s parents call them her friends still to this day, if they can get past the questions and lack of judgment shouldn’t I be able to?
Any way that is what I am feeling today, I really do hope that they have been totally forthcoming. I really do.
Doesn’t Rader’s comments reflect “discernable images”?
B
Oh Blink, that sxxxs! On the outside, as in her conversation?
I wonder if this has been his ‘thing’. It sure did seem to work out so well on his end. I need to look at Laura Pepe’s situation. Out of state huh…. like NJ out of state? Would be great if they can tie it in. I wonder how close they are. Praying for the LE to get what they need for an airtight conviction.
Just tip-toeing on this right now.
There is no doubt in my mind there are other victims. One does not “snatch” without practice of technique.
B
OK I’m tired, and are you listening to my mind or vice versa?
Are you thinking there was an assault w/ Laura they are not talking about? Like no planned commune to Phish etc as have been told? Hmm…. interesting and frightening.
I am contemplating that possibility E, yes.
2 Reasons:
1. An incident like this, IF she escaped from it, is mostly under-reported, if at all.
2. The Phish concert, her likeness to Morgan is uncanny. Almost like a “do-over, or a re-live.
Did he try to venture on his own this time and eff it up?
B
Texas Grandfather, I am still trying to catch up and just saw your response- You are a remarkable person in my opinion and I would be glad to have a neighbor such as you. I agree with your assessments. What I great story about the boxing gloves. I have worked with biters in school and I can tell you, if I ever told another child to bite them back—yikes! LOL
Sandy, got it, yes, please post.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Parents of University Age Children-
If you have not had conversations with your kids about personal safety, please do.
B
So I went back through to where the comments began the day they released sketch. Since I didnt have them in my google reader via RSS feed, I went through each page
(“<>>” copied and pasted each page into a word doc of about 250 pages. PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS A SETTING I DONT KNOW ABOUT THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO VIEW COMMENTS ON SEPARATE PAGES OR IF THERE IS A BETTER RSS FEED READER YOU ALL USE THAT I DONT KNOW ABOUT. Ive been going thru them for the past 4.5 hours. : )
So that I do not lose my mind…I have decided to post my findings in waves. My hope is to possibly jog someone’s memory in case the answer has already been posted on this site.
Right now—I want to bring up this point again about Servpro. It stuck out like a sore thumb to me.
Not sure who exactly is being referred to here…let me know if this scenario has already been debunked.
1.TJ says:
July 1, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I was doing some facebook surfing and found a man from the area with
connections to the NGFD who works at Servpro, I thought it was an interesting thought, since Servpro employees might have worked in the area. Also, the EMT to whom he is connected stated right after Morgan was found that he had given a tip to LE. Just thought I would throw the Servpro idea out there.
2.deetee says:
July 2, 2010 at 12:07 am
TJ, i see whom you are referring to. can i ask why you think servpro makes it an interesting thought? i know what they do, etc. but i’m not sure what your line of thinking is.
you servpro guy is also friends with a ngvff that took a long road trip after morgan was found and the sutherland blaze was fought.
1.acho says:
July 2, 2010 at 8:25 am
I am hearing security + cleaning (ServPro comes in and cleans after water/fire damage … I’ve had to use them before, once a very skeevy experience and once very positive … it really depends on where you are/who owns the franchise).
The security piece interests me for the obvious reasons (taser, trust, impersonation). The cleaning piece interests me for the post-crime reasons. I just feel that Morgan either vomited or, if she had any wits about her, did whatever she could to leave clues in that vehicle.
So it’s of interest, IMO, if there is someone with security connections + the heavy-duty cleaning capabilities who could clean and detail — and then somehow get rid of or re-sell — a car. Who called in some favors?
DeeTee, that overnight trip to NJ is not lost on me, either, even now. That individual needs to think long and hard about what he knows. Maybe he knows nothing, maybe he thinks he knows nothing; but I beg him to scour his brain and speak to LE. Coupled with the other FF who gave LE a tip, I think there could be something to all of it … Again, who called in some favors?
I also hope LE will re-contact the carpenter from AF who saw the Jeep on AF property. David Bass told Newsplex (http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/97589684.html) that he does not recognize the face in the sketch, but what about the carpenter? Does he know that face?
1.TJ says:
July 2, 2010 at 9:29 am
Deetee & Fish,
I was just trying to go back to people we have discussed from the area and look for FB friends who might meet the new wanted profile. When I came across the Servpro guy, it jumped out at me because we’ve talked about many ways strangers might become familiar with the AF area. Odds are, someone in the AF/BF area has used Servpro or a similar service. I don’t know enough to say anything about this particular guy. But, my NGFF guy did post that he gave a tip to LE shortly after they found Morgan. That always stuck in my head. On the other hand, if he thought a friend had something to do with it, I seriously doubt that he would post anything about giving a tip on his wall.
I think there is a strong possibility Morgan got ill in a vehicle.
B
@Eloise: Great info from your daughter, it looks like you are training her very well to flesh out “motive”. I might not have thought about “initiation”, but it makes perfect sense, I will have to tell the U or R investigator about this in the morning.
When predators and trouble makers come on in it really can throw the students off their guard. I am so glad your daughter is well aware of it,—- “forewarned is forearmed.”
@ Mom 3.0: good reminder about adult strangers talking to kids, and also teens. There is such an imbalance in social skills, with the kids being trusting…….While we would shun the idea of a small child talking to an adult stranger, I think it is also a good idea to somehow impress the idea that an adult stranger making a request of a teenager or young adult should involve a bit of a caution light flashing about “the request, the surroundings, etc.”
B – help me out with the Laura Pepe thing…for them or him to be involved in that either:
1) they or he attempted to snatch her and she escaped after being held for a time, or she escaped and didn’t come forward for a few days, or:
2) they or he snatched her after drugging her and she doesn’t know what happened, somehow she escaped after being held for a few days;
In either case, what does LE know?
Putting myself in her shoes…I’d rather come forward and report all I know, than look like a flake that “followed the band” without checking in with friends/family. B – do you think she reported to LE?
I do not buy the story as it has been presented, but that is my gut only.
B
Susan, Mom3.0, Susan and anyone I forgot:
Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I did tell him I was proud and also told him how to be careful while helping out. I have lived in Richmond my whole life and was comfortable with the park he was at and what he was doing there.
The LP relationship possibility is something to chew on.
Some options are:
- she has opted not to share this with anyone
- LE is keeping this secret as she has good information
- there was an assault, unrelated, and she wishes to maintain her privacy with the public
- she is a goofball who followed the band
- another very reasonable explaination that is being kept private
random thoughts:
I found a comment by ex security guard at JPJ/Scotts that they did let people back in if it was necessary.
-Are the guards positoned in front of the door or inside the arena?
-Are there pictures that evening of how they were dressed?
Does anyone know how the Methallica fan t shirts looks like? She might be wearing when it got colder. Was a shirt like this found during searches and deemed ‘not relevant’ like many other things?
AF
-Did mr Bass find animals/cattle mutilated on his property?, the killers seem to have addiction to violence very scary, are there hunters at AF area that are known for using more violence than necessary?
-Was the homeless man who is (almost deadly) beaten in C ville hitchhiking?