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
It just seems to me that this whole thing, what happened to Morgan, is NOT your “normal” (for lack of a better word) murder. It’s like every last thing about is crazy. Everything from the silence of the BB players to the shirt being (or what certainly appears to be) purposely out in a very noticeable place where it was sure to be found to where Morgan was found on AF to the torture she obviously endured to the extreme amount of injuries she suffered right down to some of the possible players we are looking at. It’s just bizarre.
I believe this was done by people who very knowledgeable in what they were doing. They know how to “take” her without being seen, they knew how to cover their tracks. They knew what they were doing. They only mistake was assuming that the next time Mr. Bass would be over in that part of his property wouldn’t be for months later. I am convinced that the shirt was placed their to throw LE off the track. They figured that would be enough to accomplish this without giving them any “true lead”.
I just think when it all comes out, which I pray that it does and SOON, it is going to be found that these are not your normal offenders.
The ONLY thing that I do know for sure is that Morgan was an extraordinary person from an extraordinary family with extraordinary parents. She lived an extraordinary life that was abruptly, prematurely ended by extraordinary evil in an extraordinary way.
Too bad she didn’t have extraordinary friends
@anotherB, I’m not sure if I relayed the following story here before or not. Sorry, if I am repeating myself.
On a bright and sunny day, I decided to stop at a local sub shop. I pulled into the parking lot and took a fairly close in spot but one on the edge of the lot. As I exited my car, I noticed a gold Nissan SUV had parked two or three cars back and to the left of the rear of my spot/car. (Picture an “L”…the Nissan is about three cars away from mine on the long end of the “L” and I am second car in on the short end of the “L.” The Nissan is front end parked and facing a six foot wooden fence at the front of his car. The fence separates or hides the messy back area of a service station from the nice upscale shopping center. My car is facing the roadway that separates two shopping centers.)
Ok, I exit my car to make a quick run in to get a sub and be on my way…I notice an engine is running somewhere nearby. I go into the shop get a 6″ sub and a fountain drink. I exit the store, with the sub in the crook of my left arm and the drink in my left hand. My key fob is in my right hand. I click to unlock the door. I hear an engine idling nearby. I open my driver’s side door, lean in to put the drink in the cup holder, the sub is still in the crook of my arm and I then I step into and seat myself in the car and start to place the sub on the passenger. I hear someone saying something. I am caught off guard as I realize that a man, a complete stranger, is standing in the open space of my open door that I was just about to close. Somehow, my inner voice says, “Get OUT OF THE CAR! GET OUT AND GET OUT FAST.” Even as I thought this, my brain was telling me that this was illogical…you’ll be too close to him, stuck between two cars, inches separating him from you…so, turn the tables catch him off guard, be aggressive, yell at him for approaching a woman from behind, assault him with accusations, suspicions, questions.
So there I am squeezing my way out my car door, between my car and the one next to me, the sub still in the crook of my left arm and yelling at this man that he should “never approach a woman from behind, if he needs help he should ask a man, don’t ask a woman. For God’s sake there is a gas station right there if you need directions ask them!.” He looked confused, angry, and concerned. He looked down at my hands. I willed myself not to take my eyes off of him but could feel that both my hands were in fists. Then he got he moved toward the gold SUV that was still running…
I was out of sorts, felt a little stupid but in my heart of hearts I knew this guy was trying to hurt me in some way. I quickly drove away. I did not call the police because i thought they would think I was just a nervous nelly. The next day a woman was attacked in a very similar shopping center in a neighboring Maryland community. This time it was a running camper van. I was angry at myself for not reporting this man.
He was a muscular man but he was not taller than me. He was a good three or four inches shorter. So the BG doesn’t have to be taller to attack you from behind…just stronger and have good timing. All my guy lacked was a weapon and good timing and he would have possibly had the upper hand. My keys were already in the ignition.
This all happened in under ONE MINUTE!
I wonder if anyone has had their suspicions of someone but then talk themselves out of it by saying “No, it can’t be”.
If so, I implore you to speak up. Because they ONLY way to KNOW if it
“can’t be” is to let LE determine that.
Wouldn’t you hate to have thought it “couldn’t be” only to find out down the road that it was but the revelation came too late and he attacked again?
I really hope that there are not people out there who know but “don’t want involved”. Because if so, that would be one of the most selfish acts I have ever seen. If the tables were turned, and that was YOUR daughter, sister, friend, how would you feel? Would you beg the public? Would you want someone who know something, anything to just come forward? Or, would that be the whole point? It’s not you or one of yours so who cares?
Blink, is this the vandalism from August that you mentioned to Texas Grandfather, in the context of electrical workers?
Burglary – 28XX BLOCK MONACAN TR, ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA – 08/09/2009 12:30 PM
08/09/2009 12:30 PM
VANDALISM/DAMAGE/DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
Case number: 200907247-290
Here are the only properties in that “block,” according to Albemarle GISWeb:
2852: MN of Advanced Plumbing (EMH former employer, relative to EMH)
2858: S and DW, EMH’s mom and stepdad
2865: Appalachian Power Co
2885: Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority
Xactly, thanks acho.
B
Forgot to say, #2858 is also EMH’s supposed residence.
Back in 1969 in Richmond – there was a guy who slipped up behind an MCV med student near the campus and put a cloth soaked in some “knock-out” chemical. What ever he used she just passed out and he took her into a back alley and raped her. She was passed out for an hour or more and had no memeory of the attack. Maybe someone came up behind Morgan and totally subdued her with some similar substance and pushed her into a car and off they went. Two perps,one driver and one grabber.
5.alexandra says:
September 17, 2010 at 11:12 am
what kinda gets me is they didn’t HAVE to say she was studying in the back seat on the way to the concert. Why say it?
Do we have a source for this?
B
————————————-
Blink, was it just a rumor that one of the 3 with Morgan said she was studying in the back seat of the car? I don’t have a source. It has been mentioned all along, since day one. Where did it come from? Maybe it’s not important.
Both security personnel and police officers are trained to subdue a person, as are some mental health nurses. A friend of mine, totally peaceful and harmless mathematician, does martial arts as a sport, and he told me once that it was all a matter of technique. He said there was a girl in his training facility, who weighed far less than him, and who was much smaller – and that he wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight against her, even though he has a black belt.
My main issue is still that I don’t believe the BG drove past Morgan on the bridge, stopped, got out of his car, subdued her and dragged her into the car. There was far too much traffic for that. Either she got into his car willingly, or she was in fact assaulted further down the bridge, near the shrubs, by someone lurking in the dark. I believe there is also a parking space. Alternatively, she could have been assaulted in Lanigan field. If she was snatched directly on the bridge, there must have been two BGs.
@ Texas grandfather
One of the main points Lt. Rader made in the press conference was that there was no additional risk to access the field where Morgan’s body was found for the bad guy. Are these power lines being serviced/checked regularly? And does this require physical strength? Or is this more of a high precision job?
All: This Monday morning I decided to place my hands flat on the keyboard to learn touch typing. This was because of a certain project that requires me to type up some 500 pages (scanning is not an option in this case). I am now at my usual speed, and very proud of that.
Mr. Kane-
Posting here is subject to moderation. If you would like to discuss case related issues while remaining on point, you are welcome to.
That said, this is not about you, your work, your agendas or personal grievances.
Last Warning.
B
Alexandra, if the suspect who law enforcement says was linked by DNA is the actual killer, do you think he is still alive?
Someone like that may have a police record, I feel. He could have a history of violence and could already be a victim of violence himself. What if he is himself dead!
I am just guessing
Alexandra, if the suspect who law enforcement says was linked by DNA is the actual killer, do you think he is still alive?
Someone like that may have a police record, I feel. He could have a history of violence and could already be a victim of violence himself. What if he is himself dead!
I am just guessing!
A person tall enough to reach across Morgan’s shoulders could, if they knew how, stop a scream by pressing with their thumb on the larnax with suffecient force.
An experienced attacker would not necessarily be six feet or more. Morgan had placed her hair in some type of loose pony tail, if I am correct. This provides a perfect means to control her head and the rest of her body by just grabbing her hair. It would be easy to pull her backwards and apply a handheld taser. She was tall and very slender. Normal weight for her height would be around 130 to 140
lbs. Someone mentioned a weight of 118 lbs. for Morgan.
Blink
To answer your question about the boots. A power line worker might have two or three pair of boots that they could select from depending on the work they needed to perform. All would have heavy rubber soles to provide insulation from the ground. The uppers could be leather or rubber and one pair would lace up to just under the knee. At least one pair would be totally waterproof. Those heavy rubber soles can really do some damage to a person if one were to be kicked.
A telephone or communications worker would have similar boots, but one pair would have climbing spikes attached.
Blink said “One of the things that has bothered me tremendously about Morgan’s case is that she posted, as did many others, they would be attending the concert. Makes it considerably harder to decrease a suspect pool. Again, this is an area where the friends information is critical to understanding her victimology that evening.”
———
I am VERY savvy with facebook. There are different types of profiles and privacy levels.
I.e.
I unfortunately accepted a FRQ from a soon-to-be nemesis at work. I got onto my privacy settings and created a Limited ACcess list of friends that could not see any of my daily activities.
I point this out because she may have very well had her profile/activity visual to only her confirmed friends. This is very likely.
But When I suggest she knew her attacker- I’m not saying that it was someone who knew she’d be there or that followed her. She could have very likely run into someone she was acquainted with and felt safe. JUST a possible scenario.
I just thought of a HUGE personal example. Be right back.
Really quick- Dr & Mrs Harrington (I hope this finds you)
I live halfway across the country from you but know in your hearts that there will NEVER be a day that I am not supporting you.
With love,
Palm
Got to thinking about the van. Months ago as I was viewing the google earth satellite views of the area, I spotted a chevy or ford van about 3/4 tons located about 100 yards up Red Hill road partially hidden by the trees. Could there be someone that regularly travels that road? Someone local may know.
@ katie September 18, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Well, that was clearly sinister. If he just wanted to ask you for directions, he would have gone straight to the service station after the confrontation with you. He probably didn’t expect you to approach him, and this scared him away. Good job!
Important Question: Could someone PLEASE remind me whether or not Morgan got locked outside the arena without her keys? Or if this has actually been truthfully divulged? To me- this is an enormous factor.
he must have been alive between october 17th and November 5th.
unless someone stole his dna from the dna bank
Blink- I am using some of my old school skills from back in the day when myspace ruled the land. I just want to see if this is possible. We used to have to upload pics via photobucket and then copy one of its codes into the comment box for the picture to display. I cant ever remember which code works, so Im about to try a couple. If this works…I would like to post my “white board scenario diagram”
I set up a new email, photobucket account just for this. Hope you wont mind…man, I hope this works!!! THe following are just tester pics
IMG]http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc473/lovepalmtrees2010/tester.jpg[/IMG]
[URL=http://s1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc473/lovepalmtrees2010/?action=view¤t=tester.jpg][IMG]http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc473/lovepalmtrees2010/th_tester.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
ok apparently not. Blink- the past two posts I left had links to pics…they vanished…assuming that happpened for a reason. Sorry If I broke a rule. Please advise on your policies : )
Nope, found you and posted. If you post the links you want, and can’t input the IMG code, lemme know and I will put the code in here.
B
Is Kitty Sandridge related to Leonard Sandridge?
Kitty maiden name is Ray if that helps, first name Kaheen.
B
CentVA Native Away -Overactive imagination I believe. I’ve heard rumors which I won’t repeat. I’m sure they’ll soon appear in the comments sections of our local news websites, nothing that will lead in the direction you are imagining.
Love_palm_trees,
Thank you for trying to find Lt. Rader’s comments, about the pics or lack thereof.
BTW- thank you for going back into the BOC archives and trying to stir our thinking again. Much appreciated.
I am sorry that your past love is engaged to someone new. That is hard. Even when you know he wasn’t good for you.
Keep your spirits up.
Katie and First Time- thanks for trying to make it easier to follow initials.
Amy- I think it is an excellent idea to talk to the Fairfax victim in her first language. Do we know that she wasn’t fluent in English?
Attack- disabling victim
Does it have to be an attack from behind? Reason I ask is a man could easily punch a girl in the face and render her helpless.-
CentVA Native Away-Wanted to add that if what I’ve heard is true, and I’ve heard it from multiple people who probably would know, none of the comments appearing today on either the Newsplex or the NBC 29 websie are accurate.
Thanks, MsL. I haven’t read anything today; it seems that most have been fairly discreet regarding details of the abrupt resignation. I didn’t think it likely until I did some basic info. searches and came up with some results that had me scratching my head, but even that information lacked integrity.
I can only imagine that the rumors are vast and wild. The media sure does keep Charlottesville abuzz.
Mom3.0
You are quite correct about the punch. Most women have never been hit in the face by a fist from a man that wanted to knock them out. Someone who knows how to punch could do this easily. A knock out does not necessarily mean you are off your feet. One can be knocked out and still stand. At that point someone could lead you around and you would not be concious of what was happening. This happens quite often in professional boxing.
Katie
I am so glad that you remained safe. As my Katie would tell you, stop at the door to the establishment and scan the parking lot prior to exiting. Look for anything that appears to be out of place and if something is questionable don’t go outside.
If there is a vehicle with a motor running, try to determine if anyone is in it and if someone is standing nearby that is associated with it.
Get in the habit of entering your vehicle and immediately closing and locking the door.
What hurts so bad is knowing that Morgan was already having a bad evening. There was an argument, she got locked out, it was cold and raining, she had no jacket, she tried to find a ride. Maybe her friends wouldn’t bring the keys to her car to her at the door at JPJ for her because they thought she’d leave without them? Then for psychopathic murderers to be right there, at that time? Too hard to believe. For the life of me, does not compute.
Another B
Maintenance on power lines would be transformer replacement or a power take-off to a new dwelling. It isn’t what is normally called precision work. That would fall in the catagory of cable splicing as is performed by communications people.
Are these guys strong? Yes. Maintenance and construction workers lift and pull on heavy objects all day long.
Katie,
Your story was scary. I am glad you are ok. There are bad guys out there but they are not all in male form. Remember that. There are bad gals as well. Please don’t have a preconceived idea of what to fear. I am a female. I had two incidents at a walmart store. A young black woman approached me on the parking lot at night asking for a ride. I told her no, that my jeep was full, spoke abruptly and kept pushing my cart. She was up to no good. She continued to wander around. What young girl in this day and age does that? Especially when there are cell phones and a service desk right inside to help her. Another incident a young white woman with piercings all over her face approached me in the store one night asking about where to eat. At first I didn’t think much as it is a university town. I asked her what she was looking for. She then said she didn’t have any transportation to get there. Right then I felt my gift of fear kick in. I switched from friendly mode to get lost mode. I told her walk out the front door of the store, there are at least four fast food joints right across the parking lot within view. Walk there if you’re that hungry. On both incidents my inner feeling was to get out of there fast. Would I have had a second thought about either of these women if I was standing in line next to them based on appearance only? No. Both of these gals were looking for a victim. I thought I was safe in a walmart store, but after that I try not to go horribly late anymore unless it is an absolute emergency. My regret is not reporting them to management. So what if you’re inner feelings are wrong and it was a nice guy or gal. Better safe than sorry. I think we are hard wired by nature for fight or flight just as animals are. If your inner siren is going off, trust it.
Thank you Blink!!! That is so great to know!!! Also, if you have any suggestions for an easier way to sort through archives…please post.
Mom3.0…You are as sweet as pie and I wish I could carry you around in my pocket. I’d love to have Texas Grandad as my bodyguard and have Blink and Fish write and narrate my biography (using their wit, campy humor excellent writing techniques. Mom- thank you for your always genuine and heartfilled responses.
So back to business! I have my own sort of whiteboard now and one of the columns is titled “Someone she knew” I feel compelled to touch on this possibility because both the appearance of sketch and the immediate idea of someone local being the culprit because of the location on AF. Even if this scenario is totally off base…my experience Im about to share may help thinking outside the box amongst other cases.
Im going to be as vague as possible on this for any remote reasons someone could figure out its me whose writing this.
As I mentioned, when attending an in=state college- it is VERY common to know a large number of people from a particular/different city than you went to high school. A few years ago I learned that a guy I had be-friended in college, who was is the same frat as my good friends and who I still see all of the time….well he had a brother. A brother who also graduated hs with all of my good friends but went to college in Austin, TX. Here’s his brother.
link: http://www.thephora.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20389
TruthSeeker
Established member Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 870
Country:
Jurors find college student guilty of killing and dismembering woman.
——————————————————————————–
By Harriet Ryan:Court TV
Quote:
AUSTIN, Texas — A district court jury convicted a University of Texas student of murder Monday, rejecting his defense that the shooting of a young female friend occurred accidentally while he was drunk and high on drugs.
In separate deliberations later in the day, the same panel recommended that the student, 24-year-old Colton Pitonyak, serve 55 years in prison. The judge who presided over the trial immediately imposed that sentence.
Pitonyak, a former National Merit Scholar described as the one-time “shining star” of his all-boys Catholic high school in Little Rock, Ark., will be eligible for parole at age 51, when he has served half the sentence.
Asked by Judge Wilford Flowers if he had anything to say before sentencing, Pitonyak bowed his head and said quietly, “I want to apologize to everyone here.”
Pitonyak was convicted of murdering Jennifer Cave, 21, in his apartment Aug. 17, 2005. The victim’s mother, Sharon, who testified in both phases of the trial, greeted the sentence with tears and a smile.
“We are very, very happy with the verdict,” she said afterwards.
Pitonyak sat stone-faced through both verdicts and through the testimony of a half-dozen witnesses, including his parents, who asked jurors for leniency.
“I believe with everything that I am that Colton could not and would not have harmed his best friend in the world,” Pitonyak’s mother, Bridgett, testified through tears.
During his testimony last week, Pitonyak called Cave “my best friend” and said he was in an alcohol and Xanax-induced blackout that left him with no memory of firing a bullet into her chest.
Sharon Cave said she was “very, very happy” with the verdict.
His defense was dealt a blow early Monday morning when, in advance of closing arguments, the judge ruled jurors could not consider lesser charges of manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide as alternatives to a murder conviction. Beginning in jury selection, Pitonyak’s attorneys had sought to convince the jurors that the lesser charges, which do not require a specific intent to do harm, were more appropriate.
Without those options, jurors faced a stark choice between intentional murder and a complete acquittal.
In her summation, prosecutor Stephanie McFarland told jurors they had only to look at the treatment of Cave’s dead body for evidence of his state of mind toward her.
The body of Jennifer Cave was found Aug. 17.
Her corpse, partially dismembered and pierced with stab wounds, was discovered in the bathtub of Pitonyak’s apartment the same day he fled to Mexico.
“He sawed her head off. He sawed her hands off. He stabbed her in the face. He stabbed her in the chest,” the prosecutor said. “If they mutilate the person’s body, it tells you a lot about their intent toward that person.”
Another prosecutor, Bill Bishop, ridiculed Pitonyak’s testimony that it was his lover and fellow college student, Laura Hall, who took the lead in a botched attempt to cut up and dispose of the victim’s body. The prosecutor noted that DNA around the body belonged to the victim and Pitonyak, not Hall.
“She managed to do it without leaving any DNA. She’s an absolute genius,” Bishop said in a mocking tone.
Hall faces hindering apprehension charges at her own trial later this year for driving Pitonyak to Mexico in her Cadillac. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to testify.
Defense attorneys argued that Pitonyak may have accidentally discharged his 9 mm gun while trying to clear a round from the chamber. One of his lawyers, Sam Bassett, took pains to tell the jury he personally found the treatment of Cave’s body disgusting. Turning away from the jury box and toward the defense table, Bassett said, “Colton, that conduct is inexcusable.”
But, he added, that “repulsive behavior … does not answer the question, ‘Did he mean to kill his friend?’”
Jennifer Cave’s family gathered after the verdict.
The jury of seven men and five women deliberated just an hour and 25 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. As the foreman pronounced the word “guilty,” a cry of joy rose up from the gallery, where the victim’s mother, siblings and 20 other friends and relatives were seated. Cave’s ex-boyfriend, Scott Engle, clapped twice and thrust his fists in the air.
Pitonyak remained expressionless and calmly sipped water from a Styrofoam cup.
During an hour-long penalty phase, Cave’s mother, Sharon, brought many of her supporters to tears as she recounted the effects of her daughter’s murder.
Sharon Cave broke down as she recalled Jennifer’s death.
“I take antidepressants now. Sleep is a hard thing to come by,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
She recalled her daughter, one of her four children, as the “bond” that kept the family together.
“Jennifer was everybody’s favorite,” she said prompting sighs and laughs from her sisters, brother and other relatives.
Cave, a petite redhead who had struggled with drugs since dropping out of college, was killed the day after she had landed a good job as an assistant at a law firm. Friends said the job appeared to be the first step in turning her life around.
The witnesses who took the stand on Pitonyak’s behalf described a young man whose life was on the opposite trajectory. As a high school student, he had earned straight As.
His algebra teacher told jurors that Pitonyak’s lowest grade was a 98 percent. A classmate, Louis Petit, described him as performing at “an almost genius level” and another friend, Ben Smith, told jurors he seemed destined for success.
“If you asked anybody, he had one of the brightest futures, and I mean, he was a good guy,” he said.
Both classmates, however, said that in recent years Pitonyak’s drug addiction made him unrecognizable.
“He was not the Colton that I knew. He was very solemn, very reserved, a definite change,” Petit said.
Bridgett Pitonyak, Colton’s mother, cried on the stand.
His parents, Eddie and Bridgett, read statements detailing Pitonyak’s childhood and his academic successes, which included admission to the university’s prestigious business program and a partial academic scholarship.
Eddie Pitonyak, however, caused grumbling in the gallery when he spoke of his sorrow for “the accident with Jennifer.” Bridgett Pitonyak addressed the victim’s mother directly from the witness stand.
“I only met Jennifer once, but she was lovely,” she said.
Sharon Cave, however, lowered her head and shook it in a slow, “No.”
Defense attorney Roy Minton asked jurors to sentence Pitonyak to no more than 20 years in prison.
“This boy is salvageable,” he said.
Prosecutors asked for a life sentence. Under state law, the jury could have sentenced him to as short a term as probation and as long a term as 99 years.
The jurors returned with the 55-year recommendation after two hours of deliberations. Sharon Cave’s boyfriend, Jim Sedwick, who found the victim’s body, noted outside court that there was only a two-and-a-half-year functional difference between the jury’s sentence and the life term. In Texas, those sentenced to life are eligible for parole in 30 years.
Pitonyak’s parents left court shielding their faces. His attorneys said they planned to appeal the judge’s exclusion of lesser charges and other issues.
}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Before this happened…”oh you’re so=in=so’s brother?! Oh you went to school with ___,_____….?” I wouldnt have thought twice about hanging out with a friend’s cute clean cut brother. (although strung out looking at the time)
….It’s not always going to be the RSO, or the MMA fighter….Philip Markoff was a looker although Im very ashamed to say it. And more importantly…if you’re looking for a pool of suspects whose dna is not in the system….you gotta add college boys into it. Especially with a gorgeous gal like Morgan.
The scenario of her knowing or kind of knowing her abductor may be way off base and incorrect once we conclude our investigation…but bottom line….this is a VERY VERY VERY REALISTIC POSSIBILITY IN SUCH CASES
IMO
Thanks TG, AnotherB and Elf. Yes, this guy had some kind of nefarious plan. The one thing I remember is that he was not standing outside the idling Nissan when I exited the sub shop or as I approached my car. In fact no one was walking about. My guess is that he was standing in front of his vehicle between his front end and the six foot wooden fence. He could probably see everything from there but would not have been visible to most others.
Since then, I am always leary of parked cars which are left idling. When I relay this story to the average man or woman they look at me like they think I am just paranoid. It drives me crazy and I honestly believe that this is what these BGs are counting on.
I’ve had to deal with a few scary situations in my life and in ever case I have displayed offensive tactics and in each case the BG walked/scampered away or never approached. I know that woman are often told not to fight back or get aggressive, as in aggravate the perp. That may be true in a robbery but I honestly believe it is the wrong advice when a man approaches a woman and she senses he is up to no good. I say make a scene or get him on the defense.
the above is so much advice as it is JMO, of course :~)
That should have said, the above is NOT so much advice as it is JMO, of course :~)
E-
Had to WAY-edit. I know you are ok with that.
Lester is another nervous nelly on the precipace of the cliff it seems for some reason.
And then there is my Doug who works for City of Albemarle. Poof! I think you all touched on that the other day. steady stream of readers I’d say. Also, an unusual interest to me.
Are these list scratchers?
Can someone please help me find the newspaper comment where the owner of the dog at the Sutherland house said they were in another country at the time of the fire and demise of the dog.
The reason I ask is because I decided to read back on the 7 mile sleepover and our remarks about JB’s facebook comments. Here is what has me going.
crimewriter says:
May 18, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Here’s a better but older picture of her. The boat she speaks of when she mentions “God, Morgan’s dead body and now my ship that I sailed around Cape Horn on and across the Atlantic 3 times has SUNK of the coast of Brazil!!!!!!”
http://www.sitesalive.com/cal/public/01s/bios/bass.htm
Referenced from: http://www.sitesalive.com/cal/public/01s/bios/cal01sbios.htm
Did the owner of the pit bull say he/she was in Brazil? Or in a country near Brazil?
See I am certain that JB has her suspicions on the perp’s ID. Just remember JB’s comments like, “surrounded by suspects”, then “in a place where water tastes like gasoline,” and “now the ‘soup girl’s’ house burned down.”
JB seems to be at least an acquaintance of one of the residents of the Sutherland house…as in possibly the soup girl.
It’s also interesting to note the terminology used by one of the housemates…that the residents were moving because things had gotten “salty” between them. I find that word very interesting…it is rarely used like that these days and as salt is used in cooking, I wonder if the origin of that remark was made by the soup girl, herself? Just a thought.
Could JB, herself have inadvertantly tipped off the a Sutherland house “acquaintance” either directly or through her “Cook” BF?
From Memory, it was definitely Peru.
Interestingly, when he posted that, I believe he said he was still there, but his IP was in Charlottesville, VA
B
katie-
Peru
http://www.topix.com/forum/source/nbc29/TB55G96QHN7304A68
KT,the pit owner, he has a Facebook page but it is set to private. BH, a former resident of the Sutherland house location, lists him as one of her FB friends.
Fish, I had to edit that, way too direct. I know your fine with that-
Could someone explain this?
http://wasdmz2.courts.state.va.us/CJISWeb/CaseDetail.do
Type in Sandridge, G
Explain what happened on 9/15/10
I for one, would like an explanation how a RSO gets 37 years with 36 suspended. He is the clink for the time being though.
This man is a violent, predatory Sex offender, wth?
B
Blink,
Have you heard any good news of the 19 year old girl missing from Orange, VA?
Was she found?
No.
I have been asked to work on the murdered NC case.
B
Texas Grandfatehr, thank you for bringing up that point on punching-
I did not realize that one could be in a sense “knocked out” but still stand ect. If I am understanding you correctly, would “dazed” fit as a word to discribe this?
Warning- graphic-
With your insights, I had the thought that if Blink is right in her newest ponderings, and someone was following Morgan around, had heard the phone call and the convo with friends, they would have in a sense known Morgan’s plans-perhaps they got infront of her- or they tapped her on the shoulder- she looked back and- he immediately punched her hard-
I myself, don’t think a tazer was needed at all. I think he was lurking- saw Morgan and all of her interactions- waited till the BBP and others weren’t around- then when she was alone- he put his plan into action.
What really bothers me is I believe that Morgan tried hard to listen to her gift of fear- She followed rules many of us have given to our own children. She tried to reenter, she had her cell phone-she talked to her friends via cell- she stayed in group- or walked with a group- she talked with well-known well recognizable people- BBP security- she had CC and debit cards- and her id-in case of emergency.
To me, she acted like a girl that was either passing the time away until the concert ended,or one that had a DEFINITE plan on who the friends were that she was going to get a ride home from-
She didn’t act like someone eager to leave the area- or catch a ride (HH)
I was always bothered by the comment that she stated she would find a ride home with friends-leaving her car and her keys (apt keys also?) with those inside– sounded more like a flipant comment- a girl says but doesn’t mean inorder to ‘punish the person she is talking to-
if Morgan did say that and meant exactly what she said then IMO , she had to know that a ride was available to her- otherwise-she was taking a chance that her friends wouldn’t be home or couldn’t drive her to her apt.
If they were friends AT the concert, than I would hope that all of Morgan’s friends who attended the concert (not with her group) were interviewed.
So many possible scenarios- IJDK
Mom 3.0- we completely agree.
The best analogy I can offer is this case, is that it is like an unsealed gasket.
Stuff will continue to trickle out, without any notice, and we can’t really anticipate what the outflow is.
The friends are the rubber washer.
Put that on, and it will fly through the other end so we can see what it is.
I feel for what they are living through. However, they have the luxury of actually “living”.
B
Katie- and Blink- yes it was Peru- you wrote a piece on the fire within your coincidences or Clues article-Blink
Entitled:
“Threes Company, Four is Combustible..Jan 26th”
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/04/11/morgan-harrington-murder-coincidences-or-clues
Texas Grandfather, sorry about spelling your name wrong and other typos- I hate when my mind thinks faster than I can type.
BTW congrats to anotherB on your new typing skills!
I am still trying to catch up and just wanted to say to Lee/ Fish/ MSL , all others- thank you for sharing your personal stories, and your grief with us. I am so sorry.
Thanks also to those who share their stories of close encounters with your own GOF – glad you are all ok-
katie says:
September 19, 2010 at 12:23 pm
RE: Katie, while your wheels are turning, it was said once that Morgan being found on AF was perhaps a “nod” to Farmer Bass. Perhaps there was some sort of unresolved resentment for an unknown issue. When arrests are made, Blink is going to have one busy week as a lot of light-bulbs are going to go off.
Chairman: David Bass
http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/Albemarle_County_Board_of_Zoning_Appeals
Albermarle County Code
http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/forms_center/departments/county_attorney/forms/Albemarle_County_Code_Ch18_Zoning34_Appeals.pdf
Mom3.0 thank you……I am still very troubled by the insistence by some (and I assume Dan and Gil since the memorial is there and it sounds as though they had def. input and sanctioned its placement)that Morgan was last seen on the bridge HH. Like many here at BOC I don’t believe it. Perhaps she WAS on the bridge at some point, but turned around and headed back towards Lanigan Field or JPA. Is there anything other than the dog picking up the scent and one “eye witness” that indicates she was on the bridge? If the dog didnt get the scent ACROSS the bridge then that is very telling I would think. Is there ANY evidence that she actually crossed the bridge to the other side (ATM transaction, store video footage, etc)? If not, my bet is with many of you that she was snatched in the dark field area. WHO WAS THERE? Someone has to know.
(George T. Weeks to Ernest R. Howard Jr., 3.0 acres on State Route 744, gift)
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:74oK4E3vMRAJ:www.readthehook.com/Stories/2008/05/15/REALESTATE-Sold-0720B.aspx+ernest+r.+howard+charlottesville&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
By the way, G T WEEKS capabilities include:
* Home Building
* Home Additions
* Remodeling
* Fire and Water Damage Restoration
* Etc.
G.T. Weeks offers complete home renovations, including interior and exterior work, bathroom remodeling, kitchen remodeling, attic refinishing, and more, skillfully completed, on time and within budget.
http://www.dexknows.com/business_profiles/g_t_weeks_contracting_and_home_builders_inc-b54751
Mom3.0 says:
September 19, 2010 at 3:44 pm
“I was always bothered by the comment that she stated she would find a ride home with friends-leaving her car and her keys (apt keys also?)”
Good point. When Morgan gave the car keys for someone else to drive to the concert were her apartment keys on the same key-chain or did she detach those before handing over the keys?
I just read about a RSO who killed a sheriff’s daughter in N.C. This is probably a coincedence but her purse and keys were found in the parking lot. So sad.
Yes, here name is Valerie Hamilton.
B