BlinkOnCrime.com Editorial: UVA Violated The Jeanne Clery Act AND Failed To Report Another Sex Crime
Charlottesville, VA– Late Tuesday evening, prompted by questions by the Editor In Chief of blinkoncrime.com about a recent rape which occurred at the DZ sorority on Chancellor Street, The University of Virginia sent out an alert to students.
However, as required of UVA by the Clery Act, the alert was 10 days late. Charlottesville Police recorded a police report of a forcible rape on September 17, 2010.
The Jeanne Clery Act, founded by her parents, Howard and Connie Clery, is a Federal Law applicable to all Higher Learning Institutions that participate in Federal funding assistance which requires mandatory reporting for specified crimes.
Constance and Howard Clery founders of Security ON Campus, Inc. after their 19 year old daughter Jeanne was brutally raped, tortured and murdered while sleeping in her dorm on April 5, 1986.
Fellow Lehigh University co-eds propped 3 different doors open, in violation of security rules, unknowingly allowing her killer access.
The bill which became a Federal law, was based on the fact that 38 different violent offenses occurred at Lehigh U that the student body was never made aware of prior to Clery’s murder. Had they been, it is almost certain not only would the automatic locking doors have been inaccessible, but parents and students combined would have demanded security upgrades to prevent such a heinous event.
Following the email that went to 23,000 students at 11:01 PM September 28, Allen Groves, Dean of Students, and Lt. Melissa Fielding of the University Police Department, held an impromptu press conference Wednesday, as a follow up to the email alert with some additional background information.
PART 2
Time line Breakdown
9–17 1:15am UVA student attacked from behind, raped and beaten on Delta Zeta House, Chancellor Street.
9-17 Noon- Email Equivalent to “Whisper Down the Rotunda” Begins:
Received a third party email, NOT from the victim, indicating a stranger attack had occurred to a sister, as previously reported at blinkoncrime.com, at DZ House on Chancellor St. We forwarded that on to our endless list of associate deans. They called the Sorority president for more information so that we might begin “acting upon it”.
9–18 Additional Sexual Assault Occurs At Fraternity on Madison Lane 3AM
*Unreported To Students To Date*
9–18 A Robbery Occurs During the Course of Above, Same Frat 3AM
*Unreported To Students To Date*
9–19 A Breaking And Entering Occurs, Undisclosed Sorority House, Chancellor St
*Unreported To Students To Date*
9-20 Associate Dean reaches out directly to the victim to ..”get the details of the attack and also to assist the student. No contact made with victim.
9–20 Associate Deans Office receives call from a female student’s Mother that her daughter was nearly sexually assaulted in a pantry at a Fraternity party at approximately midnight, September 18. Add additionally, Groves speaks to a man claiming to be assaulted due to his sexual preference, which would be considered a hate crime, also reportable under the Clery Act. According to Groves and Fielding no police report has been filed. (Editors Note: If this took place at the same “undisclosed frat” as the 3am forcible fondling and robbery incidents– Is this the same perp? So he never fled the scene? So, we have 2 incidents that have Charlottesville PD police reports, one of a sex crime in nature, and an additional attempted sex crime reported directly to administration on 9/20 within a three hour span, at either the same fraternity, or a neighboring one, and it takes 8 days to notify anyone, and they still have not interviewed anyone at the “undisclosed” frat regarding the incidents?
9-21 Internal Meeting about the 9/17 forcible rape but to UVA, they are “unclear” sex assault occurs, still no contact with, or direct information with the victim. ( Editors Note: Groves says Charlottesville PD has still not classified the incident as a sex assault. (Editors Note: This is ludicrous and utter bs. The report specifically states “forcible rape”. I can tell you as an absolute fact, that members of the sorority AS WELL AS the other sororities on Chancellor sent emails back and forth to alert each other which specifically included details of the assault).
9-21 Associate Dean contacts Cville PD. Was told .. Yes, investigating the incident, but would not be in a position to disclose whether there had been an assault or sexual assault also, at that point. We then conferred with the university police to see if there was anything they could tell us so that we could determine whether or not a sex assault occurred in that setting.
9-23 Sorority Meeting held, without the victim, to discuss outreach opportunities.
9-27 First time Associate dean heard directly from the victim in response to the outreach efforts, first time she was in a position to come forward (out of hospital). Victim had to cancel and has rescheduled.
9-28 “.. Certainly by last evening… after conferring with Lt. Fielding and others I felt we had enough information.. Even though to my knowledge Charlottesville Police have not classified this as a sexual assault..” but we believe we had enough, even though it was not our investigation, it was Charlottesville Police responsibility to alert..” (Editors Note: Not a syllable about the email I sent to Ms. Wood, who was unaware of the incident, and very responsive to me. The alert went out at 11:01 PM, 45 minutes after our article regarding same, was published. In this editors opinion, there were no plans whatsoever to alert students until I requested a comment, specifying it was to be included in the piece we were finishing regarding the fact that the rape had not yet been disclosed as an alert, as required by the Clery Act. This was done to balance what was certain to be seen as a scandalous announcement in the wake of Morgan Harrington and Yeardley Love murders, and days after the University’s “Day of Dialogue.” I felt they should certainly be offered an opportunity to address the issue from their perspective, the email was their response to that invitation).
Clearly A Clery Violation… Again
The Articles for reporting within the Clery Act are unambiguous. While I understand the need to alert students and parents with credible and useful information, this is not for UVA officials to decide unilaterally. In fact, it is not for them to ever need to “corroborate” or interview a victim regarding the details of any crime committed against them as identified in the Clery Act for UVA to observe the requirements of them under the Federal law.
In short, they have their own police. They have their “online form”. They have Charlottesville PD police report direct feed.
In 2004, The Board of Education found that UVA violated the Clery Act by requiring a rape victim to sign a confidentiality agreement, but gave them a pass by not imposing sanctions because there was some confusion as to the reporting rules and protocol. UVA was informed they will be assessed a $27,500 sanction fee for any future violations.
As I am certain many of you are over my bloviations about the subject, and in the interest of disclosure, I have personal ties to Lehigh University.
Also in the interest of disclosure, I am embarrassed to say that I was not aware that Ms. Clery’s murder occurred there until researching the Clery Act.
Some Posts from members of your local community for consumption, I will be updating poignant comments.
Blinkoncrime.com Poster Starbucks:
Regarding the “off grounds” issue, I’m sorry but I find University’s excuses in this area ludicrous and totally disingenuous.
The Clery Act, passed in 1990, unambiguously provides that its reporting requirements are not limited to crimes occurring on campus/”Grounds.” The University has had twenty years to figure out how to comply with this law, and yet its officials act as dumbfounded as ever. One would think that UVA is the only school in the nation with a significant portion of its student body living off campus/Grounds, but in close proximity to the University. Of course, this situation is commonplace.
If UVA is having such a difficult time dealing with the “off grounds” issue, I suggest that President Sullivan get in contact with the appropriate officials at her previous institutions. Sullivan spent most of her career at the University of Texas where 80% of its undergraduate student body lives off campus, as opposed to 57% at UVA. She then spent about four years at the University of Michigan where 37% of its undergraduates live off campus. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here; if UVA officials can’t figure out how to report crimes occurring near its campus, they should go study how other universities are dealing with this perplexing problem.
The implication that there is no communication between the Charlottesville Police and the UVA police/campus officials simply stretches the bounds of credulity.
UVA is required by the Clery Act to provide:
(C) A statement of current policies concerning campus law enforcement, including—
(ii) the working relationship of campus security personnel with State and local law enforcement agencies, including whether the institution has agreements with such agencies, such as written memoranda of understanding, for the investigation of alleged criminal offenses; and
(iii) policies which encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to the campus police and the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
I can’t seem to find UVA’s policies in this area. I challenge the University to prominently publish all of the required Clery Act policy statements on its website.
UVA is on notice:
“This determination finds that the University violated the Clery Act. However, as was noted in our July 2004 Final Determination in another case, there was apparent confusion in the higher education community regarding the intersection of the disclosure requirement under the Clery Act and the strictures of FERPA. For this reason, the Department will not impose any fines or other sanctions at this time. However, UVA is advised that any subsequent violations of the Clery Act will result in a referral for the imposition of a civil penalty up to $27,500 per infraction.”
http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/datacenter/cleryact/uva/UVAProgramReviewReport11032008.pdf
So please UVA, stop the excuses and clean up your act now.
Madeline Tanner, Elizabeth Morton, contributing editors
Images, Youtube upload by Klaasend
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Just trying to reconstruct how the case unfolded. During the first weeks, LE would have searched the immediate surroundings, interviewed family and friends, plus the person Morgan texted, and talked to the witnesses. They would have gone through the video surveillance in the area – arena, bank, shops etc. They would have done a more thorough check of all those who could be involved and established alibis. This would for instance be the friends and the basketball players. Next, they would have talked to the “usual suspects”. First known incident at this point is the discovery of the shirt. Next, someone spreads the rumour about someone in jail bragging about a blonde hitchhiker. It is also safe to assume that a number of local nutcases got involved in the case, which would have taken up some time. By December LE set up another press conference, asking for information. After that, no significant new developments, the case seems to be cold, up to the discovery of the remains. Once the location is known, everybody assumes the case will be resolved very soon. But – the press conference which is to follow soon makes people wonder whether LE is getting any information at all from the locals. Some locals show up on blogs and forums and voice their full support, and this seems credible. From now on, it appears that certain inhabitants of the area were not willing to liaise with LE. The next weeks are probably taken up by looking into who had access to this field, which would be fairly laborious. Suddenly, there is another violent murder in C’ville, and the local lacrosse team comes under scrutiny. This may have led to the arrest of some local drug dealers. Not that much later, there is a DNA link to a cold case from Fairfax. LE behaves most bizarrely – . From that point on I honestly don’t understand what they might have done over the past months.
Yes blink, it seems like that may be a possibility.
A couple of things.
Of coarse this latest article causes all kinds of eyebrow twitching. T-shirt or AF? Ugh. Why the big secret, will it really effect anything? But,the descrepancy could be due to poor reporting, a misunderstanding, the truth or both. What say you Blink, any diversion from the T-shirt that you have heard that we can hear?
The other thing I was going to remark on was the absolute gift Gil has for writing. Do you think she knows that? This in particular has always gotten me, she is so visual. I am very visual as well, I can do alot with a photo, in my mind anyway, lol.
“I am not sure if I am just wired strangely, but like a dog, I want to roll in it,” Gil wrote in a March 8 blog post. “I want to experience every single aspect of Morgan’s murder and death — feel her bones, wear her shoes, and sniff her clothes. I am not sure if I am trying to imprint the last of her indelibly in my mind, or if I indulge in such intimacies to try to have the reality of her absence penetrate my disbelief.” – Gil Harrington 2010.
George, I hope I am not incorrect on my info on the seating. She had seats in the rafters, so if that seems right, I have a question. Wouldn’t there be stairs if you were leaving your seat coming down to the floor from that area? Just wondering about her fall and stuff, what was she doing, etc. If you recall the video where we suspect we caught Morgan, would that be the same side of the arena her seats would have been on, or opposite? I know it had been discussed, I just dont remember. One of those things I like to have mapped in my head.
Eloise-
I am at a loss in how to describe the admiration and respect that I hold for Dan and Gil Harrington. I wish that there was something I could say that would somehow alleviate their pain. For what it is worth….I can think of no better example of strength and perseverance derived by faith in God that the Harringtons exude.
Dan, Gil, Alex….I pray for you everyday.
J4M
2.Eloise says:
October 11, 2010 at 6:09 pm
“George, I hope I am not incorrect on my info on the seating. She had seats in the rafters, so if that seems right, I have a question. Wouldn’t there be stairs if you were leaving your seat coming down to the floor from that area? Just wondering about her fall and stuff, what was she doing, etc. If you recall the video where we suspect we caught Morgan, would that be the same side of the arena her seats would have been on, or opposite? I know it had been discussed, I just dont remember. One of those things I like to have mapped in my head.”
The stairwells are in the corners of the building and there hallways encircling the building as well. (Of course there are steps up and down between the seats in a given section.) I think to get from the third level to the second or first level Morgan would have had to go to one of the stairwells in a corner and down one or two flights of stairs and back out to the seating areas. I don’t recall where the possible video of Morgan dancing was. I thought it was on the first level where the band was. And again the third level where their seats were is the main entrance level.
Good synopsis AnotherB and Mom3.0 re Morgan trying to find her way back into the arena.
For someone who had other plans for the night, trying to gain re entry at various doors around the arena does not jive. Also if she was in fact impaired in some way, Morgan certainly did a pretty convincing job of trying to re enter the concert, and rightly so, seemed pretty pissed off that she had been singled out, or kicked out, or asked to leave, or had somehow unwittingly left the building, only to be told she could not get back in.
The people on the door she was arguing with KNOW for sure what the gist of their conversation with Morgan was, WHY she was outside and WHY she was denied re entry.
Surely THAT is an obvious FACT of the investigation.
WHY is it being kept secret from the public and perhaps even her poor parents?
VSP publicly announced that what happened to Morgan INSIDE the arena had nothing to do with what happened to her OUTSIDE the arena….well I don’t know how they can back up a statement like that, OR once they have made it, WHY NOT publicly establish the whys and wherefores of Morgan ending up alone, unprotected, outside the concert on UVA grounds.
Surely EVERYONE who Morgan interacted with in the arena staff have been properly questioned and interviewed?
IF Morgan ending up outside, in fact has nothing to do with her subsequent abduction, torture, rape and murder, then why the secrecy about her departure from the arena and denied re access?
Why the secrecy? the only reason I can come up with is to protect JPJ and /or UVA for inadequately protecting a young female paying customer in distress.
I have written about this before, so had TG and Mom3.0 and Susan …many of us in fact and here we are going around in circles over the same old turf …it is October 11th in five days it will be the sadder than sadder horrifying anniversary of the brutal death of one innocent beautiful kind bright young woman, Morgan Dana Harrington cruelly and evilly snatched and murdered.Taken from her parents , her brother, her friends and community, from the little children she was planning to teach in the future.
Have a hear SOMEONE who knows ANYTHING that may help find her murderer so that Morgan can rest in peace and her family have some closure.
J4M
There is a bonds business owned by a Leona J. Burton on Burton Lane in North Garden, VA, called Accredited Bail Bonds. I wonder if there has been some animosity between Accredited and the proprietor of H&H Security, which is now operating under the bail bond moniker of Accelerated Bonds per the press release dated 10/19/2009. If someone is looking for Accredited Bail Bonds with a list of other bail bonds services in the area listed alphabetically, then they’d come to Accelerated Bail Bonds via smart search on most search engines, certainly Google. I wonder if this was this by design and/ or a declaration of an alliance by the principal(s) in the rebranded security/ bonds outfit and another party? Regardless of any implications in this case, it’s quite clever, if that was their intent.
I found this going down a rabbit trail while looking up transportation providers in the Charlottesville area. Many of these private transportation companies and bail bonds outfits have day jobs or multiple businesses tied in to the principal organization. It’s fascinating and I’m sure that it will be a case of connecting the dots when this comes to trial as no doubt LE is doing as we all write, read, rant, research, and wrangle with the complexities of this case.
Whoever just said something about Gil Harrington’s writing ability, I agree. She really grips me when she writes and inspires me to keep hammering away at this. She is simultaneously agonizing over losing her lovely daughter while remaining selfless and altruistic in her efforts to raise awareness for the sake of other families who have experienced loss and the frustration of knowing that it could have been prevented. I think that she should write a book; I know that I would have it on my shelf.
Here is another mother who would not rest and opened up a cold case on her daughters murder
many years later.
http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/hearing-set-in-decade-old-murder-case-of-oregon-teen-leah-freeman/19669117?a_dgi=aolshare_email
To follow is the link for RMC Events:
http://www.rmcevents.com/
@ localcvillegirl: I am not in the habit of debating comments I did not make and do not buy into. I have never said “UVA and VSP have made some sort of illegal agreement to conceal the facts regarding Morgan’s disappearance and murder.”
As regards the “fantasy” that UVA is to blame, which you attribute to me and request links, do you need a link to “Morgan was denied reentry to the event”? or “security tapes do not seem to have been made available to the public” and “why not”, or what about “it was a rainy night in a dark parking lot for a young girl denied re-entry”, or “some people doubt the hitchhiking story, due to Morgan’s purse and phone being found in the UVA parking lot”?
I just do not think links are necessary for the common knowledge, or do you dispute that Morgan was denied re-entry, was left to roam the parking lot and look for a way out, with no car keys, and that her purse and phone were found on the UVA “grounds?”
Even with these “oddities” in this investigation, I have never once said that “UVA and VSP have created an illegal conspiracy to lie to the public.” That is something I would never accuse the VSP of doing.
Furthermore, as highly as I regard UVA in some areas, I would have to say that the above issues cause me some concern about its safety policies for those who are in the most vulnerable position, as Morgan was.
Who is sketch? Does VSP have someone in their sights? We don’t know.
Is sketch the only DNA identified? It was the only DNA that was reported to the media. If there is other DNA, VSP may have their eyes on another perp or perps as well.
If VSP has stated that there was no video that was helpful. This could mean that the lighting was poor and the video grainy to the point of being worthless or that many of the cameras were not functioning.
Take a good look at Blink’s reply to #45 Localcvillegirl post. Early on there was some posts regarding something wrong with security and possibly LE in this case.
We have looked at construction workers, bus drivers and others such as the NGVFD, the H&H security company, garbage services and limo services.
It could be that UVA PD has a part in this as well.
When an investigation involves LE and security people as possibly being directly or indirectly involved, it makes the case that much harder to process to the point of making arrests. If UVA PD is involved, it will point to others at UVA. This means that all the i’s better be dotted and all the t’s crossed prior to bring this case for prosecution.
We know that zero arrests have been made, so anyone that is involved is still out there. Are they dangerous? Absolutly. I hope the VSP have them under survelance.
Hummingbird
It is never too late to go back and rework a cold case. I know of one that was forty years old involving a guy from North Carolina that killed two policemen in Louisiana. We he was finally arrested, his reply to the police was “oh that”. People who do these type of crimes have killed their ability to tell right from wrong, so it doesn’t bother them.
I guess because it’s coming upon a year since Morgan was taken and murdered, this last few days, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on what life now is for the Harrington family. I cannot imagine the every day, every hour, every minute of facing the reality of what is. Their beautiful daughter and sister is gone, cruelly murdered. What family would ever think this could happen to their child. In five days it will be a year since they were able to take their daughter in their arms and hug her, hold her. Hear her sweet voice. Tell her they love her. Be careful, stay safe, call us when you get there. All the things we say to our children when they leave us. Who would ever guess it would be the last time? How do you deal with this?
I am so angry that the reject who did this terrible thing still walks among us. Gloating, thinking he got by. This makes me absolutely nauseous and enraged.
I am also tired of reading on blogs, not this one, that Morgan wasn’t perfect. Yes, she was perfect. She was Dan and Gil’s PERFECT baby daughter the day she was born. She was Alex’s PERFECT little sister. Her grandparent’s PERFECT little grand daughter. Yes, she was PERFECT for them. Their perfect little family. The murdering, crazed, inhuman degenerate had no right to touch their daughter and destroy their family and their lives. This makes me feel something akin to loathing and hatred. I can see from reading that others feel the same way. A year is too long for him to walk free. A day is too long. He has to be found. He WILL be found.
There are some beautiful new pics on the FM home page of Morgan and her family. What a beautiful child she was and what a beautiful family.
Dan, if you still read here, I would like for you to know that your family is still constantly in our thoughts and prayers. We are not giving up. We are still with you. My heart aches so much for all of you and I’m so sorry that you’ve had to go through this. Words cannot even begin to say. I hope that you can draw some strength and comfort in knowing there are so many, many that support you. I hope you can feel the glow and warmth of love here.
The waiting for an arrest is so hard. I tell myself every day it’s coming. I hope it’s soon. His days are numbered. Please God, let it happen today.
Blink, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. Thanks for being for the victims and their loved ones. Thanks to Blink’s whole crew. You’re appreciated more than you’ll ever know. Thanks, too, to the contributors here, who work so diligently and never give up. 2 4 1
Gil and I will be on NBC’s TODAY show on Thursday, October 14th, 2010. We have been invited by NBC to discuss Morgan’s case and what we are doing to change the culture where safety and respect are lacking. We will also discuss the work we have done to ensure that Morgan’s death not be in vain.
I look forward to seeing it, and know that you Gil and Alex are on my mind heavily this week.
Love, hope and Peace
B
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Culpeper_Police_Search_for_Suspicious_Man_at_School_Bus_Stops_104719854.html
Man Wanted for Attempted Kidnapping at School Bus Stops
Culpeper law enforcement agencies and school officials are seeking the public’s help identifying a man who attempted to lure elementary school children into his vehicle at bus stops
————–
Culpeper is just up the road from Charlottesville on Rt 29.
Dear Dan, Gil and Alex I echo dear Blinks words . please know that you are all on my mind heavily this week as well and I also send you Love , hope and Peace,
J4M, 241.
Hummingbird
Another angle on “Sketch”: the 2005 attack was at 10 pm on a Saturday night, after the victim had been grocery shopping in a Giant Food Store, and was walking home. No mention of a vehicle, Sketch was on foot. This says to me that Sketch was near his job site, and his job hours were late, as in a grocery store. I also wonder if Sketch noticed his victim in the grocery store and stalked her outside, and in the dark?
The closest grocery store which I have found to JPJA is “Food of Nations”. They close at 8 pm, Monday-Saturday, and also do “catering”.
Which I think may require a van. Morgan was last seen sometime after 9pm.
I wonder if any of the residents of Blandemar Farms, or even events on AF have been catered by “Food of Nations”, which would give sketch a knowledge of the AF/Blandemar entrances and exits.
Does anyone know anything about food at the 7 mile sleepover, as in was food provided, or was it simply an art show, and walking around the fields?
Add to the above: I do not know that Sketch works/worked at Food of Nations, I am just extending the 2005 scenario to see if it makes any sense in the context of how Sketch, who was seemingly Morgan’s killer, came in contact with her, and also had access or knowledge of the AF/Blandemar area.
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/business/cdp-news/2010/jul/26/cbj-property-transfers-building-permits-ar-350600/
Please read under Albemarle County, June 10th.
Blink, isn’t R & H, LLC something we have discussed before?
Thanks, Sara
Dan, Gil and Alex:
What Blink and Hummingbird said – you are also on my mind and in my heart heavily this week and always. Always in my prayers.
Love, Hope, Peace
J4M
241
Judi
Hi TexasG (#11), I don’t think that UVaPD is part of any conspiracy, just that there may have been mistakes that were made that first afternoon. I don’t remember if it was UVaPD whom Dr. Harrington called when morgan didn’t show up to study, but I believe they were the ones who called him earlier to report the found purse. Dr. Harrington has said that they did treat it right away as a missing person’s case, but maybe now in hind-sight it would have been best to get the bigs dogs involved right away. As much as people would like to believe otherwise, abductions and murders are not common here, so maybe no one knew what to do. I’m sure they all do now, but if Morgan was dead (sorry) before the end of the concert, or at least before morning, it doesn”t sound like much could have been done by anybody to protect her from the time she was abducted.
In any case, I really don’t see The University of Virginia risking everything to take part in some wild illegal conspiracy. I could be wrong, but I do believe in the integrity of UVa, all local LE, and the citizens of Charlottesville. No one wished for this to happen to Morgan, and we all just want this case to be solved for her family and close friends.
My own belief is that Morgan was taken by some lone monster, likely Sketch as his DNA was found on or near her body at AF. This guy may have no friends or family to speak of, no one to notice any weird behavior that would cause them to suspect any connection to Morgan. He may be back living in his own little world thinking he’s gotten away with it. He may be so sick as to not even remember or realize what he’d done. He also could be living anywhere at this point, not necessarily in Charlottesville. If this guy is still alive, yes, he’s definitely a danger to all of us, no matter where we live.
Blink,
Would it be unreasonable for LE to get a warrant or whatever is needed to have D&A testing on all those who worked security, EMS, etc for the concert that night OR request those who worked it to voluntarily submit a D&A sample?
Would it be unreasonable to put a public request out for people who live in North Garden or in the vicinity of AF to voluntarily submit a D&A sample?
It would certainly be interesting to see who refuses.
Yes, it would be unreasonable and a serious infringement upon others rights. They have done that in VA before, lot of accusations of profiling, and this would be no different considering sketch connection.
B
Josie, thanks for letting us know about the new pics of Morgan on FM. Such a lovely girl, such a lovely family, such a LOVING family.
I wonder if they would be able to tell after 3 months if a stun gun or the date rape drug or any of that kind of stuff was used on Morgan.
Did she show any signs, if one could even tell after 3 months, of being restrained (such as in handcuffs) that possibly left marks.
Keep going back to this, but would love to know what she said to the BB players.
Sorry all, these posts of mine are written on a little phone and I can’t even see the words to check spelling, or roll back enough to see if I’ve made any sense.
OT: The 10 year old bone-cancer survivor who is missing…step mother admitted to writing the ransom note and no one outside the immediate family has seen her in over a month. Others say she had a horrible home life. This one is not going to end good, I’m afraid
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/12/north.carolina.missing.girl/index.html?hpt=T2
Honestly, I dont think I can take this one.
http://www.thehinkymeter.com/2010/10/12/zahra-baker-case-stepmom-confesses-to-writing-ransom-note-case-goes-to-homicide/#comment-77883
More low life prowling the area… beware
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Man_Wanted_for_Multiple_Cases_of_Larceny_Credit_Card_Fraud_104779099.html
Dr. Harrington, Gil and Alex,
Thank you for alerting us to your upcoming appearance. I, too am sending extra prayers to you this week. Please know we all support you.
to Josie-how true-a perfect daughter. Breaks my heart.
To the Harringtons- I have and continue to pray for your family every single night since it happened. Please let us know what we can do to help you in any way. Quite frankly, I cannot believe this horrific crime has not been solved.
This case will be airing on Friday on 20/20. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if some kind of group could gather and take all the information that has been given and perhaps come up with Morgans killer before 10 years have passed. I hope and pray!
Jim Avila’s Report Airs on “20/20,” Friday, October 15, 10 pm ET on ABC
“20/20” goes inside a police investigation as they help unlock a murder mystery haunting a community for 10 years. In the summer of 2000, 15-year-old Leah Freeman went missing in Coquille, Oregon. For weeks the police chief treated it as a missing person case, until Leah’s decomposed body was found a few miles out of town. Speculation swirled over who the killer could be. Now, 10 years later, the new Police Chief Mark Dannels has made it his personal goal to find Leah’s killer. He reorganized the case and called in The Vidocq Society.
Known as the heirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Vidocq Society, gathers ace detectives from around the world to solve the world’s most perplexing cold cases. The group, formed by freewheeling forensic sculptor Frank Bender, FBI, U.S. Customs agent William Fleisher, and pre-eminent forensic psychologist and profiler Richard Walter, have pledged themselves to a grand quest for justice.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/pressroom/2010/10/2020-gets-rare-access-inside-a-police-investigation-from-start-to-finish-as-they-unlock-a-10-year-mu.html
Susan it would be my belief that any Seven Mile Sleepover at AF hosted by JB would not be a “catered affair”. They would shoot and skin some animal and roast it on the fire. Pluck some berries and bring along a jug of moonshine.
That is more like the type of the free willies that roam there.
Dan-
The work that you are doing IS assuring that sweet Morgan’s death not be in vain.
NEVER will we EVER stop fighting and searching for the TRUTH. Even after this evil that stole your daughter away- is caught and punished (though no punishment will be great enough) we WILL be here to support you and love you. There will NEVER be a day that I do not pray for you, pray that God provides you with strength, perseverance and grace.
If there were a stronger word for “sorry” I would use it here. But words cannot describe just how sorry I am that your daughter was stolen from you and that this evil has inflicted the level of pain you are suffering. I pray that you for even a moment are able to feel some kind of comfort in the words I send to you.
Please know that if it is worth anything at all….Gil’s writings DO communicate to us as much as our minds and hearts can comprehend…the level of pain the evil has forced upon you. I just typed and deleted a quote because I simply have no worthy response to it.
Please just know that you are not alone. And so many (including myself) people who do not know you personally, love you like family.
I am going to stop writing now because I could go on for days.
If at all possible, I hope in some way my words provide you comfort.
I am so sorry.
MORGAN DANA HARRINGTON WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND WILL REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER.
J4M
Hummingbird I did not see your reference to Leah Freeman. Great minds. Her mother has never given up on finding her killer and finding justice for Leah.
Blink, I received this today:
A message from ALBEMARLE COUNTY SCHOOL DIST
Good evening:
You may have seen or heard media reports of two suspicious incidents that occurred in our regional area involving school-aged children.
Culpeper County has had two incidents that occurred on the morning and afternoon of Friday, Oct. 8th, both involving an older white male, balding gray hair, mustache, and driving a blue van. This individual has attempted to pick up children at bus stops. He is enticing children by offering them candy and a trip to Kings Dominion.
We are notifying parents so they have the opportunity to talk to their children and have a safety plan in place in the event a similar incident occurs.
If anyone experiences a similar incident or has any information, please contact the Albemarle County Police at 296-5807 or Crimestoppers at 977-4000.
At this time, the Albemarle County Police do not believe these incidents to be related to the suspicious incident reported by a Sutherland Middle School student on September 27. We are continuing to work with the County Police to investigate that incident and we will provide any additional information if it becomes available.
The safety of your children is our top priority, and we are taking every precaution to ensure you have relevant accurate information.
Regards,
Maury Brown
Communications Coordinator
Office of the Superintendent
Blink:
21.localcvillegirl says:
October 12, 2010 at 11:31 am
As much as people would like to believe otherwise, abductions and murders are not common here, so maybe no one knew what to do. I’m sure they all do now, but if Morgan was dead (sorry) before the end of the concert, or at least before morning, it doesn”t sound like much could have been done by anybody to protect her from the time she was abducted.
———
I have to say in response to this – LCG is right. Cville has been known for the most part as being a great place to live. The crime has gone up tremendously in the last 5 years. I don’t think that Charlottesville/Albemarle anticipated this to the extent it has become. They MUST prepare for the future. If this area crime has increased, the community must be aware and be educated by officials. Communication and awareness would be the first step, but additional resources need to get involved. Manpower needs to be added and put in place. Radio and TV stations should be analyzing and reporting the current situations. These crimes can not stay in the dark. They must be brought to light. I don’t presume to speak for the Harrington’s, but I think they are asking for support on this.
Comment #19 above – land transfers – Is that the same David Bass – farm where Morgan was found
I would like to say, to Morgan’s Mom and Dad, we’re still here, waiting with you. You’re not alone.
Another bus service:
http://www.homeride.com/
21.localcvillegirl says:
October 12, 2010 at 11:31 am
“.. but if Morgan was dead (sorry) before the end of the concert, or at least before morning, it doesn”t sound like much could have been done by anybody to protect her from the time she was abducted.”
I don’t think it has been determined, or even could be determined forensically, that Morgan died immediately after being abducted.
A lot could have been done beforehand to prevent her abduction such as readmiting her to the JPJ Arena, readmitting her to the JPJ Arena but having her looked at at the first-aid room, having her detained by security, or even arrested and her parents called. I don’t think it is out of the question that Morgan may have been having a schizophrenic episode (or bipolar epidode, or schizo-affective disorder). She was the age at which the initial episodes usually occur. If she was acting strangely toward the basketball players we might have an indication, but no one is talking. UVa could make the statement that all of the recording devices in the JPJ Arena were functioning properly with no gaps or erasures, but UVa isn’t talking either.
And what would be the absolutely WORST result of admitting a 20 year old female college student on a rainy night into the arena? She gets to see Metallica free? Think about it.
Homeride, referenced by Starbucks above, picks up near Scott Stadium and drops off at the Vienna Metro Station on Fridays departing Charlottesville around 5pm and arriving in Vienna around 7pm. I wonder if that driver heads back to Charlottesville empty. The return bus isn’t until Sunday.
Do these drivers wear uniforms?
Localcvillegirl
I didn’t mean to imply that I thought UVA PD was involved in something nefarious. They could have just mishandled their part of the case to the point that it was and is an impediment.
What is the status of the original title of this blog? Who locally has filed a complaint about the Clery act? Until enough complaints are filed, the university will not be proactive in solving their problems.
George
I am thinking like you. How much better it would have been if someone with commen sense had taken charge and detained Morgan. Here we have a distinct liability problem in the making. This is probably the reason that little has been said in the media.
Some how, some way, parents and mature citizens need to get the attention of our college students about takeing care of each other.
Morning George,
You’re right, mistakes were made that evening, things were overlooked, and bad decisions were made by all, probably beginning the moment Morgan and her group of friends left JMU. Or even before. It seemed like a long day of unfortunate circumstances. I have kids this age living in different college towns, and it’s a constant worry…will they make the right choices, will they protect themselves, and if that fails, will someone be there to help take care of them.
You’re also right that the public has no idea when Morgan actually died…I was just going by what Gil had felt early on, after Morgan’s body was found. I don’t think anyone wants to believe that she was alive for days and had to suffer any more than she obviously did. I don’t know why it’s important to keep the COD from the public, but apparently LE (and maybe even the Harringtons) feel it’s necessary at this point. Seems like after a year it wouldn’t hurt to put more information out there, it might just click on a light for someone.
In Memory of Gini…it sure seems like there has been a wave of violence here lately, doesn’t it? There is no reason for me to get emails from UVa, but the media is good about getting the information out. I also get alerts from the County schools, which I think is a new system they just started two or three years ago. Most of these recent crimes look like they’re committed by local punks…the students are easy targets because they’re just out there, often walking alone, but we’re all at risk. It’s starting to feel like VCU or other city campuses, at least in the Corner area. I hope things don’t get that rough. As Eloise has pointed out, there is also a lot of crime in Farmville, of all places. And PamVA has mentioned the crime in Richmond at VCU and the U of Richmond…anyone who reads the news hears of these crimes. And it’s not just here in Virginia, it’s everywhere. It’s like the water has gone bad, or there are toxins in the air that are causing people to be desperate enough to assault others and steal. I don’t know what will turn it around. Better economy. Jobs, maybe.
The abduction and murder combination is still rare here in Charlottesville. Morgan’s case has been hard to fathom. I am confident in the Virginia State Police, and I know they have their reasons for keeping everything close to the vest. It’s not much use trying to place blame on people who are most likely innocent, or even institutions who are most likely not trying to keep facts from the public for their own benefit. The facts will come out, but we may all have to wait until there is a trial. Let’s all just be careful not to place blame where it may not be due.
Another assault Tuesday evening. The TV had interview clips, not sure if you can get them through this link.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Police_Investigating_Forcible_Fondling_of_Female_UVa_Student_104835919.html
The nbc29 report:
http://www.nbc29.com/story/13311377/police-increasing-patrols-around-uva?redirected=true
Blink, but it has been done before (not in Charlottesville) where it proved successful – back in the 80′s, there was a man going around raping elderly women (all 64 to 85 years old who lived alone). This went on for 4 years!! All they knew of him was his race. So, they requested all men of that race to voluntarily submit a D&A sample and they caught him (he did not give a D&A sample, though his father did)!! The police chief thanked all who gave their D&A sample. When the police chief was asked, he said he would do it again! To quote him “”I’d do it again,” Chief Kelly said of the fingerprinting. ”If he was white, I’d do the same thing. We were trying to stop a homicide.””
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/05/us/suspect-seized-in-rapes-in-town-that-fingerprinted-blacks.html
It seems to me that the nut jobs have become more brazen. Could be many reasons, but it may also be due to the fact they are not particuarly worried about being caught. I say this, as the locals of this community appear as shocked as the onlookers. So what has changed? Part of it is that people just dont care, that ‘Sammy’ is obsessed with porn, or drinks himself into oblivion. These people are sent off to college to remove them from home in many cases, without ever having the intervention they needed years ago. We know all this.
I feel it is just going to escalate, there is nothing in place at any level to change that. The whole world at large is nuts.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/UPDATE_Culpeper_Attempted_Kidnappings_a_Misunderstanding_104796034.html
What? A “misunderstanding” WTH does that mean? Did this man, or did he not, offer candy to these children to get in his vehicle.
I am sure there were many things done wrong the night Morgan disappeared until 12:30 or later on the afternoon of October 18th because of the unfortunate fact that no one knew a crime had been committed. The purse was found, we now know, by members of the lacrosse team. It’s hard to tell how many hands the purse passed through, destroying any possible evidence, before the call was made to Dr. Harrington. He then attempted to contact Morgan, learned the horrific news, and had to make the call to LE to report his daughter missing. It’s probable that the parking lots had been cleared of litter by 12:30, again possibly destroying any evidence, maybe even the missing cell phone battery. The arena had undoubtedly been cleaned and all concert debris removed. If there was any possibility of either footprints or tire tracks, the condition of the ground and subsequent foot and auto traffic very likely erased such evidence by Sunday afternoon. Dr. Harrington has said Morgan was treated as a missing person from the very beginning. With the report not filed until the afternoon of the 18th, how long would it have taken UVA PD to gather their forces on site on a Sunday afternoon to begin the investigation? Every minute that passed could have resulted in lost evidence. The investigation was compromised from the very beginning by the passage of time and the sheer number of people who traveled through the various parking lots and handled potential evidence even before anyone knew that Morgan was missing. Added to that has to be mistakes that LE could have made during the first hours and days of the investigation. Maybe they didn’t search debris collected, maybe there were witnesses that could have been interviewed more thoroughly or earlier. Maybe evidence was overlooked. Maybe they were slow looking at security footage from surrounding businesses. There are any number of possibilies where mistakes could have been made unintentionally, but mistakes none the less. I don’t buy into the theory that there is any grand conspiracy involving UVA administration, UVA PD and VSP. If the kidnapping and murder of Morgan had been solved quickly, regardless of the culprit, this would be yesterday’s story. That’s the nature of our society. We seem to forget quickly, It certainly, IMO, has not benefited UVA by having the case remain unsolved and thus in the minds and conciousness of many.
Wow, here’s another interesting article in today’s paper.
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/oct/12/albemarle-police-department-relatively-understaffe-ar-559035/