Inspiring Vigilance: The Murder Of Morgan Harrington One Year Later
Charlottesville, VA– Sunday October 17 marks the one-year anniversary of the worst day of Dan and Gil Harrington’s lives. Although they were not yet aware of the horror that had befallen their Roanoke, VA family, the next morning their daughter’s purse was found on the grounds of the University of Virginia Lanigan Field. Morgan Dana Harrington had vanished.
While attending a Metallica concert with friends Sarah Snead, Amelia Melvin and Dan Cassagne with tickets purchased 6 months earlier by Morgan’s Dad, Morgan, for reasons unknown, was outside John Paul Jones arena at approximately 8:45PM.
Morgan attempted to re-enter the arena but could not locate her ticket and was denied access to return to the venue. Shortly thereafter, Sarah called Morgan at 8:48PM looking for her and was told she could not get back in and would be attempting to locate a ride, according to Snead.
Various witness accounts and in some cases corroborating statements from Virginia State Police (VSP), place Morgan in different areas of the adjacent parking lots of JPJ over the following 45 minutes, moving toward the far perimeter of UVA property.
According to the VSP, there is a witness statement that a person matching Morgan’s description was seen hitchhiking alone on the Copeley bridge at approximately 9:30PM.
After several private law enforcement searches and two volunteer based efforts organized by the Harrington’s failed to locate her, Morgan Harrington’s remains were discovered by a prominent Charlottesville land owner on his remote 700 acre farm in Albemarle County, 8 miles South of JPJ arena, on January 26th, 2010. Morgan’s death has been classified as a homicide, however her cause of death has not been released.
Until July, the case seemed to be at a virtual standstill from an investigative perspective, in fact the only arrest to date is that of a man who provided a false lead to VSP, and was prosecuted for it.
On July 1st, as a direct result of an article linking Morgan’s case to an unsolved sexual assault case in 2005 in Fairfax, VA published by blinkoncrime.com, a sketch of a man forensically linked to both the Fairfax case and that of Morgan Harrington was released by the Virginia State Police, albeit grudgingly, at first.
Behind the scenes, Dan and Gil Harrington, who were made aware of the connection a few weeks earlier, were adamant the sketch was critical to developing leads and warning others and demanded the sketch be posted on the VSP website; it was uploaded later that afternoon at Dr. Harrington’s request.
Virginia State Police have not commented publicly on the case in several months, but in a private correspondence with a concerned blinkoncrime.com reader, Lt. Joe Rader, leading the investigation for VSP, said not only is the case not cold, but he has recently assigned additional manpower to it.
Dan and Gil Harrington, Morgan’s bereaved parents, along with Morgan’s beloved brother Alex, have spent the last year keeping Morgan’s case alive through the development of their own family blog, TV and radio appearances, and most recently, a meeting regarding safety concerns with new University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan. This Sunday, a memorial plaque to promote safety and honor Morgan Harrington is being presented to the Harrington’s on the Copely bridge.
Note From the Editor
“How would you describe the Harrington’s?” I am asked this question frequently.
I always respond the same way. “I would not”.
The grace and poise these parents have shown in the face of the worst conceivable tragedy to befall a parent is not something I could wordsmith or articulate.
If the question comes from someone I feel may help their cause, I offer to make the introduction, but I would never presume to speak for them.
The Harrington’s have created a legacy in memory of Morgan that only parents of a 20-year-old blossoming artist, music loving, budding educator could.
Morgan Harrington Photo chosen by and courtesy of The Harrington Family Library
Elizabeth Morten, Madeline Tanner and Jason Mateos, contributing editors to blinkoncrime.com
Madeline Tanner, copy editor
Images By Klaasend
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Olivia says:
June 6, 2011 at 8:52 pm
I will answer you this way… I feel it is in VSP’s best interests to have the Farifax case have an arrest first.
B
Okay, someone less exhausted than I am: “splain!
_________________________
i think the variable in this equation is the locality. and if i catch the waft of blink’s cheese, i agree.
deetee says:
June 7, 2011 at 9:43 am
Olivia says:
June 6, 2011 at 8:52 pm
I will answer you this way… I feel it is in VSP’s best interests to have the Farifax case have an arrest first.
B
Okay, someone less exhausted than I am: “splain!
_________________________
i think the variable in this equation is the locality. and if i catch the waft of blink’s cheese, i agree.
__________________________________________
I think it is the ease of the case. You have a surviving victim and a witness who saw the attack. With morgan, you will have dna showing that he had contact with morgan that night but, so far, no witnesses to the crime. Once he is convicted for fairfax, you may well be able to use the similarities with that case to help prove the murder of morgan.
I said some time ago that I did not believe an arrest will be forthcoming in Morgan’s case, but a prosecution will result from a different arrest. I will forgo stating my obvious dismay over that, and say I just want the creep off the street.
B
with this article ,following the attack style,you’d have to give thought to to the simplest idea,morgan was ,strangled and raped in the field near the rail road tracks ,where the cars pull up right under trees ,grabbed near the fence,the shirt was left there and someone found it kept it ,and then realized what it was as and placed it at 15 st to be found ,nothing nefarious with the shirt .so why he didnt he leave her there?he had patience this time and grabbed her the near the fence,threw her in trunk,and went on a drive,so she is alive in the trunk? or he gets lucky and she accepts a ride. at anyrate if he was there for emmett commercial district ,they would be closing at 9:30 right.he or his car could be on tape. foan,giant foods,le would be all over that,by now,
As always I am amazed by everyones posts- Lots of great thinking going on-
I have to say that i am very disappointed that this guy will most likely not be tied to morgans homicide efct- if and when he is picked up for the FF rape.
Blink he may be off the streets upon arrest and conviction…but My God- for how long-?
It seems like such a travesty of justice that a violent rapist who is forensically connected to a young woman who disappeared and was a victim of a “homicide” could feasibly spend jailtime for a crime of rape…and nothing more. Will he plea done? So many what ifs in this scenario….
I will be happy for the FF victim, when he is held accountable,for what he did to her, but IMO that will be a far cry from the justice he so richly deserves IRT Morgan.
AJMO
Keep up the good work guys-
Sometimes Mom 3.0, justice comes in phases. It is not fair, and it is not just, and I hate it.
But it comes. I have been at the books, lol, as you know, and I think one of my takeaways, sadly, is that cold cases, are lucky to ever be solved. It is all about the first 24 hour responses and their capabilities, and that needs to change.
Technology is advancing by the moment, but protocol is the same, what’s the point?
B
* down not done- sorry for the typos ect.
I had a new thought: What worked for Sketch in the past is what he would be expected to try again, same MO. That would be noticing the Fairfax victim as she was leaving a crowded place, on foot, waiting until she committed herself to a direction, which was making her isolated and vulnerable, and also around the same time, 9:30 in Morgan’s case, providing near total darkness.
The parked cars of the RV lot could have been the backdrop which provided his cover. I believe that Sketch used the choking to subdue the Fairfax victim, and prevent screaming, same in Morgan’s case.
I don;t believe Morgan hitchhiking, per se, but maybe the hitchhiking to escape Sketch, and get out of the lot? I am more inclined to think that Sketch used the very same MO, the weekend night, time of night, darkness, outside, and Morgan going from populated spot to isolated spot seem very similar. I don;t think Sketch used a car.
So, I think we should be looking for someone who was with the basketball players that night, a hanger-on, or basketball wannabe, or just some low-life acquaintance who gravitated in their orbit. No doubt the players would have known how deeply in trouble for even being associated with this type of criminal one or more would have been. Hence, the drive to North Garden, and the placement of Morgan at that spot, to keep the crime hidden as long as possible, and to avoid the disaster that they knew this would bring on one of them by association. Does that mean it might have been a family member, if the guilt by association was such a driving factor in covering up the crime?
So, my question of LE, we know you have questioned the bball players, we know some of them did not make it through the school year. Was there any other person in their orbit in the lot that night, who knew them but was not one of them? There usually is someone giving someone else a ride, watching practice, or just a male groupie waiting for practice to end, a wanna be, or a relative. That might be Sketch.
Redly, Thanks for ‘splaining Blink’s comment! Makes sense!
I thought I might clarify something that others are talking about above. The article posted by Biene about the Fairfax attack suggests NOT that Sketch watched and followed her TO the path from the Giant, but that he WAITED there prior to her coming back along the path. In other words, he had his eye on her when she left home OR when she emerged from the path to go shopping. He might have correctly predicted that she would come back with her groceries via the same path, and he would have an opportunity to attack her. She passed him as she returned and he said he was waiting for a friend. He waited until she was nearly at her door and THEN ran after her to drag her into the woods, rape, and strangle her.
Perhaps he was aware of the path’s connection to the apartments for a long time (days, weeks or months?) prior to finding a good opportunity to attack a woman on it?
Susan — that MO did not work for him in the past. The Fairfax assault was a failure.
6.redly says:
June 7, 2011 at 5:51 pm
The Fairfax assault was a failure.
————————–
Was it? Somehow I don’t think he’d think of it that way. He was able to attack, subdue and rape a woman. He learned where not to be and what not to do so he wouldn’t be interrupted next time.
Let’s delve into Sketch’s psyche. If he reads here, he may want to correct any misconceptions.
* 25-35 year-old black male
* professional
* current/former UVa student/employee OR relative/friend of current/former UVa student/employee
* connection to UVa BB team (or UVa athletics in general) by job, family, or friendship. Probably had illusions of a career in professional sports but couldn’t cut it
* experience in Blandemar/Anchorage Farm area of North Garden OR extremely close friendship/association with someone familiar with that area. Possibly some connection to a fraternity although only on the fringe. Didn’t have the class to be an actual pledge; provided alcohol/drugs to fit in.
* anger issues especially related to his relationship with women.
* probably suffering from erectile dysfunction. His sexual relationships with women have deteriorated because of his epic failure in the bedroom
Thoughts?
My Profile of Sketch (continued)
* On the night of October 17 he was unexpectedly absent/late to a planned event.
* When he was seen next early in the morning on Sunday, October 18 he was disheveled and muddy, with injuries to his face/torso. His vehicle was muddy.
* Has shown intense interest in Morgan’s case.
* When discussing Morgan’s case, he refers to her in unflattering terms, slut, whore, asking for it, etc.
* He attempts to direct theories about the case away from his known area of operation.
Hello all.
Yes Redly, the Fairfax incident turned into a bad scene for him…interrupted when someone heard the commotion. Maybe he moved to incapacitate more quickly, then took her W A Y remote. Did the faifax incident spook him so badly that he waited another 5 years, or were there other attempts?
2 4 1
# redly, respectfully, I think he succeeded in his mind because he was not caught. He goes on to commit similar crimes, only with more violence.
In thinking about the depraved, impulsive and primitive attack Sketch pulled in Fairfax, I am now thinking that he has shown us the limit of his skillset, deprived and depraved, emotionally, socially, and like a mad dog which roams the street.
I think we are giving Sketch too much credit for a higher level of functioning than he possesses, if we imagine him interacting conversationally with someome like Morgan, or using a more sophisticated MO, or possessing the social skillset to attend a fraternity or other student party at UVA.
I think he is deprived and depraved in all regards, reduced to committing the lowest and most primitive level of violent crimes, and roaming the streets like a mad dog. Sketch is at the bottom of the criminal food chain, imo.
While I don;t think he is a homeless wanderer, I am now beginning to think he might be some kind of transient, lurking in the shadows, or on the streets. with no support system, and nothing to lose.
I don;t think he has a meaningful place in society, either. Or friends as a support system, contrary to my earlier thoughts that he was capable of mixing with the student population.
agreed. He is going to have what is called “personality leaks” as referred to by Roger DePue.
49.mary says:
June 7, 2011 at 7:43 am
Dr. Pepper says:
June 6, 2011 at 10:16 pm
I may be reading way to hard into this…but wasn’t the FF victim leaving the Food Giant?
And weren’t they about to search Pantops area right before the shirt appeared?
—————-
They searched Pantops one time due to a tip about a vehicle that was out of place or something like that — but I can’t imagine passing out fliers at the Giant on Pantops is random. Very interesting Dr. Pepper.
HH runs or ran security at club 216, fyi.
B
—————–
Whoa. Lots of bombs dropping this morning.
—————————
I do find this curious. Of all the places to have a bake sale in memory of Morgan, the Pantops Giant would never have crossed my mind…I would have imagined Foods of All Nations or the General Store in North Garden.
Maybe there is something to the Pantops location location location… If I remember vaguely, Security guy had a rental home or lived in that area. Am I correct in that? Just asking.
Susan,
I can’t see a “mad dog” type wanderer being able to, or even caring to, hide her body where she was left. He took her somewhere where he couldn’t leave her (i.e home, office, temporarily unoccupied place he could be tied to, etc.).
I agree he was probably a “mad dog” when he attacked, but he was controlled enough to get her where he could have privacy (a lesson learned from Fairfax?), and sophisticated enough to get her way out in that field.
Oscar says:
June 8, 2011 at 7:57 am
Susan,
I can’t see a “mad dog” type wanderer being able to, or even caring to, hide her body where she was left. He took her somewhere where he couldn’t leave her (i.e home, office, temporarily unoccupied place he could be tied to, etc.).
I agree he was probably a “mad dog” when he attacked, but he was controlled enough to get her where he could have privacy (a lesson learned from Fairfax?), and sophisticated enough to get her way out in that field.
______________________
this is a significant point imo. in FF, we cannot assume he planned to move her from that location, as the account seems to indicate that the attack was fully on at that scene. i wondered what he planned to do after? was he going to leave her there? or was he just trying to subdue her enough to move her to an area where he would be more comfortable. at any rate, he must have had a familiarity and comfort level on the FF scene to go as far as he did.
moving to Cville, where he “succeeded” (makes me sick to even type that), he clearly moved his victim to a location of his choice. what was his motivation in doing so? sketch must of known the location of the initial attack or adjacent areas that he could move the victim too would be revealing in some way. either that, or he had much more elaborate plans and I am having a hard time coming up with something to support that idea.
good work all, it is good to see new directions still today.
Whoa Redly, I am wondering if you know something most of us don’t ?
The article does state that DNA was recovered from under the FF victim’s fingernails in the form of blood and skin. I had always “assumed” the dna left was a direct result of the rape (trying not to be to graphic) Is it possible he raped the FF victim, but never reached completion? (again trying to be discrete)
That is correct. She scratched his face, the rape was interrupted.
B
IMOG, yes I think you are correct about a Pantops property being rented out by security guy – that was my understanding anyway.
STAFFORD — A Stafford man was ordered to serve more than nine years in prison April 21 for attempted rape, aggravated malicious wounding and abduction.
Joseph Anthony Broadway was sentenced to 40 years in prison with all but 9-and-a-half years suspended.
The victim was taken to Broadway’s home and beaten after he offered her a ride and she declined, according to a police report.
I have often thought this man could be one of Morgan’s attackers.
(does anyone know if he has been ruled out?) ie because he is in prison LE would have his DNA on file.
Anyway, if he is one of the perps, he would not necessarily be seen as “bottom of the food chain” “unable to get chosen to be in clubs etc.” (he was former Navy Seal, in with the Pentagon, in with everyone) I do not think we can limit the type of attackers to “low class”. Consider Vanderslut….probably not considered classless.
He got 30 years of a 40 year sentence suspended?
B
Stafford County Sun Staff
Published: April 27, 2011
Man sentenced in attempted rape case
STAFFORD — A Stafford man was ordered to serve more than nine years in prison April 21 for attempted rape, aggravated malicious wounding and abduction.
Joseph Anthony Broadway was sentenced to 40 years in prison with all but 9-and-a-half years suspended.
The victim was taken to Broadway’s home and beaten after he offered her a ride and she declined, according to a police report.
— Staff report
Yes, that is what Stafford County Sun is reporting!
I was convinced broadway was the guy for a long time. I have to assume they have tested his DNA though. LE in morgan’s case was made aware of him immediately after his arrest.
I sort of contradicted myself in my profile when I said I believe Sketch is a professional — then I said he didn’t have class enough to be a pledge. I think this guy is very smooth and I do think he is someone that no one would suspect. I think he wears a tie to work or is otherwise sharply dressed. He has been able to fly above the radar for 5 years and apparently has lived or traveled outside of Albemarle county. So strike my sentence about not being a pledge. If he attended UVa and that is the connection to AF, then he probably was a member of a fraternity. I just think that known homeless/panhandlers in Charlottesville would have been looked at very closely at the beginning. Plus he had to have a vehicle to get Morgan to AF. I now think he acted alone. If not his partners in crime are just as able to fly above the radar as well as keep their mouths shut. I should add the disclaimer that all of this is just my opinion.
I agree with John that we cannot make any assumptions about Sketch’s self-presentation. He might come across as clean-cut and well-mannered OR he might come across as rough and poorly dressed. That’s why it would be helpful to get the impressions of the Fairfax victim about this. He may well be transient plus “deprived and depraved” BUT he still might come across as well dressed and well behaved–initially. Never forget that many serial killers have/had very bland exteriors–such as Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer. Some are highly intelligent too. The “personality leaks” might only be apparent to a spouse or girlfriend or a few friends–and would they necessarily be able to interpret these as the words or actions of a serial rapist/killer? NOBODY in Charlottesville was onto the serial rapist (caught after many years in 2007) who had a family and worked/functioned normally.
Back to Morgan’s attack though. Maybe this guy followed his Fairfax pattern of waiting at a well-traversed path in the dark/shadows for solitary woman to pass. This leads me back to the Foods of All Nations scenario, which backs onto the railroad tracks, which is adjacent to the RV lot and Lannigan Field.
And what if the perp did not work at FOAN but he PARKED in the back (grocery store MO) next to the tracks, got out, crossed the tracks and walked onto a path in the dark, and waited…? It’s all very close right there–I have done some sleuthing there and it would be easy.
@ Blink and all: thanks for the feedback. From what we know of Fairfax, Sketch operated on foot, watching, stalking, lying to the victim when he creeped her out, “I’m waiting for a friend”, then a blitz attack, sweeping her off her feet, strangling, (almost murdered her, to keep her from screaming, and no doubt would have finished murdering her that way), and forceable attempt at rape.
What this says to me is:
1. He had no personal relationship with the Fairfax victim, and it takes a special depravity to murder an unknown someone for no reason, similar but not the same as Vanderslut, whom I agree is depraved, but he had established some rapport with Natalee, and then his rage was released. I am not saying that one murder is worse than another, but I think the psychological functioning and underpinning of rage is different, to attack an unknown person. It also does not tell us if Sketch is capable of establishing even a fleeting relationship with a woman, such as a normal conversation. Vanderslut is no doubt depraved, deranged, psychotic, or whatever we can call him, but he is higher functioning than Sketch, able to be charming at first. And I am not saying that in a way meant to compliment Vanderslut.
Sketch showed no more than animal behavior in the Fairfax attack. There was something I read about the more primitive the behavior, that indicates an earlier damage to the emotional functioning, and I do not know if this is true, or if I believe that. Some criminals just seem born bad.
2. We do not know that it was Sketch who moved Morgan to AF. My whole theory above was, what if Sketch used the exact same MO in Charlottesville, that he used in Fairfax? The sneaky watching, the waiting until Morgan was isolated in the lot, and the rest. That would explaim Morgan disappearing suddenly, at darkness, (I believe the FF attack was at 10pm, Morgan’s 9:30pm,)
3. I think most deviants use the MO they are comfortable with, and Sketch was obviously comfortable with operating on foot and running away, as well as an attack that one can only describe as primitive. I am just not sure I accept accessorizing Sketch with friends, and a car, and participation in college society, now that I think about his comfort level, and primitive behavior. Sketch could have very well been hiding or sneaking around the lot, and the rest of the picture, including Morgan’s sudden disapperanace from view, (after trying to get help, by sticking her thumb out, possibly, and being pursued by Sketch which was unfortunately distancing herself from the JPJA, which was just what Sketch wanted to do, and what he did in Fairfax.)
4. The sudden disappearance of Morgan at dark, fits the blitz attack MO. Maybe somewhere around the lot or bridge, but not because she wanted to hitchhike, she was asking for help I believe, and in fleeing from Sketch, was pushed out of the mainsteam public area.
5.I cannot explain the AF connection, as part of this. Sketch’s attack and murder plans for the Fairfax victim seem obvious, and not lengthy, although we do not know really the full story there since she was dragged into the darkness, and he was interrupted.
6. There was even more violence inflicted upon Morgan than the Fairfax victim. Obviously Sketch’s rage is getting much worse. As regards the move to AF, I can only think that if Sketch is a transient, and any other transient around there who knew about the attack, and wanted to place Morgan in a peaceful spot, AF could have been that spot. But I really do not know, and AF is the puzzlement of the whole thing. On the other hand, could Sketch’s blitz attack and sweeping her out of view, have meant he carried her all the way to AF? Seems unlikely, as it is 10 miles but I am not going to rule it out.
if google street view ,there is a 1 800 got junk? next door to giant ,across the street fron the complex on rockgarden is an italian restauraunt ,between there and virginia international university is trafficland,and then next to v.i.u is virg. resource center. was he waiting on a friend? did he say it in a conversation attempt?like can i come with you ? so he hit on her? and then followed her? or he startled her and he offered “i am suddenly here” because i am waitng… ,not sure if those are still the same businesses.she walked along jermantown and made right into rockgaren ,no field ,woods ,off beaten ,path at all ,she was walking along a main street!?
mary — not to disagree with your speculation but just to add some info, UVA is majority non-Greek. I think it is currently about 70%/30%. If the age estimate on the fairfax attack is correct, he would be around my age and the % of fraternity membership was higher then — but it still wasn’t more than 50/50 at most. I don’t know the stat for african american students, but my sense is it was a lot less than that. Just speculation on that last part though. Thus, if he was a UVA student at some time, odds are decent he was not in a fraternity.
Thanks redly. I’m basing my fraternity membership theory on the possibility that the connection to AF is through fraternity activities. I should amend that to membership in some sort of college-related group or club, and not necessarily just UVa but from any nearby college.
Okay Blinkers…I’ve got my thinking hat on again.
So no one else picked up on the similar locations of the bake sale/?
I’m assuming these have been planned by average citizens & not LE.
So if deliberate…brilliant call
If not…I don’t think they could’ve picked better places!!
—-
For those of you who are familiar with Charlottesville–/ please help ms out.
I have a tendency to imagine the college campus that I went to school when picturing the university, the arena and the direction of AF.
There is one street in which you have the football stadium, followed by the softball field, then the track and then the basketball arena the there is a parking lot. All in that order on the lefthand side. Across that street there is an intramural field as well as a residential neighborhood where ppl park along the streets and residents charge $ for ppl to park during football games.
This street runs directly to another main one that has several businesses. Once you cross that intersection, the onset of countriness appears. Continuing on for miles would have you smack dab in the middle of farm land.
So when I imagine the train of events at UVA, I picture this scene because she was at a concert inside what I’d assume is the basketball arena. (which is also extremely close to their practice facility & athletic DORMS.)
With what Ive read about the area around AF…that it isnt that widely populated & I’ve gotten the sense that everyone knows everyone in that area.
The pop of Cville (online it says is 42,000) does that include the iVA student population?
How far apart is AF area from the heart of C’ville?
I ask this because when I picture the small country town setting around AF…I picture locals locals locals and not that many of them. And with LE insisting we were looking for someone I that area…it didn’t seem like there’d be too many people in the suspect pool.
But once you add in the city of C’ville, this case is being conducted by VSP…I’m inclined to wonder how good of communication relationship UVA has w/ Cville PD.
Because it is obvious that this guy could just be from the city.
Does this make sense? Please feel free to correct me or tell me I’m not making any sense.
Posting diff points I want to make in diff comments…so I’ll continue shortly
Getting on google street view to look for myself again : )
Were the security cameras working in the place the BB team practiced that night? Can LE know who all was inside the BB court? It was at JPJ arena…where? downstairs? I don’t suspect a BB player, I’m thinking a bystander/observer. I thought the limo driver saw someone lurking behind Morgan’s route with the BB players. He saw the whole thing, no one saw him, except maybe Morgan. I think he exited JPJ BB practice at the same time. An older guy, older than the college kids.
Come on Lt. Rader, please keep interviewing these guys, ok?
p.s. Blink, you worry me when you say you feel we won’t have resolve.
is there any video of the BB practice by anyone?
@ SUSANM: I have actually been followed like that, (but not harmed, thank goodness) so I know the agenda. They wait until a woman commits herself to a path which is more isolated, and then they become more threatening, but it is hard to determine, until too late. Once someone commits to the solitary path, they are emboldened, and they are between the defenseless woman, and the public place, where she left. I think it is a ruse as old as the hills. If you consider that Sketch was between Morgan and JPJA, and she oould not run as fast as he could, especially with those boots, then you can see why she had to seek help by trying to flag down a car.
Her actions and disappearance from plain sight make perfect sense when Sketch’s Fairfax MO is overlayed on her last known time, place and movements, away from the JPJA, because he was between her and JPJA, and she was trying to get away, in the only direction she could go. He had closed her off from the public place, and it is all too easy not to realize until that happens.
The security failure is the obvious question, as well, what would happen if a security failure of that magnitude were to have been discovered to have happened during the last days of the tenure of a very popular University President? I don;t think the president was involved, but some lower people who were not doing their job might have been, it seems to me, maybe involved in moving Morgan to AF.
Susan,
I appreciate your many thoughts on this. I just want to add my 2 cents:
I don’t think it is necessarily part of Sketch’s MO to run away from his crimes/victims–he may have run away from the Fairfax victim only because he was about to be caught by the neighbor. WHAT IF he usually takes victims away (perhaps there have been several others) after attacking them and hides their bodies? Perhaps Morgan is the only one who has been found.
June 7 susanm…You already know I am a fan of your brilliant thinking.
Your style alienates most readers, but I always make the effort.
I like your thought about the quick happenings of the night.
However, you wander into vague territory when you thought he followed except for “it was as and placed it at 15 st to be found ,nothing nefarious with the shirt .so why he didnt he leave her there?he had patience this time and grabbed her the near the fence,threw her in trunk,and went on a drive,so she is alive in the trunk? or he gets lucky and she accepts a ride. at anyrate if he was there for
Well, we know what’s up.. And we shall overcome!
Railroad tracks: If you look at a map of the location Morgan was supposedly last seen, (my opinion, trying to get away from Sketch who was following her at a distance, when she was observed at near or total dark with her thumb out for help), you will see that the train tracks which run under that bridge run down beside route 29 and very very close to Anchorage Farm. Also the tracks are known as the Buckingham Branch Railroad, and CSX uses the tracks to move empty coal cars westward, back from the Tidewater area. Those empty coal cars move very slowly, and quite likely the transients know all about how they can get around there without a car. Follow the train tracks, it could be the link to AF, and everything else makes sense, when considering the exact same Fairfax MO, blitz attack, time of day, and Sketh following Morgan into isolated area from safety of public area.
http://maps.yahoo.com/index.php?ard=1&q1=North%20Garden%2C%20VA%2022959#mvt=m&lat=38.013391&lon=-78.562403&zoom=14&q1=North%20Garden%2C%20VA%2022959
Nine-year sentence given in attack
Man gets 91/2 years for violent abduction
Date published: 4/22/2011
BY KEITH EPPS
A man who brutally beat a young woman after dragging her into his home last summer was ordered yesterday to serve 91/2 years in prison.
Joseph Anthony Broadway, 46, of Stafford County was previously convicted in Stafford Circuit Court of aggravated malicious wounding, abduction and attempted rape.
Judge J. Martin Bass sentenced him to a total of 40 years with all but the 91/2 suspended. Broadway had no prior criminal record.
The sentence was within the recommended state sentencing guidelines, but did not go over well with the victim.
“That’s it? That’s all he gets for ruining my life?” she blurted out before supporters guided her out of the courtroom.
According to the evidence presented previously by prosecutor Caleb Frigerio, the woman was walking in the shopping center near Foreston Woods Drive on July 6 when Broadway drove up and asked if she needed a ride.
The woman declined, but a few minutes later she was choked from behind and forced into a vehicle.
She was taken to Broadway’s home on Kennesaw Drive in Stone River subdivision, where she was dragged into the house, beaten with a nightstick and had her clothes taken off.
The woman broke away at some point and managed to call 911. She had just made the call when Broadway, who is married, entered the room with a knife.
She was completely naked when she ran outside directly into 1st Sgt. Frank Martello, who was responding to the 911 call.
The victim was bleeding profusely and ended up with 22 staples and 20 stitches in her head. She also suffered a broken arm and nerve damage.
Defense attorney Jason Pelt asked Bass to give Broadway five years to serve.
He said Broadway had a distinguished Navy career and had a history of service in his church and his community.
He said Broadway’s actions that day were horrible, “but don’t let that one day define what this man is. This is a guy you want to be like,” Pelt said.
Frigerio said Broadway has proven to be a danger to society and deserved a long prison term. He said the victim is alive only by “grace and the sheer force of will.”
“We don’t know what caused Mr. Broadway to commit these horrible acts,” Frigerio said. “But whatever it is, it’s still in him.”
Before Bass pronounced sentence, Broadway read a statement in which he apologized and claimed his actions that day “are not my character at all. It is my hope and prayer that I am reunited with my family as soon as possible.”
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
……(this is a guy you want to be like?) Now I have heard everything….
http://www.roanoke.com/datasphere/wb/224154
I have been saving a lot of links of rr tracks, and maybe this one will show something, I hope. The maps don’t seem to have a directional indication. The track under the bridge seems to go along 250, Ivy road. That same track running under the bridge in the other direction intersects with another set of tracks near Estes Road and the Amtrack. That is the set of tracks which go down beside RT 29. I am going to see if I can find the link to where the homeless man was beaten, near railroad tracks I think.
warning: speculative
Vandersluts motive was/is money/gambling drugs crimes thats what the whole stream of lies and violence is about. Women were easy victims for him, men his competition (poker games) but I doubt he is a sexual killer. Basically someone without a conscience and ambitions to be a crimelord. Guess he thought S America was a better home for someone with his character, everyone knew he would kill again…
Sketch motive seems to be rage or anger violence power? I think this sets him apart from the average pervert. I would look more for someone assaulting young women on parking lots near venues/malls/stores during the last few years. Again we know that it is matter of time before he hurts someone.
I always thought Morgan was trying to flag a car down but not anymore since the last LE statement: she did not try to flag a car down. Maybe the HH was because of a feeling of uneasiness wanting to get out of there. But not full panic. Maybe she did make it to a store.
AF connection: vehicle (4×4) and work related (construction) which could and should include neighboring properties.
There must be traces of violence following Sketch, unfortunately when looking at the crime reports in that area, assaults are common.
i did look at local crime reports and there are many assaults and don t forget the purse-theft that got reported that night.
There is a lot to go on, DNA, a composite, witness statements etc.
Also I wonder if the person that scared Sketch got a look at him.
OT
I think its good to finally scrutinize Sketch.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/12998778/police-investigate-assault-of-homeless-man?redirected=true
Also, the place where the “under the bridge tracks” intersect with the tracks going down RT 29 (that intersection is near Amtrack), is a little more than half a mile along the same tracks to the Water ST/ Main St/ End of Mall location where the homeless man was beaten and left for dead.
I am beginning to think that the tracks are important to some part of the netherworld.
Now we need to see if there are any tracks in City of Fairfax.
According the the internet info on the Buckingham Tracks, CSX has the right to run its coal cars over those tracks and there are sometimes 8 of the CSX transports per day/ (night?), including the empty coal cars.
http://www.acwr.com/rail-maps/freight-rail-map-class-i-carriers-us-north-america.html
Here is a map of freight rail lines over the US, the line up the middle of Virginia looks like it might follow RT 29, and RT 29 goes near the location of Fairfax BLVD and Germantown RD, however, since the road names are not shown it is hard to tell.
If we consider why it has been so hard to find Sketch, and why he is not in the system, it may be because he is living a different existance than what we have considered.
I hope the authorities make it a point to check out the known locations for transients, in Charlottesville, maybe in the woods near AF, and in City of Fairfax. I do not think we can just give up because Sketch might be “off the grid.”
@ Olivia: yes, I think you are right, and now that I have gotten past the part where I thought Sketch had to have a car to do that, and I really thought Sketch had shown that he was very comfortable operating on foot, in Fairfax, I certainly buy into that idea that Sketch doesn’t just leave them alone where the original attack took place. The AF commection actually is making sense to me now, as related to the fact that in the dark of night, it would be easy to hop on one of those almost moving flat beds, or other freight cars, and roll on to the next place where he wanted to be, and I don’t even think it would be hard for Sketch to physically pick up Morgan, it wasn;t hard for him to pick up the Fairfax victim, and that is in his MO.
Someone said the police said that Morgan was not hailing a car, possibly, she was at that point where Sketch was intimidating her, but she did not want him to know how much he creeped her out, so she did just short of stepping in the middle of the road waving her arms, she stuck her thumb out, and I think that is something that she would not have been accustomed to doing, or would not have considered doing, except under duress.
Now back to the others, I do not want to hog all of the bandwidth.
To Alexandria, about UVA athletic video taking: one thing I noticed, in searching through videos, is that the Brattons’ half brother, Vernon Manuel, aka Vernon Bratton, seems to provide a good bit of video to UVA Athletics and other schools up and down the east coast. Not just LAX but no BB from that weekend, at least not that I could locate. However, it was Family Weekend and he is touted as the Bratton brothers’ father figure.
9 1/2 years!!! I am going to be sick.
Dr. Pepper,
UVA is in what used to be a small town but is not really any longer. The population is around 100,000 for city and county, 60,000 counting students for the city alone. And most people who live in the city OR county consider themselves from Charlottesville. Farther out, a few will say they live in Scottsville (South) or Crozet (West) but actually most of those people come to C’ville all the time, like, every day. The football field is next to the dorms (where Dad took Daughter), while the soccer, baseball, track, and basketball fields/courts are next to each other on Copeley/Massie. To get to AF from Copeley by car takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic, etc. That night, maybe less. The true (non-suburban) country is not just a few blocks away but more like 2-5 miles away from the campus, which is very spread out, depending on which direction you’re going. The Red Hill Road area is close to North Garden, and I guess some of the residents are well acquainted (old-timers) but there are lots of transplants here now from all over. (C’ville is touted as a great small city, sometimes a top ten town, that kind of thing.)
Somehow I don’t believe this guy took the train. Mainly because it just does not seem especially plausible that he dragged her to a train and then from the train to AF when he got out in the country, and all in the rain and cold. But it does seem that attacking in such weather would be a benefit for him, because of low visibility and fewer people out driving or walking. BUT would he wait in the woods by the bridge in such weather? Seems unlikely–because he would guess that there would be fewer female joggers and solitary walkers out on such a night. I can’t get my mind around this. Any thoughts?
I’ve been thinking it through and I believe that he had a car nearby during the Fairfax assault, to which he planned to run to get away quickly and where he planned to drag her. He knows: no body, no real case. In C’ville on 10/17/2009, he also had a car. Perhaps he waited and observed in it, or parked it nearby as in the Fairfax case. He lurked, as someone said above. My guess: he is a man of some means with a very slimy interior.
IMO, he was either lurking about outside JPJ or he was coming out of JPJ BB practice with the rest of them. He was there. Was he in a car or on foot, or both? That’s why I think there’s a good chance he was exiting JPJ with the rest of the crowd, everyone got in their cars and drove out. 9:20-9:30. There had to be a car for her to disappear like that. No cameras inside the gym? There had to be friends, family and strangers. Was it the first practice?
Dr. Pepper, I don’t know why, but your connection to the bake sale and Pantops just ‘feels’ right. Don’t let this go.
Blink-
Seeing as though sexual assaults are extremely traumatizing to the victims, I know that it is almost rare for victims to speak out before their attacker has been caught. I assume that it may also be frowned upon by lE during an active investigation, to maintain integrity of the investigation.
However, after your recent comments eluding to the idea that the FF’s victim’s case must be solved first….I ask if you or anyone else know if the FF victim has been given an opportunity to speak out…if she has declined, been advised not to or if anyone has even tried to interview her.
–
I will also ask again, Blink- have you spoken with any LE in FF assigned to this investigation? It it being activity investigated?
Since the Sketch connection was made, we have not heard much from FF LE if anything.
I wonder if that has been due to their own decision, they haven’t been asked by the media or if their hands became tied when VSP became involved.
Furthermore, I find it reprehensible that “Disappeared” did not take the time to Shed more light on the FF case.
@Olivia… Thank you. Im terrible with numbers. Are you saying that basically, UVA. Has a student pop of 60,000 and 40,000 non-UVA?
It would be one thing if Morgan was attacked and left in the university area. That scenario would make a train seem more plausible, but even though LE said that she was not flagging down a car or that no one saw her get into a car
I don’t see any other plausible way for her to be transported to AF. (not saying train impossible..but IMO unlikely)
Again, if she hadn’t been transported, a train would make more sense to me.
Praying that I can keep my thoughts in line so that I can type everything I want to say in my next post.
Here’s a shocker: Dr Pepper has ADD. : )
I used to post here and on the findmorgan site. I haven’t posted for a long while as things seemed to have slowed up. Here’s my .02 on the sketch guy. I think he encountered a target of opportunity viewing Morgan on the bridge. I believe he is a black male (from the sketch). I have been to C’ville a few times and have been to buffalo wild wings by the MacDonalds in the west end of barracks road shopping center. At night it has a largely black clientele (now don’t go gettin your shorts in a bunch and calling me a racist). I sort of like the place. I think that sketch was a patron of the bar on 10-17. He knows enough about C’ville to know that traffic on Emmett (rte. 290 would be heavy and maybe waits due to the concert at jpj – lots of cops too. He exited the parking lot at bbww and made a right onto Arlington, got to the top of the hill and made a left onto Massie, followed that around to Copely where he made a right and then spotted Morgan. Somehow he got her into his vehicle. He committed the murder somewheres around A farms and then disposed of her body where he thought no one would find it at least for some time. He is obviously familiar with C’ville and environs, esp. A farms. What is my pt.? Maybe its too late, but sketch’s sketch should have been shown to the staff and patrons at bbww as soon as it was released, maybe even posted. I will bet that somebody there knows this dude.
It was the first practice and probably will have been videotaped as most practices are. LE will know exactly who was at the practice and who was with the players in the parking lot unless you think that 14 individual players and various coaches and trainers are all in on the lie. It was a closed practice.