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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Sorry y’all- that was chicken scratch. Ill follow up with clearer post tonight
Without being specific, there is evidence to support the fact that Morgan was murdered at the recovery site, that said, y’all know I believe she was incapacitated near the [Lannigan]field, and did not willingly get into any car on or near the bridge.
B
OK, if Morgan was incapacitated at Lannigan Field how did Morgan’s credit card get used? If the card’s use was attempted then there has to be a photo of Morgan or the perp taken by the bank’s security camera, right? And if it was the perp who tried to use it then Morgan had to have given the perp the security number, right? Which means she wasn’t too incapacitated when she gave the number?
Of course we don’t know if Morgan’s card was used or not or when the attempt was made. Or where. It’s a double-dark secret known only to the perp and VSP. Unbelievable.
Great post MSL (#42) This case has many serious challenges. It may take years, it may be solved next week. I am sure VSP are using every resource available including the FBI just up the road. If Sketch is caught let’s hope his lawyer is Jose Baez.
Funny Minney, however, I guess I am the only person in the world who at least partly believes CA, and greatly disbelieves her father. (OT, sorry)
RE Morgans card being used…. I do recall I think Blink saying it was in fact never used according to Dr Harrington….sorry no link…Blink?
OK as long as we are talking credit cards and such and imagining Morgan did get into a vehicle at least initially voluntarily …which throws a spanner in the works regarding her purse and phone ending up in the lot which yes they may have been taken back and dumped there BUT the phone still went dead at 9 30PM which suggests to me she was in trouble by this point…
In this vein there is one witness account that keeps sticking in my tired brain. The people who said Morgan came inside their convenience store in a van with some guys with tattoos, and drove off with them. Does anyone else remember that account? I never could forget this for some reason.
In terms of Morgan’s debit card, if I remember correctly, Dr. Harrington stated that he could not confirm or deny whether anyone attempted to use it because that information was relevant to the investigation. I think many of us felt that meant that someone did try to use it.
Of course our interpretation could be inaccurate.
Thanks Wanttohelp re the credit card I remember that now as well and agree with your interpretation.
By the way I meant to say that the poster said that Morgan drove up to the convenience store with these tattooed guys,she came inside and then drove off with them.
wanttohelp says:
June 23, 2011 at 8:31 pm
“In terms of Morgan’s debit card, if I remember correctly, Dr. Harrington stated that he could not confirm or deny whether anyone attempted to use it because that information was relevant to the investigation. I think many of us felt that meant that someone did try to use it.”
Exactly. If someone tried to use the credit card after 9:30 when the phone went dead and if the credit card was found with the purse the next morning then it had to be returned to Lannigan Field, not left there by Morgan. If an attempt was not made to use the credit card why would the VSP even ask Dr. Harrington not to discuss the matter?
I apologize for the OT but the Gamecocks have to play Virginia again and I’m well aware that the first game was not a true look at the #1 team in the nation.
Watching Virginia play last night made me think about something: what was the big baseball event that was going on the weekend of the Metallica concert? I know they didn’t play that night but I think they were going to play that Sunday. My next question is: Who were they going to play? A team from the Fairfax area possibly?
Mary, Virginia did not play baseball on October 18th. The games were the annual Orange/Blue world series. There were no other teams involved. The game scheduled for the 15th (Thursday) was postponed due to rain, there was a game scheduled for Friday night the 16th, but none over the weekend. According to the following link, the rained out game on the 15th was rescheduled for Monday.
Monday.http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=204814136
Sorry, the link doesn’t appear to work, but if you’re really interested in seeing the schedule, google University of Virginia 2009 Orange and Blue World Series.
i havent heard anyone suggest a snipe hunt in so long ,but it used to be a regular joke ,in the south.”wanna go hunt for snipe” ,was a way for guys to induct a new friend into a clique,or a joke to get a girl to go for a drive in the woods ,which i guess would result in a make out session,i have heard of one girl who actually claims she ran around quacking,and she thought it was hilarious.i could just see one of those 14 guys ,saying ,we’re gonna go hunt for snipe ,wanna go? its just a joke, the girl always says no.but to suggest that morgan was murdered at the recovery sight ,and not just nearby and then lobbed over the fence at that back corner ,means they were on that property for some reason. but blink has said she thinks morgan was assaulted in a vehicle ,iirc,so i guess she means the vehicle was on the outside of the property line and then after the rape, morgan was placed over the fenced property line.?
,link to snipe hunt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snipe_hunt
Thanks MsL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-NKbxZ983I dedicated to morgan and holly
Guys I just saw something that disturbed me. A white with at least two kids, a baby in a car seat and a you’d woman (Maybe a mother) in the front seat. The door was open & So were the windows but as I got out, the dad was lecturing them on perception. I also saw a Jesus pamphlet.
It is 98 degrees outside and these poor kids looked poor and miserable. I took a picture of the van and got it’s license plate #. Is this something I should call as report? I didn’t witness anythng bad, but just got a bad feeling and I’ve promised myself that’d id always speak up if I see something weird. Advice please.
O and they’re parked at the chamber of commerce.
2-4-1 Morgan!
It could be, the most simple scenario. Sketch was lurking about. Alone. Had no purpose to be in the area other than his evil. Saw Morgan, waited for his opportunity, like an animal.
There had to be a car nearby and he took her to AF. That’s why he is so elusive because he is not friend/relation to anyone else or place. No ties. AF was random? IDK
I don’t like the thought of him striking again, one of our daughters.
I wish VSP could collect DNA from everyone to find him. Ai,ai,ai, sorry. This is frustrating.
mom3.0 did you get a chance to re read this http://www.readthehook.com/69711/bridge-morgan-harrington-last-seen-over-train-tracks
Well, this fact makes it obvious that the area around the RV lot was indeed well lit….
UVA spokesperson Carol Wood confirms that a mobile light, like this one installed for the October 31 football game against Duke, was operating in the RV Lot during the Metallica concert.
http://www.readthehook.com/69711/bridge-morgan-harrington-last-seen-over-train-tracks
Susanm- Hello- I sincerely apologize for not answering you sooner.
I have been splitting my time between summer mommy duties- and hoping for Justice for Caylee Anthony ( watching the trial and posting on the Caylee thread)-
I havent been posting on Morgans thread as much- because of this.
I did read thru your link and would like to think before I comment There are several interesting things in that article- as you pointed out.
Ill try to formulate my thoughts and write a post tomorrow. I am sorry if I left you hanging- not my intention…I also have been thinking about Blinks newest shared thought- and several points others have made in their posts- just havent had the time to sit down and post-
talk with you tomorrow
Peace
New Blog from Gil Harrington from June 27th, 2011
My Dear Morgan,
Goodness, things have to lighten up soon. I am about at my limits of strength and ability to process information. I am just back from a quick trip to NYC to shore up Alex. It feels like I have been in constant motion since returning from Africa – to NYC twice, to D.C., to Charlottesville, to North Carolina…. spinning like a top at times. I have been traveling so much that I’m getting disoriented when I open the fridge and think “but I know I just bought milk. Where is it? Oh, that was another fridge.” Much of my busyness is to stop the despair that Dan and Alex slide into during my two weeks away in Africa. We have all become like delicate plants that wither quickly when nurturing and tending is withdrawn.
So I am on the circuit to do my Mama nurturing, leaving filled refrigerators, clean laundry, and order in my wake. That is a particularly hard task to do in NYC where I have to cart the fixings of every meal through the streets and up three flights of stairs to Alex’s apartment. I found myself considering meals dependent on their weight. Somehow, I couldn’t get Alex to buy into a dinner of rice cakes, popcorn and marshmallows. Pity, it would have been so easy – and light! It is funny to figure out what value you add on. I see that mine is to provide sanctuary to those I love, easing things up a bit.
This is a nice gig to have and pretty intuitive for me. I know how to make the daily grind recede and the sense of home emerge. When Dan and Alex fall in the door, I can be there to catch them with the sustenance of food and music and love all around. Then, they are able to take that nexus of calm and use it as a foundation to take on the world – the next day. With my caring, I chip away some of the anguish from your death and the incessant demands of work.
The habit of joy is so easily forgotten and most difficult to recapture. We have definitely lost our way on this – we have got the work side of the equation down solidly, but the pleasure/reward part is missing since your murder, Morgan. I believe that the way out is to add the grace notes, wherever possible and to guard the space where contentment might grow. Exuding joy into your life is like the letting down of milk; it cannot be forced, but creating an environment of serenity allows the nurture to flow. We need to pay attention to this process and help it along. Otherwise, I fear we are at risk of essentially becoming collateral victims of Morgan’s killer, alive, but without a life. No way, no how, will I let him inflict further damage to us; we will work it out. I happened on a phrase that resonated and that I want to create for our triangulated family: “post traumatic growth”. It IS possible – it even has a name! Morgan help us conjure this reality.
241
Mama
Mrs. Harrington, your strength and grace continue to amaze and inspire. What a blessing you are to Dr. H and Alex and to all who love and miss Morgan. Thank you for sharing with those of us who didn’t know her but who love her anyhow. Godspeed. 2 4 1
Mrs Harrington I could not say it better than first-time above.
Your strength , courage , vulnerability and transparency inspires and nourishes your family,
and all of us who love and miss Morgan. Somehow she touched our hearts and our lives,
and we are better for it.
Morgan is much loved indeed by many who did not know her , but love her and miss her anyhow.
Peace and Blessings to you all, and Justice for dear Morgan.
I REALLY like Mrs. Harrington’s letter to Morgan. I don’t get moved too easily, but this one got me. I like the collateral victim premise, particularly since she refuses to let herself and family become residual victims.
Hi, everyone, I’ve been away. But I have read most of your recent posts.
I drove on Red Hill Road recently for the first time. I drove all around (by road only) the areas that have been discussed here. Here’s a link to views of these roads and fields (posted above at some point):
http://persiflage.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mapsphotos&action=print&thread=27
I went into the Blandemar Farm area and onto Waldemar Road and Circle. It took mere minutes to get through the entire area by car. I noted that on Red Hill Road there were two or three gated, unpaved “roads” that went off into the woods in the direction of the AF property. I was going west on Red Hill Road and these car paths were leading to the north. There also was a small bridge on RH Road next to a large open expanse or field (again in the AF direction), across which it would have been easy to drive in an SUV, I think.
I don’t see evidence of these car paths, however, in the aerial photos. But they are there. I saw them with my own eyes. They’re hidden under trees, I suspect. I don’t know how far they go. They did not appear to lead to homes but rather to allow entrance into the woods/fields for other purposes by the owners.
And I agree that although much has been made by LE of the remoteness of the area where she was found, it certainly is not very far from certain homes, roads, and paths.
I saw that building and home construction are still going on in Blandemar, and there were, of course, workmen. Not many but a few, with work vehicles, trucks, and the like. The area is very beautiful, very landscaped around these large homes. Yet the Red Hill community has many economically disadvantaged residents. The Red Hill public school, for example, has 42% economically disadvantaged students, according to its web site. While Murray School out 250 West has only 2.8% economically disadvantaged. I wonder if it would be possible to “squat” in an empty house or building out on the AF or Blandemar properties. You could be a construction worker with a car or access through work to a vehicle, and know the area very well, obviously.
I can easily imagine many people exploring this area in SUVs or on foot or knowing about it from childhood.
Somewhat OT,
The Gamecocks won the College World Series tonight for the 2nd time in a row. UVa and Florida have been worthy opponents. Victory wouldn’t be sweet if it was easy.
Olivia,
Your above post about squatters reminded me of an experience I had during my 1st marriage. We were desperately trying to buy our first house and went to look at one that had been advertised for sale. It was in our county but was miles from the home we lived in in town. It was actually in the original Boondocks. The house was down a looooong driveway. My husband and I had looked at it, but I took a carload of my friends to get their opinion. We got out of the car, walked into the house, walked into one of the bedrooms and saw a lit candle.
Needless to say we hightailed it out of there and the deal was off. Turns out the house had been foreclosed on and the previous owner was not feeling the move.
I got some random thoughts I want to share in my next post.
Random Thoughts:
1. Lack of photographic/videographic images of Morgan Harrington from 10/17/2009. Not credible. Not just from inside AND outside the arena, but on the cell phones and/or cameras of her friends, cell phones and/or cameras of other of thousands of concertgoers, in the parking lots or on the video cams of dozens of local businesses. “Methinks you protest too much.” There is a reason, though, we haven’t been privy.
2. Timeline. Either Morgan was on the bridge at 9:20 as reported by the father/daughter duo and confirmed by dorm card swipes OR the basketball players are wrong about the time they left the lot and/or the fact that Morgan was in the lot when they left. Without knowing any more, this discrepancy is a red flag.
3. A Gator is not going to drive down 29 to AF at 9:30 on a Saturday night but a truck or SUV trailering a Gator might. With no more info than we have been given, landscaping and/or sports turf connections to UVa and AF would need to be investigated.
4. There are some connections between the 2009-10 basketball team and Fairfax.
All my statements are just my opinion based on the information provided.
Hello SUSANM -
Sorry for the wait- hope you and everyone are still here and still willing to hash it over with me-
The article- you posted SM
http://www.readthehook.com/69711/bridge-morgan-harrington-last-seen-over-train-tracks
It is from Oct 28th-
It reads in part:
-Rader said that Harrington was last seen walking on the bridge that carries Copeley Road over the CSX/Buckingham Branch railroad tracks, a site adjacent to the RV Lot. The Lot is where Harrington’s black purse with two long straps was found, and Rader indicated there were other people nearby who must have seen Morgan.
“We need those people to contact us,” said Rader. “We don’t have all the information we need from the Charlottesville area. We believe those answers are around here.”
—
Now my first thought is that -this is early, the police had not heard from MV and or the F/D BUT that doesnt seem to be the case, since the article also already places Morgan walking on the bridge…
Although there is no mention of Hitch hiking, yet.
SNipped-
“Rader said that Harrington was last seen walking on the bridge-”
In a later article from the hook- Hes Still Here and Other Revelations
http://www.readthehook.com/88650/hes-still-here-and-other-revelations-harrington-case
Snipped-** by me
Investigator Cappuzzo says the witnesses ***in the three bridge sightings*** claim they didn’t see Harrington carrying a purse…..
() ** added by me
snipped-
Within approximately 10 minutes of those two bridge crossings,(F/D then just dad) **two other unrelated witnesses reported to police that they’d seen a blond woman hitchhiking there.*** Cappuzzo says all witnesses’ stories have been thoroughly vetted by police, and none are considered suspects.
Now it could be just coincidence, but these sightings would equal- MV and the father and the daughter- and possibly the “too” that MV seemed to be answering in her post. JMO- Who is the “too”?
MV wrote:
Maggie Voth(UVA) wrote
at 3:16pm on October 19th, 2009
I saw her at 930 too, she was on the bridge on alderman trying to hitchhike and was alone
Now MV- could be the daughter of the F/d- or she may not be…She made this comment on Oct 19th, which is before the date of this Oct 28th article….. but she does says I, not we-
LE says they have 2 other unrelated witness sightings on bridge… in addition to f/d
So- we have MV and F/d or MV is the daughter…
so we, the public are aware of only 2 of the 3 unrelated witnesses- or just the f/d…
Whats interesting is MV says I saw her **too**- and I always assumed this was in answer to Leslie Carlsons account of having seen Morgan that night. I assumed this because I had never seen LC ‘s account mentioned, without mentioning MV…. but I was wrong to assume, because I found LC’s entire post/quote- it is from 12 am on Oct 21st- not the 19th, and talks about 9pm and Morgans exiting the arena-not 9:30pm and a bridge walk, so MV was not answering LC-
Here is the quote from LC in its entirety-
Leslie Carlson(JMU) wrote
at 12:14am on October 21st, 2009
Police reports say that she was separated from friends shortly before 9pm and that she was going outside and was thought to be returning shortly. I arrived at the JPJ around 9pm and witnessed a girl who fits her description leaving the arena. I am not positive I can recall what she was wearing, just that I remember black and high heels. The girl that I saw was extremely intoxicated and by herself. I also witnessed her drop her purse several times, and police reports say it was found along with her cell phone outside the JPJ. I do not want to make assumptions on the very little evidence I have, but if one of her friends that was with her that night sees this and is willing to discuss if alcohol was involved, my report may be helpful. I do not know where she headed after leaving the arena, however. Just that she had a spat with the female security guard working the door. I will call the police hotline and tell them what I know in the morning.
—
So is LC one of the witnesses that helped LE place Morgan exiting, and seemingly intoxicated, and alone, and dropping her purse, several times- Whats of note here, is that if this is one of the witnesses that helped form the timeline and the dropping of the purse intoxication ect- IF LC did see her, then she says she had a “spat” with a FEMALE security guard- that was working the door- which would go against The Disappeared shows portrayal of the security guard- and LE has never confirmed this, and according to the Hes Still Here article, in retrospect it would seem that this info, is somewhat obscured with the absence of pronouns.. No He did this or SHE did that – merely a ticket taker…no mention of security either, just a ticket taker…
So where does the security guy, that wishes he could have helped her, come in? hes a guy not a girl…Did he tell his friend the truth? and what about the time periods when Morgan first exited..at 8:30…. and her “multiple attempts” mentioned early on, yet a “second” attempt mentioned in the Hes Still here article.. “Morgan left the Arena a second time”
snipped: ** by me
The Arena’s no re-entry policy has been a source of controversy, and Cappuzzo at last addressed questions about the moment Morgan left the Arena. While some have speculated that she was lured outside, Cappuzzo revealed **that a ticket taker** warned Morgan about the Arena’s no re-entry policy as she prepared to exit through the main doors facing Copeley Road. Morgan acknowledged the warning, Cappuzzo says, then left anyway, where she was seen emptying the contents of her purse in an apparently unsuccessful effort to find her red Kodak digital camera, which has never been recovered. Standing in front of the Arena, witnesses also reported seeing her drop her phone, then retrieve it.
When she tried to reenter through the main entrance of the Arena, says Cappuzzo, **the ticket taker** asked for her ticket.
“She said, ‘It’s in pieces in my purse,’” says Cappuzzo, who says **the ticket taker** stopped her when it appeared she planned to dump the contents of her purse **again**. **Told** she’d need to purchase another ticket if she wanted to return, Morgan left the Arena a second time and remained in the immediate area for as long as 10 or 15 minutes…
—
Part 1 AJMO
Part 2
What witnesses were LE relying upon for this early article?- date of Oct 28th – We have LE knowing about the bridge, and also BBP- did BK come forward at this point? Did Curtsy duo? we know MV and LC statement was out there- Kickee it was said In HSH article, wasnt interviewed by CS until weeks after the concert,
“Among the witnesses who reported seeing Harrington was a 44-year-old man, whom the Hook interviewed a few weeks after the concert.”
and this from the Hook article -concerned-witnesses-before-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry
snipped-
In the early days of the investigation, Geller says, police reviewed hours of surveillance footage from the Arena and from area businesses but found no images of Morgan. According to the owner of the closest convenience store to John Paul Jones Arena, the 7-Eleven on Ivy Road, it was several days before investigators reviewed her store’s tapes.
“I believe it was Wednesday, October 21,” says 7-Eleven franchise owner Sabiha Raja.
Asked why it took so long, Geller said at a press conference, “It depends when that information might have come in.”
—LE got the surveillance tapes on the 21st? At least from the 7-11… so it seems F/d came forward around then?
Why would LE wait to get any tapes in the area… why would it depend on info thatcame in?
Rader is quoted as saying- in your article SusanM
Rader described the timeline, pieced together from witness interviews, as fairly accurate, but he noted that it changed within the 30 minutes before the press conference began— and that it remains subject to further refinement, particularly since some witnesses were not wearing watches.
–
snipped from Blinks earlier article
http://blinkoncrime.com/2009/11/12/morgan-harrington-case-uva-basketball-players-last-to-speak-to-missing-vt-student/
Lead Investigator, Lt Joe Radar refers to the players as “people the VSP have identified” in his press conference on October 28, 2009.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to blinkoncrime, two separate sources, one within UVA and the other within the investigation, have verified that Morgan Harrington “interacted” with the individuals for approximately 10 minutes in the Lannigan Field Area, where Morgan’s purse was recovered the following morning.
According to Lt Radar, the basketball players, whom they were able to identify and speak with, left the area at 9:20PM in seperate vehicles, stating Morgan was still there when they departed.
—
Snipped from early timelune- in your article SM ** by me-
8:20 – 8:30 – Harrington outside Arena at front and the side facing U-Hall
8:30-8:48 -Harrington at various locations outside arena
8:48 – friend calls and offers other entry door suggestions, but Harrington says she’ll try to get a ride home from “friends around Charlottesville”
8:48 – 9:00 – Harrington still in the Arena area
9:00 – 9:10 – Harrington walking with purse through U-Hall parking lot “around” and “walking in the same direction”— but not necessarily “with”— other people
9:10 – 9:20 – Harrington in the RV Lot with “limited interaction” with witnesses
9:20 – **some** witnesses leave in vehicles
9:20 – 9:30 – Harrington walks on the Copeley Road bridge near Ivy Road
–Most of these notations, seem helpful only to the BBP- the last witnesses Morgan was said to have talked to, walked with, asked for a ride…
“around” “walking in the same direction”— but not necessarily “with”
“limited interaction” with witnesses….
We know LE said the BBP were gone by 9:20 so who was still in the area? We know the curtsy duo came in AFTER the BBP had left…and we know the F/D hadnt seen her during the time the BBP were there, because Morgan had to be near the PP for the CDuo…and then over to the bridge….for F/D
Who are the 2 unrelated witnesses?, who was “nearby” and still needed to come forward?… who isnt counted in the “some” that left?-
Im sure there are more ? I havent thought of…I sure know I dont have the answers….
Sorry for the length- I know I covered alot of ground, hope it helps…
AJMO
Peace
Thank you to Dr. Harrington for sharing Gils thoughts with us..
My prayers go out to you and yours.
Thanks to Olivia for bringing us that account, much appreciated.
Sorry for any spelling or other errors in my previous posts.
Olivia,
Thanks for the repost of the photos. Morgan was found just on Bass property at the confluence of five Blandemar Farms properties and two Bass properties. All seven properties are owned by a total of only three owners. Most of the lots do not have any structures built on them. Either it was dumb luck that she was barely on a Bass property or (more likely) someone wanted to make sure she was NOT on one of the other properties. Perhaps someone who has standing permission from the owners for access – perhaps for hunting.
Interestingly, one of the seven properties is wooded, and has a large clearing around the site of an old torn-down farmhouse and access to Red Hill Road through a (now) locked gate. Was this the site of the
Albemarle County Sheriff’s Department escapades? Could this be the site where Morgan was assaulted?
As to driving Morgan to where she was found in a pick-up truck or four wheel drive. I don’t think anyone would risk getting stuck in a field on a rainy, wet night with Morgan. How could they possibly explain to the land-owner what they were doing driving through the owner’s fields in the middle of the night? Putting a securely wrapped victim on the bed of a “gator” and driving though a wooded property that the perp already had permission to be on is another possibility altogether.
Just random thoughts in the absence of any info from the VSP.
I think the leaving the arena a second time refers to leaving the foyer type area.
IMO, Maggie Voth obviously was responding to Leslie Carlson with the “I saw her too.” Leslie said she saw her, and Maggie said she saw her too and then said where and when. Who know if either of them were telling the truth or if they are among the witnesses LE has determined did in fact see morgan. I tend to believe Voth’s account as it is fairly specific to a time and place that morgan seems to have been present (and was made before it was common knowledge that morgan was in that area) and suspect she was the daughter in the father/daughter duo. Just a feeling though.
Redly – Maggie Voth wrote her comment first. Oct 19 She couldnt have been responding to Leslie, who wrote her comment after on Oct 21st.
IRT the arena- I agree she left the arena, the **second time** after talking to the “ticket taker” probably in the foyer-
My point was not that Morgan was in the arena again, but that according to Capuzzzo- Morgan left the arena from the main entrance- and then turned around and wanted back in- WHAT HAppened to the MULTIPLE attempts? What happened from 8:20 until 9:00- According to the timeline she was outside as early at 8:20- then She has the above mentioned interaction with the tickettaker at the main entrance which is referred to as “the moment she exited the arena”…. then a mention of trying to renter and leaving the arena a SECOND time second meaning there was no other attempts between the first-interaction and the second…. then Kickee says he overheard a commotion, and Morgan walked up too him near the SIDE entrance…He says this was at 9:00 pm- then Bkeeper comes forward and sees Morgan it seems right after the kickee encounter at about 9:03… There were no other mentions of Morgan trying to reenter after encountering the kickee and being seen by the BK with the 4 BIB – they walked with her over to THE lot- and the other BBP Merged with them…
Again- what happened from 8:20 to 9:00 and how can there only be one attempt, then an an immediate second attempt at reentry?
The exact quote from the article is:
** by me
The Arena’s no re-entry policy has been a source of controversy, and Cappuzzo at last addressed questions ****about the moment Morgan left the Arena.**** While some have speculated that she was lured outside, Cappuzzo revealed that a ticket taker warned Morgan about the Arena’s no re-entry policy ***as she prepared to exit through the main doors facing Copeley Road.*** Morgan acknowledged the warning, Cappuzzo says, then left anyway, where she was seen emptying the contents of her purse in an apparently unsuccessful effort to find her red Kodak digital camera, which has never been recovered. Standing in front of the Arena, witnesses also reported seeing her drop her phone, then retrieve it.
***When she tried to reenter through the main entrance*** of the Arena, says Cappuzzo, the ticket taker asked for her ticket.
“She said, ‘It’s in pieces in my purse,’” says Cappuzzo, who says the ticket taker stopped her when it appeared she planned to dump the contents of her purse again. Told she’d need to purchase another ticket if she wanted to return, *****Morgan left the Arena a second time ******and remained in the immediate area for as long as 10 or 15 minutes, interacting with various concertgoers— several of whom offered her assistance, which she again declined.
AJMO
that’s good hard work, Mom 3.0, especially for teasing out the ticket taker was female. in my mind, she’s the one that tore up the ticket, which likely resulted in the spat either at that point or upon re-entry attempt.
i also note that the curtsy duo seem to be the last witnesses we know of that saw Morgan, and had some type of interaction (albeit “limited”) with her. as far as we know, any other witnesses that saw her after that point in the timeline were more of passerby’s with allies.
i would sure like to know more about the curtsy duo.
Say- I wonder if they still work on the premises? Seems like a fair question.
B
doh, should read “passersby with an alibi”.
Comments to posters from Courtney Stuart re: “He’s still here…..”
“courteney February 9th, 2011 | 9:30pm
@Amy L: The shirt was mentioned on the media tour, but police wouldn’t offer any theories on who might have placed it there or why or even when. In response to my and other media member’s questions about the shirt, police stressed that they are focusing on the location of Anchorage Farm more than the location of the shirt. I don’t know why they waited so long to reveal information about the shirt. One explanation given to me (and which I wrote at some point months back) is that DNA results took a long time to come back.
@JAB The witnesses who reported Morgan’s curtsy are not suspects. To clarify, all the witnesses Special Agent Cappuzzo mentioned on the tour and those that I have reported on have been interviewed by police and are not suspects.
@Observer: Thank you (and other posters) for your compliments. I really appreciate all of you reading and weighing in. I do want to make sure people understand I wasn’t the only media member on that tour of the Arena and Anchorage Farm. It was open to all local media, and most of the local outlets (TV, print, radio) sent a reporter. I tried to make my report as extensive and in depth as I could based both on the tour and my independent reporting, but I don’t have any special access to police, so I don’t want to give that impression. Like all of you, I hope there will be more to report on this case soon.
–Courteney Stuart”
When I read that Morgan is trying to reach “friends around Charlottesville” (see Mom 3.0′s snippet above in part 2 of her post), I’m guessing that she knows people from the area and/or UVA as her brother Alex went there. If she doesn’t know anyone still in the area from when Alex was there, she may have been with him to some of his haunts. I’ve read on the scaredmonkeys forum that he is openly gay (it may have been discussed on here previously; I don’t recall) and would assume, if that is indeed true, that when he was in Charlottesville that he may have visited if not frequented venues that cater to a homosexual lifestyle. Club 216 (club216.com) is a private club that is primarily a homosexual establishment. Blink has mentioned it on here before as their security provider has been the subject of one of Blinkoncrime.com’s articles.
I wonder if this is one place where Morgan was attempting to go when asking people for rides? NOTE: ***That is based on an assumption that she actually made it out of the parking lot; she indeed was hitchhiking on Copeley; AND, was alive past 9:30*** We know that she and her brother were very close and from most accounts she seemed confident and open-minded enough to go to such a venue as an alternative to waiting for the end of the concert. Forgive me if this has been hashed out before, but when Blink mentioned the venue a couple of weeks ago, I looked it up and it dawned on me that could have been a place that Morgan had visited before and sought out after the re-entry debacle. According to Club 216 rules, admission is for 18 and up so she wouldn’t necessarily need a fake ID to enter.
I also found this item to be ironic regarding entry into the club (taken directly from their website): ONCE YOU BECOME A MEMBER YOU ONLY PAY $5 TO ENTER AND YOU MAY ENTER AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE!
Hey guys- I just started a new job and boy- I’m literally going to be working 15 hours a day. Literally, no exaggeration.
So I wont be able to post as much.
I just read olivia’s recent post about Blandemere area.
- in my hometown the little boys always made forts out in the woods to play in…they’d ve down trails from one of their homes or close to a neighborhood.
I remember everyone was mad whenever they cut down about 6 acres of trees that separated a subdivision from a main road and never built anything on it.
That was 20 yrs ago- the trees have grown back now but I still remember a trail we took in the adjacent wooded area that cut thru to another main street that had a gas station. It was close to another neighborhood and we go on 4 wheelers to friends houses via trails. This was 5th grade.
I still remember routes.
Haven’t lived there or thought of that area in 20 yrs but if I had to, I could go back straight to them.
Also, down the street from the house I grew up in was a practice softball field. There were woods behind it, I went Back there once and there was a tiny pond & a grocery basket.
My older sister’s crew & high schoolers older than her would go back there and build non fires and party.
It was called “the woods”
Someone who knew the area back then, 20 yrs later after they’ve moved, still know it.
Back I town randomly, something happens, you need a place to hide something- u go to somewhere you’re familiar & preferably somewhere no one will immediately connect you to.
DeeTee Thanks for the compliment- and thank you for prompting me to find Leslie Carlson’s entire post.
I ag5ree with you, I think the “ticket taker” TOOK Morgans ticket and tore it up- There is more of a story regarding the 8:20 to 9:00 pm timeframe- there is more to the security encounters then simply Morgan walked out, against warnings, dumped her purse searching for her camera///and then immediately wanted back inside…
Leslie Carlson’s and Kickees accounts prove this…
After my research, it seems the only new witness statements added to the mix are the curtsy duo.
If so, why didnt they come forward early on, and are they too security?
And Do they and the other security still work at JPJ?
Who are those that were said to be “nearby” and who are the “some” that hadnt left at 9:20?
In the article HSH this was said about the F/d sighting of Morgan:
** by me
During a recent tour tracing Morgan’s last known steps, Virginia State Police Special Agent Dino Cappuzzo shared the story of that father and daughter–*** and revealed that it was their witness testimony that permitted police to pinpoint the time Morgan was likely abducted.***
—Please take notice of the above-
it says that it was their testimony that permitted LE to pinpoint the time Morgan was likely ABDUCTED
First, How can this be? Other witnesses said they saw her AFTER the F/d- so in truth the fathers second pass only helps pinpoint when Morgan was no longer on the bridge…( Whose to say she didnt simply walk back to the lot after the F/d didnt stop to give her a ride? Or the witnesses that placed her on the bridge, MV was she in a car? Was she at the concert? and what of the other “unrelated witness”? None of them offered Morgan a ride…and LE did say Morgan was sighted on both sides of the bridge…so perhaps she simply gave up on HH…it didnt seem to be working… why are they so adamant that Morgan was last on the bridge?
And IRT the use of the word abducted…how does that fit into LE’s belief that Morgan was HH on that bridge and most likely got into a vehicle willingly?
Why does everything seem so hush hush-what went on IN the arena and outside… why is every action and encounter downplayed with not with limited interaction…? Ticket taker not security- no spat mentioned..ect ect
AJMO
For the record I am not calling ANY ONE a suspect-
I am just asking questions about the witness statements- when why how- they came to be-ect I am also questioning why depending on what article, time period ect- each witness statement is not mentioned some are added then dropped..and some are discounted then said not to be discounted.
I am questioning why LE just isnt straightforward…
Such as
this example:
Morgan Harrington exited the arena and spoke with Ticket taker Amanda Cox- AC is a SG with G*g she has held this position for _ years. She observed Morgan….She followed protocol when….. In addition to AC Morgan had interactions with SG_ and _ at door # ….Morgan then encountered ….
It would seem that LE still only has the same few witnesses…it would seem nooneelse came forward.
We are privy to many of the witnesses – why arent we privy to the security guards and the doorpersons and the parking attendants and the ticket takers….
Why dont we know who the curtsy duo are? LE said they werent students are they security? and who is the unrelated HH bridge sighting? are they a student a parent, a worker?
BTW- Just to claify, I am not saying any of these witnesses named or not named are suspects or Persons of interest… BUT just because LE says someone is not a suspect, does not mean they are not persons of interest….
To my knowledge, and please correct me if I am wrong, LE never claims anyone as a suspect until an arrest, or a soon to be arrest- they refer to a man, woman or child as a possible POI- and then not always-
AJMO
You can be abducted without knowing it and without violence. If you hitchhike and get in a car with someone who intends to take you somewhere you don’t want to go, you have been abducted. Not saying that is what happened, though I think it did, but that is all that word probably means.
I personally think it is very unlikely a ticket taker ripped up her ticket. I think that either Morgan was either lying about it to come up with a reason why she couldn’t produce it when trying to talk her way back in or she shreded it herself for some reason or got it wet accidentally and it broke up in her purse.
I remain thoroughly disappointed in the lack of progression in Morgans case.
I remain thoroughly concerned about the safety of young women since this monster seems to be a “flying below LE’s radar” and has a proven history of sneak attacks, violence, attempted rapes, etc.
I remain thoroughly confused on LE’s lack of “urgency” and also their lack of making sure the public knows that there is a repeat offender, rapist and murderer, walking their streets.
Praying for Justice….praying hard…
I’m with you Judi…keep a prayin’. Everyone close to the case seems to feel sure this person will be accused and that there will be resolution. This makes me feel that either a) they know who this guy is and are watching him and are just waiting for one more piece of information…. b) they already have someone in custody for a different crime and need a last bit of information to charge him with this one as well…. Or c) There were two or more perps who committed this crime, perhaps one already in their clutches and need to keep it under wraps until they can round up the others with “no questions asked”. ……These are the only reasons I can see why they seem to lack the sense of urgency we think they should have.
It is certainly possible that a # of scenarios occurred
Ir is possible that Morgan HH
It is possible that she left the bridge and returned to the lot and was attacked there.
It is possible the ticket taker tore up Morgans ticket
It is possible that Morgan lied about her ticket being in pieces at the bottom of her purse, and then went to empty the contents in a ruse to show how her lie should be believed.
It is possible that a different security person or door person took Morgans ticket and tore it up.
It is possible that Morgan herself accidentally or on purpose tore up her own ticket.
It is possible Morgan dropped her purse and left her phone and umbrella ect behind.
It is possible that it was planted there, or it fell there during an attack.
It is possible that UVA is in cover-up mode
It is possible that UVA have from day one been on the up and up
It is possible that JPJ/security ect are in cover-up mode
It is possible that JPJ and its security and contracted security has been on the up and up from the beginning.
It is possible that Morgan was never on any footage
It is possible the footage was erased inadvertently or otherwise
It is possible that there were never any tapes.
A great many things are possible in this case, some of them probable, others unlikely-
The only indisputable facts are that Morgan found herself outside of JPJ, and she wanted to and asked to return.
Due to protocols she was denied reentry.
Morgan stayed in the areas directly around the arena from 8:20 to 9:00
She received a call from friends at 8:48
Morgan made her way to THE lot where she asked the BBT for a ride to a specific, unknown (to Us)location- her request was denied
She remained in the lot briefly and was seen by 2 curtsying…then 3 unrelated witnesses saw her attempting to HH-
her bag /and batteryless cell phone ect were recovered from the lot-
She was recovered on AF- a victim of a homicide.
Her case is connected via a forensic link to a known brutal rape.
It is of now still unsolved
AJMO
32.deetee says:
June 29, 2011 at 1:10 pm
….i would sure like to know more about the curtsy duo.
Say- I wonder if they still work on the premises? Seems like a fair question.
B
Ok, I’ll ask it. Is there a FAIR going on there now? Perhaps some FAIRgrounds nearby?
(ack! What’s my posting name, sorry if this is a duplicate)
32.deetee says:
June 29, 2011 at 1:10 pm
….i would sure like to know more about the curtsy duo.
Say- I wonder if they still work on the premises? Seems like a fair question.
B
Ok, I’ll ask it. Is there a FAIR going on there now? Perhaps some FAIRgrounds nearby?
I’m still here. I worry about justice for Morgan all day. I wish they’d find this evil one lurking among us. Morgan shouldn’t have died. I hope after they fry Casey, everyone comes back and let’s pressure LE, like I wanted to do over a year ago and Blink told me not to. Pestering LE didn’t help my arson case, it only annoyed LE, still unsolved. I was told then and again by Blink to let them do their jobs. That was Dec 2009. I would like to know how many hours they spend a day/week/month on finding Morgan’s killer. How often do they talk to the Fairfax LE and victim? How often are they reinterviewing all the people there. ALL of them. The ticket takers, limo drivers, LAX, BB. Ground work. Something has to break.
I’m still here reading every day and hoping for the big break in Morgan’s case.
Dr. Harrington, Thank you for sharing Gil’s new post with us. You, Gil and Alex are always in my heart and thoughts.
Ditto! I am still here and praying for justice for Morgan!
Great posts Mom3.0. I am starting to think that “accommodations” were made by the VSP at the start of the case and have escalated to the point where the entire investigation is worthless. For example, why did the VSP say that what happened to Morgan inside the arena was inconsequential to what happened outside? How could they know that? How could they know if she had a head injury from the fall or not, if an altercation triggered a severe emotional reaction or not. Didn’t someone post that the concert-goers where rudely pushed out of the arena at the end of the show by “security”? What if JPJ security was rough with Morgan to the point of abuse and the VSP is covering for the arena by putting on this “we don’t have any video tape of Morgan inside the arena” dog-and-pony show? Just what security is “Security” supposed to provide and to whom? has anyone lost their job at the arena over this very strange lack of video? Have any policies been really changed?
The VSP has said that once outside Morgan was “increasingly desperate”? Why? Why not “An increasingly clear-headed Morgan was in a town she knew quite well with shops head of her, a major student gathering area at the “Corner” a few blocks beyond that, and shops and restaurants a few blocks in the other direction at the Barracks Road shopping area.”? On a very busy Saturday night with lots of people about!