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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I called a tip into the VSP but don’t know if anything came of it. Late summer 09 before Morgan went missing I had some tire work done in Nelson County where I live. I met an older man waiting to get tires on his old truck. He told me something about Anchorage Farm. It was very interesting. He was wearing old work clothes covered in paint. He said he had been working months with many crews on a big job at AF. They were gutting the house and I think new hvac,etc was being installed. He told me he was doing the plaster and the house had walls that were 2 bricks thick and he had never seen that before. Very solid. I remembered that and him and called VSP to ask them to interview all workers that had been at that farm. Apparently it was a big job and many of then spending much time (months) there could have become very familiar with the place, the comings and goings of owners, others, etc. This person was semi-local (Nelson County) but others could have come from NoVa (don’t know). It really bothers me that this case is still out there. Also the University needs to totally make new students aware of the safety issues and install much more lighting and call boxes in all corridors. It can be a very dark campus at night in places.
I thought it was interesting that there is a sudden push for “Sketch” – from the Fairfax County PD.
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/06/police-seek-more-tips-va-tech-students-death
Yep
B
i wonder how the state of Virginia and the Virginia police dept feel about the fact that this violent and brutal crime was committed right in front of them and they are totally clueless and the criminal is as safe as the day it occurred. do they really care or do they just go through protocol and procedure like any other job? i think it is interesting that a dark featured person in Virginia can grab a girl in a heavily populated area, rape her and kill her and the entire system of Virginia fails. why would anyone place faith in the system if the system can’t protect constituents or provide solutions and justice? what is the incentive? thank God we have the right to bear arms, because this case is an indication of how effective, efficient and competent your law enforcement truly is. whatever the university and police strategy is in this case is, it worked … for the criminals.
God Bless You and Your Family, Morgan. May you one day rest in peace when this case has been solved and justice is served.
for some reason, i can’t get CW’s tip after the fire when Morgan was found out of my mind today.
VSP needs to step up and do something if they are serious about solving this case.
not to be a downer, but, today (7-1) both the Daily Prog. and Newsplex ran stories about the one year aniv. of the sketch release. There was only one “comment” posted to this story – don’t know which site. This tells me that the gen. public has lost interest – that’s the downer part. The Harringtons are doing their best to keep up the level of awareness as have the posters on this site, however, some new, innovative direction may be needed to keep and raise awareness. I am not sure what this may be. I know billboards have been used in the past. Perhaps public service announcements on FM “rock” radio stations may be helpful (we know Morgan was lost at a rock type music venue). Any suggestions will be helpful.
My suggestion would be for VSP to stop being concerned with mistakes that were made, and fill the holes in the case with a suspect.
No leads? Shake a tree..
B
Good to see you Cosmo!
Great posts Mom3.0.
Thank you everyone for returning here and maintaining this vigil for Morgan.
Texas Grandfather where are you , you are missed.
Dear Blink I hope VSP shakes a tree or two ….the perp or perps think they got away with this
and as Cosmo says so far they have. That is hard to stomach.
We are coming up to the two year mark of Morgans violent, abduction, rape and murder. Still no suspects??
The streets are not safe for young women and children anymore in the USA, sad to say, but true.
Praying for Justice for Morgan and peace for the Harrington family.
George thankyou- and I agree with much of your post- it seems there are days when I question everything and other days when I say – I should not be questioning anything…who am I and what do I know? Certainly not as much as LE ect….
You brought up an interesting point- no one seems sure how or when Morgan sustained and injury..it seems possible that she may have gotten hurt in a “spat” or a commotion with security or when she was wobbily or other- whose to say she didnt sustain other injuries in subsequent falls or encounters with others?
caralot – Thank you for sharing that information with us- very interesting, on a # of levels- Thankyou for calling the tipline- I hope the police followed up with the workers, heck I hope they were already aware of all the work/workers from speaking with Mr. Bass..
VaNative- thank you for posting that link…why oh why werent they “pushing” the Sketch vigorously throughout this whole year?
AJMO
Mike- I agree most seem to have moved on, and away from following this case. What more can the Harringtons or the general public do?
Radio announcements may help- although- they eouldnt be able to show the sketch…
Someone has to know Sketch right?
–
Blink- this isnt the first time you have used the phrase “shake a tree”- IRT what LE should be doing…
Is this a reference to the tree stands or to some other thought, or just a favorite expression of yours?
Excellent Question Mom 3.0-
I mean it as in, if the leads are not coming to you, shake the lead tree. If detectives wish to be stationed on tip lines, then they should be VSP customer service or crime line.
B
Snip:
Mom3.0 says:
Blink- this isnt the first time you have used the phrase “shake a tree”- IRT what LE should be doing…
Is this a reference to the tree stands or to some other thought, or just a favorite expression of yours?
Excellent Question Mom 3.0-
I mean it as in, if the leads are not coming to you, shake the lead tree. If detectives wish to be stationed on tip lines, then they should be VSP customer service or crime line.
B
—-:
Tru dat.
That’s right. Ground work. How many hours?
thanks for the response Blink-
Just trying to clarify-
Is the “tipline” not manned by VSP or crimeline persons trained to handle the caller in a wall that could best faciclitate more information.leads?
If not why not? and are all tips/calls being followed up? or are some slipping by?
TIA
oops facilitate-
PS Hummingbird thanks nice to see you and everyone still jere…Cosmo Dr. Pepper, Alexandra
Happy Fourth to all
the “shake a tree” comment is very insightful. From the beginning, LE should have been squeezing low lever scum bags to cough up some info. If done agressively, at least some tip would have emerged. By low level scum bags, I mean, known drug dealers, users, ticket scalpers, hangers on who frequent venues like the jpj arena shows/sports. The cops usually know who these are. Take a few in and squeeze them, and you might be surprised (or afraid) of what they cough up. Like toothpaste, it’s best to squeeze from the bottom. Yes, this issue has been raised numerous times in the past so, at this point, I guess we are reverting to reinventing the wheel again.
Caralot, thanks for that AF info. Dr. Pepper, George, Mom3.0 and all others, thanks for your many ideas. I check in when I can these days. I wish I had something to add. What is missing? Why is he so hard for the police to zero in on? Could it be that he has not been a local for a very long time? Lived here a few years ago? I guess if I were a cop my next move would be to start looking into the whereabouts of all African-American men who have lived OR worked in the the vicinity of Red Hill/Blandemar/AF in the last five years. I’m sure there are old families who have lived in the vicinity for generations, and they might have sons or grandsons of interest or who NOW live in the N. VA. area. I mean, is that too expansive a task? Is it too invasive of privacy? I just don’t know.
Mike, I agree with your above post 100%. I hope LE has thought of this. Some good old fashiioned undercover cop steet work would go a long ways, IMO. It may take time and effort, but also bring some rats out into the open.
Shake the trees..as in family…Morgan we are still waiting for answers. When ever I see a white butterfly I think of you.
Ode
Revealing one little fact would help a lot. Was Morgan’s credit card used after 9:30 and was the credit card found in her purse the next day?
If so, then Morgan did not drop it where it was found. It is also likely that whoever dropped it was not in the group around Morgan in Lannigan Field, but someone watching from nearby.
One little fact, known by the bank and by law enforcement and by whoever tried to use the card but information off-limits to those trying to help? Seriously!
Reminds me of the comment made by a financial analyst when asked why the Justice Department did not investigate who was responsible for the financial collapse: “Because then they would find out who was guilty!”
Good points Mike and George ….good to see you Mom3.0
Ode I also think of Morgan every time I see a beautiful butterfly.
Happy 4th to all. Thinking of the Harringtons.
Happy 4th to all.
From George above: 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?
So, George, is this gate/driveway to wooded property one of those gated driveways that I saw on Red Hill Road–leading North towards AF? Must be. I did not notice whether the gate was locked, but it WAS shut. The gate was not located very far down the driveway either (a few yards at most) so if the police “escapades” took place there, they were not far off Red Hill Road–unless they were able to get through the gate and down the driveway out of sight. In any case it was probably dark and pretty deserted there after dark. I DO wonder if MH could have been taken to the field from some direction other than the AF driveway.
George, when you say the gate is NOW locked, do you mean that it was not previously locked? When would a lock have been put on it?
Olivia says:
July 3, 2011 at 9:49 pm
“So, George, is this gate/driveway to wooded property one of those gated driveways that I saw on Red Hill Road–leading North towards AF?”
Olivia, thanks for your question. As you drive north on Red Hill Road from Route 29 there are three paved roads (all gated) to the right into Blandemar Farms before Red Hill Road intersects with Taylor Gap Road.
The gate I am talking about is not one of these. This gate is a farm gate. It also off Red Hill Road to the right and is 1.25 miles from Route 29. It gives access through a fence line to an old unpaved dirt road/path that leads to a clearing in the wooded parcel. The clearing is 400 feet from the gate and is the site of an old farmhouse. The path apparently does not go any farther into the Blandemar Farms area.
When I was there several weeks ago there was a new lock and a new chain on the gate, which seemed odd to me as an owner would usually replace one or the other but not both at the same time if it had been locked for a length of time. Another poster familiar with the area said that he recalled that there was no lock on the gate at the time of Morgan’s disappearance.
The land is a 20 acre wooded parcel and is owned by the Blandemar Farms trust. I do not know who owned it before the Trust bought it, but I am trying to find out.
If the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Department did not use this clearing as a place for their encounters they missed a good spot.
Okay Guys- I have just spent a great deal of my summer in watching the pursuit of Justice for Caylee-
I learned something that makes me feel better about Morgans case-
Sometimes a quick arrest does not necessarily mean a successful prosecution.
Despite Casey Anthony being arrested and charged, and standing trial for the murder of her daughter, she was found not guilty.
Despite the wealth of evidence in support of a conviction, Casey Anthony was found not guilty.
Florida has a thing called Sunshine laws- where the public is allowed to know all -
In Caylees case, it seemed only to help in her mothers defense.
We the public know everything, yet the jury was not privy to all of the information.
Until I followed Caylee’s case, I did not know there was such a thing as evidence that is deemed too prejudicial- evidence that is kept from the jury.
I did not realize there are witnesses and testimony that will never be heard by the jury.
I did not realize that a case can be damaged by too much controversy too many witnesses making public statements and then changing them ect.
I did not realize that without an air tight- no pun intended, B/guys can walk free- even with the best prosecution.
So you see, it may be a good thing that we have never heard from Morgans friends, it may be a good thing that the witnesses did not make media appearances. It may be a good thing that Virginia does not have the sunshine law-It may be a good thing that LE has not made an arrest in this case yet.
The B/guys dont know much more than we do- as to where the case is. or what evidence is outthere- there is no way for the b/g to benefit from hearing the evidence and then changing the story to fit that evidence, in order to supply reasonable doubt…
I dont know, if this is just wishful thinking on my part…it very well could be, but my point is that there is a chance that the BG/s in this case, will be arrested and that they will be sucessfully prosecuted.
To me there is hope.
Keep on Keeping on.
Peace
AJMO
Race of sketch … Has it ever been definitely established exactly what race he is? Is he black or hispanic? Can DNA establish a person’s race? just wondering.
Very well put, Mom3.0! I am truly surprised by the outcome of the C.A. trial, just as I was by O.J. Simpson’s trial. But hopefully, as you say, the LACK of public information in Morgan’s case will damage the BG in some way now and in the future.
Thank you, George, for the info. I definitely saw the first gated driveway about a mile and a quarter from 29S to the right. As you say, there are several right-turn driveways off of Red Hill Rd.
The BG: is he a permanent local, is he a transient, is he a transient local, has he left town never to return, did he leave and then come back…? Again, I wonder about multi-generational families in Red Hill/North Garden who might have a son who lives or lived in the D.C. area. And of course we have the BB players and their families.
Did he TAKE Morgan bodily? Or did he seem friendly and trustworthy? What does the evidence suggest? To me, it suggests an unwanted, unfriendly attack. Just going on what we can see. (I’ve been reading Sherlock Holmes.) Look, really look, at the evidence, however sparse, and let it guide you. So the evidence indicates that she was taken down 250 West (scent) and from there to 29S and AF. And her purse and various items were left in the lot, suggesting a physical tussle or her being separated from them by someone else. Phone separated from battery at 9:30. So despite the fact that she was seen with others AFTER walking in the large parking lot from the arena in the company of the BB players, her phone worked until 9:30 and the battery was found in that other lot. This suggests that it was taken and thrown out over there. The M.O. of the Northern Va. assailant is to wait or hide in a likely spot, attack/abduct, drag victim to a wooded area, strangle, sexually assault, and kill if possible. The Copeley bridge has all of those elements–a path, woods, darkness, even a place to park a car nearby (under the bridge or in a lot).
The Fairfax victim’s info would be so helpful. Was he well dressed? Was he shaggy and rough looking? Speaking accent? There’s a very definite rural southern Virginia accent. I pray that the Va. police are thoroughly investigating all of these pieces of the puzzle.
21.mike says:
July 6, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Race of sketch … Has it ever been definitely established exactly what race he is? Is he black or hispanic? Can DNA establish a person’s race? just wondering.
——-
I believe it has been established that Sketch is black (sub-saharan descent) based on the DNA. His sketch also depicts him with such features.
2 4 1
construction site—easiest route to where Morgan s body was found?
Does that fit with the closed gate?
grasping at straws I know. J4M
Olivia, the gate I am referring to is NOT one of the three gated entrances with (apparently) card swiped gates across paved roads. This gate is a farm livestock gate across a vehicle dirt path. You would have to get out of the car, unlock the gate, swing it back by hand, drive through the entrance, get out again and close the gate behind you (now that it has a lock and chain). The dirt path leads through the woods to a clearing 400 feet from the road. The first paved road into Blandemar Farms off of Red Hill Road is a few hundred feet north of this farm gate.
A family member of mine, a C’ville resident, asked me today by phone if I had heard about a possible break in Morgan’s case. I haven’t seen anything written, but apparently a woman was able to avoid an abduction in the last few days (?) and according to chatter, the alleged victim (I don’t like that phrase) said that he is South American. Of course, from what we know, the DNA profile of Sketch indicates that he is of sub-Saharan descent per recent parts of this particular thread and the July 1, 2010 BOC feature/thread. As we’ve said before, Sketch could be from a number of geographic regions-including Latin/S. America- and maintain that profile.
Has anyone else from the area heard anything about this recent abduction attempt? My sibling’s information may just be pure conjecture or simply not accurate.
Gosh, I’ve heard nothing about an attempted abduction of anyone in the C’ville area. Wait, here’s a link:
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/jun/24/albemarle-woman-reportedly-abducted-found-n-caroli-ar-1131866/
That’s all I could find, but I had no idea that had happened! Has anyone else heard about it? The location of the abduction was southeastern Albemarle county, I believe. The article does not state the race of the man.
Olivia — there was a hook article on it also. The comments, for whatever they are worth, expressed some significant doubt over the veracity of the woman’s claim. I could not find that article to post a link.
another article on it that expresses some skepticism
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Albemarle_Woman_Reportedly_Kidnapped_at_Gunpoint_124492684.html
got caught up in the casey trial,but caught the thomas jefferson show on history channel last night,very endearing of virginia,monticello,our history,i hope this person is caught sooner rather than later.
Thanks, Redly. I guess I missed it.
Redly and Olivia: I was aware of that situation as well and read that the woman’s claims were under investigation.
I am thinking that my family may have thought that the press release of the one year anniversary of the DNA link/ release of Sketch from July 1, 2010 was a recent revelation. However, I don’t know what the source of the latino accent would be other than what we have hashed out over the past year plus regarding Sketch’s profile.
I had my hopes up there for a brief moment, but don’t think that any of it has teeth. Hopefully, I am wrong.
I was thinking about the Samantha Ann Clarke missing person case. She was listed as missing, 09/2010, from her Lindsay Drive home, Orange, VA. I Googled that address and noticed that there are also train tracks behind the home where she was apparently last seen. I checked maps of both CSX and Norfolk Southern lines. The interesting thing to me is that there is a ‘confluence’ where both CSX and NS lines cross in both the town of Orange and in Charlottesville. In Orange, they cross right behind Lindsay Dr.; in Charlottesville, it appears that the tracks cross around the Amtrak station not far from the Copeley Bridge area. Also, the area where Samantha Morton disappeared in Lynchburg is at the site of Lynchburg’s Amtrak station. All three areas are also Greyhound bus depots.
Maintenance is vital to railroads and I see crews working on track segments often. When I lived in Richmond, my neighbor was a track engineer and pretty much had to live near the tracks that he serviced. He was on call often. Point being: these people spend a lot of time on the tracks and probably know the areas around them as well.
We’ve talked a lot about the likelihood of the perp to be someone who works in a transient profession. I don’t know if the guy is a delivery driver, a railroad employee, a hobo, construction worker, an event concessionaire or what. If this is my case, I’d definitely be vetting any those that have ties to JPJA events and within proximity of the arena as well as AF.
I don’t feel like, in spite of some of the variables I mentioned in these three cases, that this is the work of one person. If it isn’t, however, I do feel that the perpetrator in Morgan’s case will likely add to his portfolio.
It sure is quiet on here. I guess that everyone is disgusted with humanity after Central Florida events and/ or busy with summer. “Shake the trees”!
Ok I have Alot to say, on an iPhone and not much time to type.
I’m sooo busy but I am giving myself five min to type, sorry for bad grammar.
This is mainly in response to Mom3′s post
About lessons learned from Casey.
–
I wrote a post about a month ago about how we or I needed to separate Morgans case and the Amt of info released to Casey’s via sunshine
It makes total sense. Which is why I’ve affirmed my objective in regard for Morgan- to aak LE to continually re-assess facts and to release any info that may help grab leads w/o screwing a conviction.
I hope that this crap with Casey’s trial doesn’t make LE any more reluctant to do so.
We are hear to provide support to Harringtons and LE.
Not all LE are created equal.
We have the right to question them
But
We have to know the line.
If nothing else, If LE reads BOC & gets a lightbulb they may otherwise not have gotten- I’ll be satisfied.
I just pray they read here and do keep an open mind on how they proceed.
Amy says:
July 6, 2011 at 3:50 pm
“construction site—easiest route to where Morgan s body was found?
Does that fit with the closed gate?”
Amy, I believe there is construction on the left side of Red Hill Road opposite the farm gate which is on the right side (driving north from Route 29). It would not be easy to get from the clearing around the site of the torn-down farmhouse to where Morgan was found unless something like a “gator” could be used.
The point I was hoping to make was that a person who already had permission to be on the wooded private property would not be concerned about being stopped on private land. There are no houses or dwellings on this 20 acre wooded parcel.
I can see a scenario where Morgan was driven to the clearing in an ordinary car; Morgan put up a fight which triggers a severe anger reaction in the perp and Morgan is killed. He leaves Morgan there and gets his “gator” (probably hauled on a trailer) and hunting gear and goes back, wraps Morgan in a tarp and drives her to the end of the property with the “gator” and then carries her just over the property line onto the Bass property where she was subsequently found. Probably early on Sunday morning when some light is available.
Remember the VSP asking if any bicycle riders had seen anything out of the ordinary along Red Hill Road? Maybe like someone offloading a “gator” from a trailer?
Just thoughts in the absence of anything from the VSP.
CentVa Native Away and George: Very interesting comments! Both posts made me think again and in directions that I have not considered.
Train tracks, bus depots, railroad workers, hmmm….. Wonder about the proximity of the N. Va. attack to trains or bus stations?
Yes, George, the BG certainly could have had permission to use that land and he could have left her body there to get a different sort of vehicle. AND he might have wanted to take her body to an area OFF of that property and onto another (i.e. AF).
Dr. Pepper: Your comments are also appreciated.
I, too, wonder if there is a connection between Samantha Clarke’s disappearance and Morgan’s. Have not considered Samantha Morton’s disappearance. But Clarke’s disappearance (and likely death?) was just under a year later than Morgan’s and only 45 minutes (approx.) by car from Copeley Bridge.
George I confused facts again, sorry. What I meant was the torn down farmhouse which could be a construction site
The most obvious place pointing to the perp would be a straight line from the closest building to where Morgan was found as the likely crime scene where she was killed or escaped
There has to be a way to connect all the places of interest we know of with a likely person who also looks like Sketch
Amy, Thanks for your reply. The “clearing” in the forest around the site of the old farmhouse is a clearing in the sense that mature trees have not yet reclaimed the site, not that there was any construction going on. The clearing appears to have small trees and shrubs and ground cover. The road leading through the gate to the clearing appears to be somewhat used (certainly not abandoned). Looking through the gate I could see no fallen trees or anything that would prevent access to the site for someone using the road with an ordinary car.
The point I was trying to make was that Morgan had to be assaulted “somewhere” and the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Department people were doing their sex games “somewhere” also. Could the location be one and the same?
If the VSP has no clue as to where Morgan was assaulted then this area would seem to deserve a look – even now. The clearing is is 1,500 feet west of where Morgan was found.
As to your other points, the nearest house is 1,300 feet north of where Morgan was found. It is a very large, expensive home owned by a wealthy family who owns three parcels of land in the Blandemar Farms area (including the parcel just north of the one that has the site of the abandoned farmhouse). The main Bass property is 2,100 feet east of where Morgan was found and the Bass daughter’s house is 4,100 feet south of Morgan’s location. I don’t see any of the property owners in Blandemar Farms or Bass being involved with Morgan.
I must have had a brain lapse: l meant to write Cassandra Morton.
From Wikipedia regarding Railroad Police; caption references Virginia’s laws that allow railroad executives to have a private police force, that according to this, have similar authority to that of State Police officers. A friend of mine said he lived near and played around tracks growing up. I remember him telling me that the “railroad dicks” are some of the scariest people that he has ever encountered; I’m sure that is by design in part for safety/liability reasons. For what it’s worth…
Jurisdiction and authority
Some railroad police officers are certified law enforcement officers and may carry full police and arrest powers. The appointment, commissioning and regulation of railroad police under Section 1704 of the U.S. Crime Control Act of 1990, provides that: “A railroad police officer who is certified or commissioned as a police officer under the laws of any one state shall, in accordance with the regulations issued by the U. S. Secretary of Transportation, be authorized to enforce the laws of any other state in which the rail carrier owns property.”
It is important to note that Section 1704 also states that this police authority is to “the extent of the authority of a police officer certified or commissioned under the laws of that jurisdiction”. While a railroad police officer may have general peace officer authority in some states such as California, they are limited to the railroad’s property in other states.
The status of railroad police officers varies by state, in that they are commissioned by the Governor of the state in which they reside and/or work in and they may carry both state level arrest powers and some interstate arrest powers as allowed by 49 USC 28101. Although railroad police primarily enforce laws on or near the railroad right-of-way, their police officers can enforce other laws and make arrests off of railroad property depending on the state in which they are working.
Depending upon the state or jurisdiction, railroad police officers may be considered certified police officers, deputized peace officers, or company special agents. In Virginia, for example, any railroad may file an application with the Circuit Court of any county where it operates to allow the President of the railroad to appoint members of its own police force. If approved, the railroad’s police officers have the equivalent authority of the State Police, and may act as law enforcement personnel anywhere in the Commonwealth.[9]
Some of the crimes railroad police investigate include trespassing on the right-of-way of a railroad, assaults against passengers, terrorism threats targeting the railroad, arson, tagging of graffiti on railroad rolling stock or buildings, signal vandalism, pickpocketing, ticket fraud, robbery and theft of personal belongings, baggage or freight. Other incidents railroad police investigate include derailments, train/vehicle collisions, vehicle accidents on the right of way, and hazardous materials releases.
George if they are wealthy owners the chances of them being involved indirectely are bigger then normally. Indirectely being the keyword. i always wondered who they themselves think did it, its probably a lawyer thing we dont hear about that.
I mean with that many properties they cannot be at the same spot all the time. Also the chances of hired help being around the area are huge. Especially with construction going on the owners would choose to live somewhere else because they can avoid the trouble.
In fact we can assume people OTHER then the owners are intimately known with the properties and its temporary vacant buildings. Someone who could even offer a place to spent the night to a girl cold, sick and lonely. Yet we know Sketch method is probably not sophistacated
For someone with ill intentions it would be safe to use a place like that knowing the owners are miles or even countries away.
This could be the connection construction worker/security/truck driver even student etc to the AF location. We know there are rso working the farms there. Police would know more even have a suspect? I mean its good ex convicts get a chance to better their lives but still we have to consider them.
Still I wonder about guard dogs, wouldnt they be around? Be alarmed are they common to have there? Do they sleep outside or walk freely on the property as a rule? How about other livestock? For example geese/goose make a lot of noise and are good at guarding. Also if we are talking about wealthy landowners chances are big there are horses, peacocks even ducks etc around wouldnt they make a lot of noise?
The risks compared to a roadside or a public forest park etc are huge.
I also wonder how its possible to make the LE hanky panky going away , where did it take place? What building? Which officers were involved in Morgan s investigation? specially since its so relevant. Did any officers or security work AF part time as private guards?
same goes for the BBP they are the last known to see Morgan alive and talking and yet they are not even mentioned in a sensationalistic crime show.
Is that normal to hide from the public? Does it help bring the killer to justice?
I ll just leave this as I wrote it, brainstorming!
Amy, back when the Disappeared show aired someone pointed out that the BBP were not mentioned and another poster replied that the team’s encounter with her had taken place shortly after Morgan left JPJ. The team was leaving the area. After their departure Morgan was seen by a number of other witnesses. Morgan was still in the area after the team departed. I wish I could recall when the show aired – April maybe. You might be able to go back and read the discussion about why the team was “MIA” from the show. Until just recently I did not realize how close the “old gym” (where the practice took place) was to JPJ. I don’t think the BBP were the last people to see Morgan – There were a number of others who claim to have seen her, Mrs. Parsons and “Kickee” and some guy who parked next to Morgan’s car.
Amy says:
July 11, 2011 at 2:16 am
“Also if we are talking about wealthy landowners chances are big there are horses, peacocks even ducks etc around wouldnt they make a lot of noise?”
Normally, perhaps but at the site of the clearing in the woods there is only the 20-acre wooded, fenced parcel and the clearing around the site of the torn down farm house. Google Earth photo archives show that the house has been torn down for several years.
“I also wonder how its possible to make the LE hanky panky going away , where did it take place? What building?”
Exactly. Reportedly the LE events occurred in the back of a sheriff’s car. How would making the location where the car was parked infringe upon anyone’s rights or identities? Why is asking if the site of the trysts could also be the site of the crime against Morgan such a strange question to ask?
I just wanted to let everyone know that although I have not posted in a while, I am still here and reading every day. I just have nothing positive or beneficial to say. I am thoroughly disgusted with things right now – everything from Casey Anthony about to be walking free to Morgan’s killer’s continuing to walk free. And, I know that there is no place for negativity. So, I remain a silent reader for now….
Does anyone else think this looks a lot like “Sketch”?
http://www.nbc29.com/story/15059732/virginia-state-police-searches-for-wanted-sex-offender
sdandy says:
July 11, 2011 at 8:33 pm
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Could be….BUT, since he was previously convicted, I would think that they would have his DNA on file and would have matched that by now….
Hi everyone. Way too quiet here.
For what it is worth, Cheesy jumpsuit has a new pic on the Va SO registry site.
Do we know if the fire incident report is available via FOIA request? How about the Colby Eppard dashcams?
Dashcams no, fire report have not checked lately.
B