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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thanks lizzy, i went back to Courtney’s story to check. my memory is admittedly not the best. snipped, followed by the link:
*snip* “This case will be solved,” he promises, though he admits to having “no timeline.” *snip*
http://bit.ly/gBsJE9
does anyone have a link to the eppard report prepared by Det. Cappuzzo? i’d be curious to read that when i get a moment.
Very good point, deetee, about Capuzzo’s remarks. It did not sound like he had a will to do it HIMSELF, did it? Instead, somewhere down the line, someone will solve it or information will be released.
The whole Eppard thing was very strange. I mean, it ended on Red Hill Road, didn’t it?
Then there was the fire the very night they found her remains, out in NG.
And a firefighter took off in the middle of the night out of state.
All this stuff converging in Red Hill/North Garden.
What about the sheriff who killed himself–what was that about? What was the connection there? Was it decided that he was not connected to MH? (That’s my faulty recollection.)
Here is a link to the hooks article:
http://www.readthehook.com/84102/cover-60-shots-authorities-duck-colby-eppards-parents-seek-answers
Here is a link to Lunsford’s 8 page manifesto regarding why she isn’t pressing charges.
http://www.readthehook.com/files/old/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cover-colby-report-final.pdf
I encourage all to read
DeeTee and anyone else who’s curious about where those words came from:
Here is a link to the video of Agent Capuzzo’s words ‘this case will solve.’
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2011/jan/25/state-police-retrace-steps-morgan-harrington-case-ar-798604/
I’m still here reading every day, waiting with all of you and Morgan’s family for justice for a young innocent life cruelly taken. I hope that day comes soon.
thank you, Josie. apparently i didn’t give my memory skills enough credit. i had thought that was what he said, which i do find a curious choice of words.
to repeat, at this point, i sure would feel a lot better if he had chosen the words “we will solve this case” instead.
Dr. Pepper says:
July 20, 2011 at 12:58 am
“Deetee-
—why is any of this relevant to Morgans case?”
I think it goes to credibility and integrity. Was it a real investigation or was it a whitewash? Could not be more relevant.
Someone asked about the relevance of the Eppard shooting and how it MIGHT be related somehow to Morgan. One of the officers involved in the Eppard chase was Caleb Marden. He later was fired or resigned from ACPD in the sex scandel involving the area of AF.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/86598597.html
_______
45.Dr. Pepper says:
July 20, 2011 at 12:58 am
Deetee-
Capuzzo investigated it and gave his findings to Lunsford, who IMO is where the buck stops. She chose not to file charges and to not release any of the evidence.
The last thing I ever want to do is to drag anyone’s name through the mud. Especially his.
—why is any of this relevant to Morgans case?
Here’s why: (AJMO)
•Security personnel or ticket takers: were responsible for Morgan not being able to re-enter the arena.
Note: LE has described them as ticket takers…but denying re-entry seems to be a task that’d be held by security
•they were patrolling the area
•they would have been someone Morgan thought she could trust to take a ride from
•they’d have access to serveillance video etc
•The event security staff that evening was provided by (name leaves me at moment)
A company who contracts workers for events
A company whom I believe uses off duty LE who moonlight
*all hearsay*
unidentified moonlighting LE could Potentially have been moonlighting that evening at JPJ.
—we don’t know— but very possible.
Tired will finish tomorrow
Blink-
Have you ever met or spoken to the NGVFF who called in the tip?
Have you ever attempted to talk to him?
I just started second guessing what was about to type! Dang it!
I was gonna say that if he or LE didn’t think his tip had anything to do with Morgan’s case, then he may not mind telling the public what his tip was.
Yeah that doesn’t make much sense.
@@
Blink-
One more question:
Do you have any knowledge or info that you did not disclose in your original piece or have become aware of since that leads you to believe there’s still a chance the Eppard case and the fire may be connected to Morgan?
Dan, Gil, Alex
I am still here. Love, DP
J4M
i watched a show on a serial killer,and he had a list: joggers,college campuses,belt,were on the list. the ff attack was near the business section of virgingia international university,morgan was near the business section of uva and cassandra morton was found in a wooded area of liberty university.i wonder if there was dna found w/ the remains,or if a connection has been ruled out,it was also a sat. night,around 930 ,that she was last seen.
Blink
I just said to someone
“You bet your bippy”
I don’t even know what a bippy is but I’m starting to talk like you!!!!
nobody does, but it is provocative (from Blades of Glory) lol
B
Samantha Clarke left her Orange, VA home on a Monday evening (Sep. 13, 2010) with friends and a key to her house. Orange is about 35 miles up 20N from Charlottesville or about the same distance up 29N to 33 to 20N. These women all were abducted or disappeared pretty much along or near the 29 corridor from Liberty University in Danville up to Fairfax. Reminds me that Alicia Showalter Reynolds’ killer is still sought. She was abducted on 29N too in 1996.
http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2011/mar/02/alicia-showalter-reynolds-killer-still-sought-ar-877285/
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=9017.0
Sad.
These could not possibly all be related could they? Was “foreign” DNA found on Reynolds’ body?
Deetee says: July 14, 2011 at 11:22 AM
” bottom line, I seriously doubt this is an unsolvable case. There is an obstacle. What is it and how can it be bested?”
Really? Let’s see the last article Blink wrote on this case was October 14, 2010, and that was written to commemorate the 1 Year anniversary.Seems even Blink can’t find anything new to write about.That should say something about the condition of this case, and it isn’t good.
I admire the many people who continue to pursue avenues of thought on this case.Have been reading on this site since Morgan went missing, and except for throwing “sketch” out there—theories are just being recycled. Wonder if there is a “sketch” , at least one that looks like his composite. If so why has he not been found? I too agree this case surely can’t be unsolvable. The question therefore is: How long will it take? We worry about the case going cold, but frankly this case was Cold from the beginning.
Let’s review: No video footage, very few witnesses that even saw Morgan in JPJA, or outside. Not all of those witness accounts were deemed important. Case turned over 3 times to different agency’s. No PI hired by the Harrington’s only a consultant therefore no victimology profile. Not 1 picture taken of Morgan by her friends or in any random photos of the concert. Not one Friend with Morgan that evening speaking out, but party pictures show they aren’t too torn up about that friend. One press conference with any info for help from the public that questions were taken….do you see a pattern forming?
Simply put, Deetee, said it best “there is an obstacle.?”
What that obstacle is and how can it be removed? Well that could be what keeps this case insolvable for a very, very, long time. Even the Blink posters are losing interest but not for lack of concern or compassion. How can one help find a “killer”, when NO ONE cares enough to tell the “whole” story of Morgan Harrington, perhaps simply for fear she will be found to be a normal 20 year old women. It has become abundantly clear “someone or someones” would rather protect Morgan at the expense of finding her killer. After all that is what is happening isn’t it. How many times have we wondered: didn’t she have any boyfriends. What or where did she go in her spare time.What did the people who knew Morgan think of her? Did she go to bars or clubs in the area? What was her behavior while at these places? What kind of a student was she? And yes, did she drink or do drugs? For all of the time you have spent dissecting this case, how many of these questions can you answer. I dare say not many if any?
The OBSTACLE you may be alluding too is simple. Introduce Morgan to the people who care about justice for her. How can the case ever be solved when the missing pieces, that are “her” life, could hold the key.
Blink , I don,t expect you to let this post, because we both know I am referring to her parents as the Obstacle. I know how protective you are of then, and that is admirable. However I would appreciate you thoughts on this and surely you have asked yourself these questions.
Thank you.
Jeez-
I am confused. There is nobody protecting Morgan in lieu of investigating her brutal rape and murder.
Under any auspice, she is a victim, and I can tell you from first hand experience, her parents have been absolutely open and unguarded with me, and LE.
There is nothing to be learned about Morgan or her past that affects the outcome of October 17.
She was an opportunity for a predator, and sadly, events secured that, or there would have been another.
I support that the friends need interviews, as the lead investigators in this case never have.
That is unheard of.
I am protective of the Harrington’s because they are just trying to find their daughters killer and live their life as best they can.
Morgan’s victimology is known. What is not, is the profile of her murderer.
That should be the focus.
B
Stuck at the big 20 – A Birthday Poem to Mogo
It’s another birthday and it ain’t too happy
in fact it feels kinda crappy
see, you’ll always be
still twenty.
They tell me you’ll be forever young
and I just have to bite my tongue
coz from what I can see
forever young ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Morgan, you were such a beauty
but now you’re no way cutie.
I hate to be the one to tell
Honey, you look like hell.
In two years you’ve changed a lot.
There was that awkward stage of bones and rot
and now frankly, don’t mean to hurt
though forever young – you look old as dirt.
Oh yeah, how dumb,
that’s exactly what you have become.
Morgan, you’re 20 and holding, – your destiny.
Wish instead you were holding me.
241
Mom
I think Jeez! has a point and should be thanked for it. We don’t know very much about Morgan, she has been put on a pedestal and canonized as a saint since she went missing. She may or may not have been tangentially involved in something not quite right, perhaps even she did not realize it. Maybe someone killed her to send a message to a boyfriend of hers who WAS involved in something shady and she was innocent of anything. The point is, we don’t know. For instance who was the ex-boyfriend who was “seventy-miles away” at the time Morgan went missing? Why has he never surfaced? Why is it that ourselves, rather than Morgan’s friends, are the ones keeping these threads going?
In a similar vein some here give unquestioning trust in the VSP. Really, after Colby Eppard? After the constipated meetings with the selected media where facts are never discussed and statements made about Morgan which they could not possibly know: “Morgan was increasingly desperate”, “Morgan was drunk”, ect.
Putting Morgan on a pedestal has not helped. Taking at face value ANY statement by the VSP, UVa/JPJ Arena, and many others involved is an exercise in futility.
Charlottesville is acting a lot like Aruba did when Natalee Holloway went missing. I fear it will also take another murder to wake people up.
Maybe it’s me.
I am not hearing or seeing where Morgan was ever “canonized”. If I recall correctly, her own father spoke at her memorial and said she was no angel but she was an original.
Morgan was an accomplished young woman. She was also derelict in her safety. Twenty years ago, in retrospect, I have no clue how I was fortunate to not have the same fate.
I don’t think there is any dispute that may have played a role in her death as far as making her vulnerable to a predator.
Reminder: Morgans rape and murder is tied to another horrific crime 5 years earlier, in a completely different victim MO and set of circumstances.
I fail to understand how Morgan’s parents defining her legacy in an honest way, has anything to do with what happened to her. Really?
Lastly, respectfully, I know Beth Holloway, and I can promise you, she would never compare the two in this case.
B
“Lastly, respectfully, I know Beth Holloway, and I can promise you, she would never compare the two in this case.
B”
Well, I would. if the authorities in Aruba had gotten off their dead a** at the time of the Holloway disappearance (and not worried so much about their precious image) the second young lady would still be alive.
They managed to not solve the first crime and to destroy their image as well.
Well in that context, I take it back, we both would agree.
B
Reading here and on other sites, I think some do have a vision of Morgan that no young woman or man could live up to. She was 20 years old, had left childhood but did not yet have the wisdom of real adulthood. I disagree with George to the extent that LE has no way of knowing whether or not Morgan had used alcohol. I think they know exactly what her friends did before they arrived at the arena, and IMO, some of that activity involved alcohol. If they (LE) do not know exactly what happened, then the friends are at fault for not being forthcoming. From what has been said by both LE and the Harringtons, while I once doubted that they had been truthful, I no longer feel that way. I think the friends left Charlottesville the night of the kidnapping because they truly thought Morgan was okay. Perhaps it was not the first time she had gone off on her own. If true, that fact shows the lack of judgment many, many young people exercise, but does not mean she was a bad person. I am a mother with 2 chldren, but I’m not so old that I have forgotten some of my own actions, one of which could have ended very badly. I was still living at home at the time but considered myself oh so mature. A 29 year old man with a not great reputation asked me for a date so I lied to my parents about where I was going. I was flattered that an older man was interested in me, upheld my view of myself as a worldly woman. I was just past 18. Thankfully, when he realized he had read me wrong in what I wanted that night, he took me home. Thankfully, worked out okay, but a horribly decision on my part. I don’t think Morgan had plans to meet anyone at the arena. If so, she would have had no reason to ask the basketball players for a ride. I’m also not sure that she hadn’t used something more than alcohol. Remember, LE wouldn’t say in deference to the family. Taken from the February 10 Hook article-”He’s still here and other Revelations…..” by Courtney Stuart.
“Morgan’s parents, Gil and Dan, have repeatedly expressed disbelief that their daughter could have dropped her purse, left it there, and then begun hitchhiking. Such behavior doesn’t match their experience of their daughter, whom they have long described as having “good sense.” But descriptions from multiple witnesses who interacted with Morgan earlier in the night– both inside and outside the Arena– suggest she wasn’t in a normal state of mind.
Cappuzzo again confirmed that Morgan had consumed alcohol that night, but he declines to describe the amount or type of drinks imbibed. He also declines comment on any other substances she may have consumed “out of respect for her family.” He adds there is no indication that Morgan was unwittingly drugged or incapacitated by someone with nefarious intent.”
Maybe her desired destination was not a specific place but something she thought the basketball players would be able to help her find on or near University grounds.
We know she came into contact with Sketch, but I don’t think that was a planned meeting. Had she encountered him prior to arriving at the arena, her friends would be aware of that interaction, unless it was very casual contact where he brushed against her and left DNA on her clothes. If the contact was that casual, then he could have been anywhere from Blacksburg, to Harrisonburg, to Charlottesville. I personally don’t think the contact was that innocent. I think he saw the opportunity to grab another young woman, either in the parking lot, on Copeley Road, or even on Ivy Road. It’s possible he was in the lot and heard her talking or even yelling at the basketball players when they refused her request. Being an opportunist, he could have gained her trust so that she did willingly get into his car, believing he was taking her to her desired destination. We know roughly when she was on the bridge, what we do not know is when she left the area. She could have been picked up there, or she could have returned to the lot and remained there for sometime.
I personally believe Sketch is her killer and that he probably acted alone. Morgan could have been his 2nd victim, or one of many. Maybe there were other unsuccessful attempts, resulting in frustration and more violence than the Fairfax attack. We don’t know the fate he had planned for his Fairfax victim because the attack was interrupted.
If Morgan is guilty of anything contributing to her death, it’s only a lack of judgment that all of us, if honest, would have to admit to. She had the misfortune of encountering a very bad person or persons. Many of the rest of us are here today and able to point our her faults and her gifts only because we were lucky, not because we were always used the best of judgment.
17.Dan Harrington says:
July 23, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Stuck at the big 20 – A Birthday Poem to Mogo
It’s another birthday and it ain’t too happy
in fact it feels kinda crappy
see, you’ll always be
still twenty.
They tell me you’ll be forever young
and I just have to bite my tongue
coz from what I can see
forever young ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Morgan, you were such a beauty
but now you’re no way cutie.
I hate to be the one to tell
Honey, you look like hell.
In two years you’ve changed a lot.
There was that awkward stage of bones and rot
and now frankly, don’t mean to hurt
though forever young – you look old as dirt.
Oh yeah, how dumb,
that’s exactly what you have become.
Morgan, you’re 20 and holding, – your destiny.
Wish instead you were holding me.
241
This poem made me cry. It is so hard to listen to the reality
as seen by mom and dad at times. I know it is not the only reality, but is one of them.
I have to say, I believe with all my heart that Morgan is still HOLDING both of you, still loving both of you, and will help you continue to look for and find her tormentors. I do believe it.
Apology for proofreading errors. I do want to add that when I used “many” when speaking of possible other Sketch victims, I was referring to attempts he could have made, not successful attacks. There could be women in the last 5 years who were almost his victim, but he never had a chance to carry out his attack. That’s the reason I expressed the opinion that maybe his frustration level was so high by the time he encountered Morgan that, if he his her killer, the need for extreme violence overcame him.
Thank you GEORGE. Are you and I really the only ones who think this way? Excellent post, and agree 100%.
Jeez, yes, you crossed the line now and I am not posting.
Constructive comments only.
B
……..and Blink,I know I am pushing my luck in thinking you might actually post the prior comments. I respect you Blink, and know you do what you have to do. Sincerely hope you can see my point, anyway.
http://www.wric.com/story/15135406/sexual-assault-near-vcu-mcv-campus
Jeez said:
Let’s review: No video footage, very few witnesses that even saw Morgan in JPJA, or outside…Not all of those witness accounts were deemed important. Case turned over 3 times to different agency’s…One press conference with any info for help from the public that questions were taken….do you see a pattern forming?
Jeez, I think that’s about all that you said in your long post that was helpful to this case.
I think we all know that Morgan may have been “experimenting,” and she may have been dating some less than ideal men. I said “MAY.” We have almost no idea about that. We assume she drank and partied like most college-aged students, and witnesses have said that she was probably high on something the night of the concert because of her behavior and wobbliness. So what of it, Jeeze? I bet her parents and LE know whatever there is to know about that. Her concert friends behaved badly after her disappearance and I have no idea what they are saying privately to police or to the Harringtons now. They probably have regrets. There’s evidence, as Blink pointed out, that Morgan was a very giving and accomplished young woman–from her volunteer work and her teaching aspirations. (See below.)
What’s holding this case back has to do with what you said, Jeeze–see the quote above: apparent mismanagement by police from the beginning, along with a lack of will and imagination to get it solved. Period. They hold the cards in terms of what they know and what they are legally allowed to do, and we the public do not.
“Morgan Harrington is the kind woman who volunteered her summers to work with children from violent homes.”
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/223391
“Morgan was an animal lover who hoped to work in education. She had planned to travel to Zambia during the spring of 2010 to work with her mother through the nonprofit Orphans Medical Network International.”
http://www.readthehook.com/88650/hes-still-here-and-other-revelations-harrington-case
Frankly, Jeeze, you seem very angry in your post and I’m not sure why you are targeting the Harringtons, Blink, and posters here. Very strange.
Really, George? “Canonized as a saint” and “put on a pedestal”?
She was a beautiful young person, like most 20-year-olds, with her whole life ahead of her. THAT’S what is expressed by the public. Perhaps you and Jeeze hear “canonization” and “saint” but I hear “young person with a whole lifetime cut short.”
The public grieving is over Morgan’s young life–and ANY young life–being ended violently by some sick-o who’s probably still out walking around enjoying his own life. Will hatred and objectification by (some) men of women ever end? Will men ever stop projecting their self-hatred outward at the wrong people? Will men ever stop thinking and feeling that they have “ownership” privileges over women?
I am not criticizing Morgan at all. The point I am making is that someone can not say that Morgan’s past or past associations had no part in what happened to her. What if she had dated someone in the recent past who was into drugs while she had no knowledge of that fact and someone killed Morgan as a message to her former boyfriend. Probable? I don’t know. It can’t be ruled out with what we know, which is next to nothing. We do know that she had a former boyfriend that her parents disapproved of: the “Mr. 70 miles away” who has never surfaced. Shall we just assume he doesn’t exist?
Who said her parents did not approve of anyone?
This is what I mean. You bring a valid point, and then you use an unsourceable rumor to substantiate it. That is not ok, I say respectfully.
The Harrington’s are on record saying that person is cleared and not part of the investigation- no link because I am the link. I was told that by both the Harrington’s and Le.
B
Jeez, and Olivia, and Whoever I may have missed-
Please DO NOT Attack the Poster, Attack the Post, and do so with links.
I am not going to entertain any snark or accusations about a rape and murder victim. I am not going to have folks infringe on others copyrights.
Dissenting opinions stated respectfully with regard to any other avenue of this case and investigation is fine, but I want the dialogue to be constructive.
If you reference articles, you MUST observe fair use laws, or I am going to delete because I have mentioned this on multiple occasions and it is clear to me, some of you are not even reading my comments or others.
Not ok. I do not do this work to be anyone’s bullhorn or projector.
K?
OK with me Blink,
But at least post my comment to Olivia. I did not take Olivia’s comments to be snarky, (although the comment about me being long winded in my comment surprised me considering “most” of Olivia’s comments.”
….and don’t think my comment was a “personal” attack, just a review of statements.My post only addressed the post itself, not Olivia. I realize I referenced both articles linked by Olivia, to the Hook. I stand corrected.
I am not the janitor. Post appropriately links, as I requested or move on.
Seriously?
B
If i am not mistaken,they can do Familial DNA Testing In Virginia, so whats the word on this? i was under the impression they were gonna do this with Morgans case?
“The Harrington’s are on record saying that person is cleared and not part of the investigation- no link because I am the link. I was told that by both the Harrington’s and Le.
B”
So, seriously, why hasn’t this young man identified himself and why isn’t he moving heaven and earth trying to find out what happened to Morgan? Why aren’t the friends doing the same?
This whole case is characterized by voids where there should be bedrock substance. LE is just going through the motions as far as engaging the public in this case and doing that in spite of an atrocious record in solving high-profile crimes in this state. UVa hasn’t fired anyone over the horribly incompetent security at JPJ Arena. No one can get a straight answer from LE about the external video tapes or what happened to the internal tapes (or about anything else). The people around Blandemar Farms give the impression they could care less Morgan was found in their midst. I guess they just hope they don’t trip over someone else’s daughter anytime soon?
Why should he have to do anything? How do you know who UVA has hired or fired?
You are incorrect, they have.
B
do you think sketch is from n garden and was visiting fairfax,or from fairfax visiting or moved to charlottesville? we had a profile before the sketch ,what is the updated profile.with do word on familal dna must mean no match,which puts him further from the thug transient drug spectrum,and closer to student,employee ,legitimate reson to at uva.the zip up “sweater” rather than “sweatshirt”,and light colored “pants” rather than “jeans” ,on first instinct says something along the lines of “kinda dressy”,for a thug,or ” boy fashionista”,pays attention to how how he’s dresses?.he would want that red camera and swarvorsky necklace. but i dont know i am just guessing.
We’re all hear for the same reason- to work collectively in catching the person who murdered Morgan and raped the young woman in FFX.
There a certain things LE does not release publicly.
Things that would compromise the integrity of the investigation.
Things that if were made public knowledge, may be excluded as evidence when prosecuting the creep.
Things that will have to be used as verification (ie only the murderer would know)
—but heres my issue:
I am afraid VSP is possibly being *too* guarded.
I believe that they are possibly withholding too much info from the public
-that they are failing to look at it from other perspectives-perspectives of potential witnesses.
If I am wrong, I am wrong.
But at some point (should’ve already occurred) if it is broke, fix it
LE: please re-evaluate the facts under the perspective of-
“Could this piece of info job someone in the public’s memory & help us identify possible suspects?”
We are not pleading with you to release more info, because we are nosy.
We are pleading with you to release info to the public and ask them a specific question.
SEEK the info you need via the media!!! Please!!!!!!!!
To release any other facts that would not harm the case. You never know what could spark someone’s memory.
Det Capuzzo and Rader:
Please note the media blitz enacted this past year that led to the arrest of
The East Coast Rapist
Whitey Bulger
Osama dam Bin Ladin
You have released zero information.
You had a “walk through” with invited media only
You had a press conf when sketch was announced.
That’s it and that looks pretty bad.
Now I will feel really bad for giving you a hard time if after you solve the case, I learn you really could not release any more info than you have.
Fact is, you’re human. We all are. No one is perfect. And we’d be insane not to question you.
I’m sure you understand where we are coming from given the seemingly short success rate of VSP:
Colonial Parkway
RT 29 Stalker
Metzler Childs
Vanessa Pham
To name a few.
“Why should he have to do anything?”
I don’t believe this question. The kid is line for a spot with the VSP, that’s for sure.
“How do you know who UVA has hired or fired?
You are incorrect, they have.”
Frankly, I doubt it. If so, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHAT WAS THE REASON GIVEN?
There is absolutely no reason why any of us should know the name of the young man Morgan texted. Even if he has not been cleared, why should LE make it public that he is still under suspicion? Should LE step forward and say “hey John Smith, we’re watching you so you better be careful what you do or say? For that matter, there is absolutely no reason any witnesses have to step forward with a public statement, opening themselves up to speculation and sometimes accusations. A witness’ obligation is to tell LE everything they know, not to appear on the news or talk shows. From comments by Capuzzo and Rader, it seems there are numerous witnesses who came foward but have chosen not to make public statements. I have no problem with LE withholding information that does not threaten public safety. If the public is made aware of all details of the investigation, so is the killer.
From what I understand, familial DNA will be useful only if a parent or sibling of the perpetrator has a DNA sample on file. Maybe having heard nothing means the testing has not been completed. Maybe hearing nothing means there was no match. Having heard nothing could mean no news yet or bad news, no match. I’m not sure LE wants to let the killer know that the most promising piece of evidence has resulted in a dead end. If the testing has been done with no match, would the future arrest of a close family member result in a match alert from the data base?
Familial DNA will only be used with a probable cause warrant to do so. They have a full profile from the suspect, in this and the Fairfax case, if the burden is to have a suspect to prepare the writ for- they would test the suspect.
I think we have to give VSP the minimum credit for participating in the Disappeared episode, and I have known them to be personally receptive to tips and leads, but I compare them to outdated corporate infrastructure that was forced to change to compete with online business economies.
They need to go business casual.
B
I’m sorry, for me this isn’t pick on George day, but if someone has been fired, then it’s doubtful either UVA or RCM will release that information for the very reason George so badly wants, the possibility of a civil case. When I worked in the corporate world, we were always told, don’t make a public statement, put anything in print either on paper or on the internet that you don’t want to have to repeat in court. Yes it’s called CYA. Unfortunate when talking about a young woman’s death, but in this day and age of so many civil cases, it’s common sense for huge corporations down to the lowliest individual to go with the policy of don’t make any public statements if there’s any possibility of future litigation.
I am on record questioning how much access VSP has been granted wrt to records pertaining to any staff onsite the night of October 17th.
B
MsL,
I disagree on two counts. I am not saying the kid’s name should be released by the VSP. I am saying any decent young man would have come forward on his own and be raising unholy, unshirted hell to find out who was responsible. Same for the “friends”.
As for UVa they live and die by public opinion. Thanks for reminding everyone that (1) they are terrified of the Harringtons, and (2) they have failed miserably to reinstall any confidence in the management of the JPJ Arena. Apparently they are in a race with the VSP as to who can be the most dysfunctional?
I disagree entirely with the young man coming “forward”, respectfully, that is about your need to know.
Again, everyone knows my feelings on the friends.
B
WRT the “kid” coming forward. There must be plenty of people who are aware of who Morgan’s former bayfriend was. some of these would be, all her “friends”, many casual friends and aquaintances, work partners, relatives, family, and family of the “kid”. With all these people in the ‘know”, the young man could not get away with anything, anyway. The only people who do not know are people on web sites, who would like to invade his facebook, follow him, question him, and do the job of LE. Why not trust LE did their job, at least in this easy case.
MsL says:
If Morgan is guilty of anything contributing to her death, it’s only a lack of judgment that all of us, if honest, would have to admit to. She had the misfortune of encountering a very bad person or persons. Many of the rest of us are here today and able to point our her faults and her gifts only because we were lucky, not because we were always used the best of judgment.
I agree with you and I appreciate your reasonable and rational approach, always, in your posts.
B – I gave a link to every article or quote I referenced. I always do.
susanm – I’m inclined to agree with your reasoning above, hard as it is to decipher your post – whoops, sorry if I’m being disrespectful. : )
COULD the BG be one of those “seems so normal on the outside” guys?
Sorry, Jeez, perhaps I over-reacted to your words. I appreciate that you were trying to push this case along and in a different direction. But I disagree that MH’s parents would rather see the case go cold than reveal to the public “who she really was.” Notice the length of this post. : )
Olivia, the link request was not to you, my apologies if that was not clear, your correct.
Your a linker, lol
B
“Familial DNA will only be used with a probable cause warrant to do so. They have a full profile from the suspect, in this and the Fairfax case, if the burden is to have a suspect to prepare the writ for- they would test the suspect.”
I think the above was Blink’s comment to my question about future DNA hits. It was not highlighted ( at least on my screen) as her posts usually are, but definitely not my comments. I’m not that knowledgeable.
olivia ,hopefully it was my typos.I didnt follow the east coast rapist story until i recently relized it came out of fairfax,i found this article very interesting and it seems that fairfax likes to discuss their cases,and it worked fast ,they got the tip they were waiting for, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discuss ion/2010/03/15/DI2010031502097.html ,maybe here”s the latex glove guy from the other day at vcu, pasted from this article dated march 16 2010: Herndon, VA: I heard there was an incident of a man of a similar description wearing latex gloves chased a woman on a trail in Reston, Va yesterday. Do you think this is related to the East Coast Rapist?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2010/03/15/DI2010031502097.html
It is amazing how differently we recall what has been discussed here since the day Morgan first “disappeared.” Forgive me for no links, but I don’t want to dig or be specific, so I’m saying this is by my recall only and all errors are mine. Some of the materials to which I refer were on outside photo sides, facebook, etc, so going back and reading the articles and comments doesn’t tell the full story. The point is that this is how I personally experienced Morgan’s story on this teaching blog, beginning from Blink’s very first article about her, which is what brought me to this site.
Some of us looked at pictures of Morgan drinking, and drinking some more. We looked at her high school years, and each of the schools she attended, and pondered why she transferred when she did. We read what she wrote about some of her escapades, in which at least once she made a reference that we assumed was to an illegal drug. “Listened” to an eyes-open poster who knew Morgan and her friends, and had the pictures to prove it, and who made sure we knew that Morgan was no angel. “Examined” the ex-boyfriend whose identity wasn’t really all the secret if you dug a little, and his own “issues” as such. We pondered her bad-boy-musicians attraction, and hoped she was alive to outgrow them. We considered her checking account balancing skills, her past roommate problems, her parental relationships, her pastor, her study skills, her sexual preferences, her musical interests, her jobs, and every iota of her life we could find.
The problem was that we found no answers there, and none of those paths seemed to lead to her resting place. I think that most of us agreed that Morgan was somehow impaired on the night she disappeared, whether by injury, self-intoxication or outside interference, we do not know.
None of this means that Morgan was not a delightful and beautiful young woman who might have made tremendous contributions to society . . . (even with all her human flaws, she was still shiny). But I certainly don’t think we’ve had her on a pedestal, nor do I think her parents or brother or friends held her there. And I certainly recall that LE did not put her on a pedestal (or even on campus) at the time of her disappearance. I still hope that they considered her connections as investigative paths in a timely manner, not as excuses.
So, Jeez! and George, imo, you have some valid points with regard to the thinking of LE, but I also think that the same points have been made here by commenters from the beginning. I don’t know if you were here then, and experienced this with us, or if you’ve arrived later, when we had exhausted what we could find to critically examine about Morgan’s brief sweet life, and grew to admire and respect Gil and Dan.
lizzy
Also posted to local Cville:
http://www.newsplex.com/news/headlines/9-year-old_Greene_County_Girl_Reported_Missing_126139688.html
Randall Snead’s county jurisdiction
July 25, 2011
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a runaway 9-year-old girl.
Authorities say Julyssa Danielle Simms left her home on Westwood Road near the Greene Mountain Lake neighborhood at approximately 11:40am Monday while her mother was in another room. They believe she left on her own because she was upset about a punishment.
Parents reported her missing at approximately 1:40pm.
Greene County Sheriff’s Office investigators have been searching for Simms since 1:45pm. They’ve gone door-to-door and have conducted boat and kayak searches around the lake. Authorities have also sent out a CodeRed Emergency Notification call to all residents in the area.
Simms is an African-American girl described as having a light complexion. She is 5′ tall, weighs 90 pounds and has shoulder length hair and braids. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a white/light blue/brown top.
Investigators are interviewing family members and contacting friends Simms.
Anyone with information on Simms’ whereabouts or who finds her is asked to contact the Greene County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 434-985-2222.
2-4-1 Morgan
so they have searched business tapes looking for sketch pasted from this artcle +Investigators say as soon as they found the match, they began going over surveillance video from the John Paul Jones Arena and nearby stores and banks.
“Still we don’t have anyone fitting his description, even an altered description in any of that video. We still have no pictures of her in any of the video there at the arena,” Geller said.
http://www.nbc12.com/story/12742496/update-morgan-harringtons-death-linked-to-case-in-fairfax?redirected=true so there is tape from jpja
Yesterday I was checking for any updates on the Rt. 29 Stalker and found a recent addition – some speculation about Morgan’s case. Now, I will say this….there were several witnesses who were driving on 29 and saw a young man speaking with Alicia Showalter Reynolds on the side of the road and the witnesses did give a description to VSP and there is a sketch…. No, not like “Sketch”…..a youngish white guy with reddish hair wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. A blue pickup was parked in front of Alicia’s car. Later drivers passing by saw only Alicia’s car. Her remains were found several months later not far from where she was last seen – on a logging trail, as I recall. Likely not at all related but Morgan’s name was mentioned by one of the posters so I thought I’d mention it.