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’ve read comments that perhaps the security cameras weren’t working the night of the concert, but I don’t think LE ever said there was no video from the arena. What I remember being said is that there were no discernible images of Morgan in any of the footage. I don’t find this particularly surprising inside in the press of 1000′s of concert goers. I would have thought that she would have been seen on footage when she exited or tried to re-enter, but maybe cameras were not positioned just right to pick her up on tape. Remember the woman who thought she saw Morgan at the Sheetz in Orange. I doubt that it was Morgan because I think she was taken directly from the point of kidnapping to the place where she was found. My point is that even though it seems to be certain this woman was at the store in Orange, not only does the young woman who supposedly looked like Morgan not appear on security video, neither does the “witness.” Positioning of the cameras and location of the subject have to be just right.
I doubt that the 29 stalker and Sketch are one and the same. I believe all who encountered him described him as white. Many have thought that Alicia Reynolds’ killer has been in the hands of LE, has served time for another crime, but due to a lack of evidence, has escaped punishment for other attacks and perhaps deaths. There are others who believe that perhaps Richard Evonitz who kidnapped and killed 3 teenagers in Spotsylvania County in 1996 and 1997, and later killed himself in FL after being surrounded by police was responsible for her death.
All cold cases or solved cases for that matter send chills up my spine.
But the MetzlerChilds murders. Given the history with the other Col Pkwy murders of COUPLES execution style in the woods. Rocks me to the core.
Does anyone have any kind of updates on this one? (IMO there’s always a chance of connection to Morgan. regardless- VSP has some pretty tough cases and I don’t envy them for a second.
Hope these get solved soon and no one else falls victim.
I always thought that Metzler/Childs case the kids stumbled upon a drug operation. The area was in a National Forest but there were private landholdings close by – much like the sparsely-populated North Garden area.
For some reason meth labs are found in those kinds of sparsely populated areas. What was curious about the Metzler/Childs case is that the county sheriff’s office practically decreed it was the work of a lone nut even before the bodies had cooled off. Not to mention one of the kids was the child of a state trooper so if any case should have been solved it would be this one. Yet – nothing. Not only discouraging but frightening, really.
Hello everyone-
I have been quiet for awhile but wish to jump in here with my two cents for what its worth.
Okay its long so feel free to scroll on by- if you so choose.
I do not think the Harringtons are trying to protect their daughters image-
Take a step back and look again. They are merely parents that have had to deal with the likes of people such as those who would say Morgan was dressed provocatively and asking for it- dressed in FM boots and basically a honey ladened anthill -just begging to be someones victim.
They have had to deal with that horrible church- demonizing their daughter, and making her out to be a harlot, a rock n roll, satan worshipping Jezebel, whose body should be held up on a stick infront of JPJ to warn others not to follow her down to the pits of Hell…
I would think these loving parents, The Harringtons are not new to this type of ignorance and cruelty. They are parents of a beautiful son, who is openly gay. Do you think they have not seen the ugliness of what some can say and do in the name of a distorted sense of morality?
If they focused only on the widely acceptable “good” parts of Morgan and her personality throughout this, who could blame them?
Some left them no choice but to be on the defensive. JMO
Have they made mistakes? Im sure. Do they have regrets Im sure. But they have done their best. Just like any other loving parent.
They were seeking anyone and everyones help in finding their beloved lost daughter. Why would they risk alienating anyone with aspects that might make their daughter even more vulnerable to this type of attack?
Morgan Harrington was No angel- ANY ONE of us already knows this.
Especially those of us that have ever been 20 years old- or have children of our own.
I agree there was a time when finding out exactly who Morgan had been in her past and even up to that night, was extremely important. This time was ONLY in the beginning days…the days following Oct 17th IMO.
It was the time period when there was a chance that she had run away was still a viable outcome. A time period when she could have been a recovering drug/alcohol addict who wondered off on a binge ect.
But lets all get real- it was not the Harringtons that would have been the most helpful in getting the details of the “whole truth”- What parent knows ever detail of their young adult childs life?
Especially the not fit for print details- The life away from their loving and protective grasp? Their childs coming of age choices- their love life- their break-ups… their new friendships their old ex friendships and the reasons behind each….their drinking or use of drugs…their online activities or other….
It was Morgans friends that did not speak freely with police. It is they whom police begged for more information, in the beginning days…it was they who seemed to not give pertinent information which could aid police in getting the facts straight.
What was Morgan wearing? What exactly happened that night? What was Morgans state of mind? Who is Morgan Harrington -friend and college student- not just Daughter of Dan and Gil?
I dont think they were trying to mess up the investigation, I think they were in protection mode, they didnt want to get into trouble and some of that misplaced protection was for their friend Morgan and not getting her in too much trouble either… Do I wish they would come forward? yes- do I agree with they way they handled this? No.
Why do they not come forward now? I do not know why they wouldnt be more forthcoming- Who is left to protect?
Why does it seem to be such a focus in proving that Morgan was a human being with vices and flaws?…
Ofcourse she is not a saint… of course her middle name is not Polly Pure. She was a fun-loving open-minded individual struggling to become an adult- having fun, moody, bitchy- bubbly- caring- making choices, some of them poor choices, each of them with consequences-
Sketch, is a violent rapist that seeks out lone, vulnerable women to blitz attack. Morgan Harrington was alone and vulnerable. PERIOD
How is finding out just how vunerable Morgan was, going to get us closer to arresting Sketch? How is factoring in any of Morgans past choices going to get us closer to Sketch?
The key to solving this case is not Morgan or the series of choices that helped to make Morgan Morgan…the key to solving this case will not even be in the series of choices that led to Morgan becoming alone and vulnerable that night…The Key is the FF rape + JPJ and Charlottesville + Anchorage Farm = Sketch…. who or what is the connection? What makes it all add up?
I say again-Morgan Harrington, despite some of the witness accounts out there, was listening to her gift of fear that night- yes she may have been drinking, Yes, she may have been under the influence- but she did everything we have told our own children to do in the same set of circumstances.
She tried to regain access to the event- She may have dropped her belongings-but she was sure to retrieve them each time. She talked with friends- and conveyed her plans to them- She stayed in front of the arena- and around the arena-. For all the times it is said she refused help, she reached out for Kickees aid, right? Then she found people who were well known and seemed safe to latch onto- “the Gods of the Arena”- The basketball players-
Think about it- She went and stayed with the only people who had a chance to get her readmitted- She didnt immediately traipse off to HH She stayed in the immediate vicinity. She didnt accept anyone else’s help, or offer of a ride.
She encountered the BBP- and she walked with the BBP- She stayed with them in the lot. She asked them for a ride-She asked no one else other than the BBP for a ride. She didnt even ask the curtsy duo for a ride, or for use of their phone- even after her hopes were dashed by the BBP departure… She stayed in the lot- S
She seemed to have a set plan in her mind- and to me. IMO it doesnt seem like a plan that included accepting “help” or a ride from just anyone—so why after encountering the CD did she run to HH?- why after keeping her belongings with her the entire time, did she suddenly leave them behind?
Why after being described as wobbily and erratic and leaning on cars for support is this young woman then curtsying, and then rushing over to liesurely stick out her thumb for a ride on a bridge that seems to be mostly devoid of traffic?
It couldnt have been a heavy traffic flow- not according to the timeline of the F/D- it took a few brief moments for them to make their destination and visit 7-11 and cross over the bridge again- NO ONE saw Morgan get into a vehicle- NO ONE.
Why were her belongings left behind?
Did he place her belongings there to point the finger at the BBP or CD? Or did she leave them behind? Why AF?
We already know why Sketch chose Morgan- she was alone and vulnerable. If not Morgan, I believe he would have just as easily found some other woman that night to attack.
Could it be that Sketch knew exactly what Morgan’s plan was? Could it be that he waited for that exact moment to take her? Whether she was on the bridge HH or next to the PP or in the lot or at FOAN ect…He knew and acted.
Someone out there can place Sketch in Charlottesville, or Sketch in FF or place Sketch at JPJ Someone out there can place him at AF we already know thru DNA that he can be tied to Morgan and the FF victim.
Please, someone, come forward and connect the dots.
PS- IRT The texting Kid that texting occurred at 7:30- other than the details of the texts I dont think it would help- I think LE was aware of the conversation early on…and therefore -it was never an issue other than to “us” those who were never privy to the texts.
AJMO
Peace.
http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/160229/158/Police-Search-For-Serial-Slasher-Before-He-Strikes-Again
I saw this story today about a serial slasher in Fairfax County Va. I could not help but think about Vanessa Pham’s murder.
So weird Ode. I actually thought about Vanessa last night and read recent articles on her for over an hour. I don’t have time to read the link you posted right now but I will.
I want Vanessa’s case to be solved as much as I do morgan’s.
Please post that article on her thread I’d you havent already
Mom3
Glad ur back
Had to scan over your post bc limited on time.
My immediate thoughts when you said the part about her instinct to find help:
I would kick someone if I were trying to pretend like I was with them.
I can’t tell you the # of times I’ve had to grab a guy friends hand an pretend he was my boyfriend so that a dork or creepy guy would leave me alone.
Under alc influence, I’ve even resorted to latching on to strangers hoping they’d pick up on my situation.
“let’s go” with her arm.
If this was the case with kickee, he didn’t catch on.
If I were to ever HH or try to HH it would be if it were my only option to get away from someone scary.
Just bc she was last seen with her thumb out doesn’t mean she actually got a ride
No one saw her get into a car.
She could have walked off or walked back along the same route that her scent was picked up.
IMO she did not have to vanish by HH on that bridge
As jeff says on the holly bobo thread
Just my two cents
Dr. Pepper – I have always thought that the ‘let’s go’ was doing just what you described….she was trying to get away from someone. Maybe for a while she thought she was successful, but he could have been stalking her.
Duh – OF COURSE (smacks forehead!) – she wanted to LOOK like she was hitchhiking! She didn’t ever intend to get in a car. She saw him again – stalking – and she was just moving on. Maybe when she thought he was gone, she headed back toward JPJ, and he grabbed her.
241 all! Where is TX granddad?
To all: “did you go to the concert that night”
Do you still have video?
If so, have you seen the sketch of sketch?
Have you been asked if you recall seeing anyone looking like him?
Have the police asked you to look at the video yourself to see if he is on if?
Is is the sketch posted on the metallics website ?
On it’s facebook page?
Are there any posters on UVA campus???
What about the UVA alumni page?
Those people were in the area. They need to see sketch
Period
We’re gonna find this pos
first-time says:
July 28, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Dr. Pepper – I have always thought that the ‘let’s go’ was doing just what you described….she was trying to get away from someone. Maybe for a while she thought she was successful, but he could have been stalking her.
Duh – OF COURSE (smacks forehead!) – she wanted to LOOK like she was hitchhiking! She didn’t ever intend to get in a car. She saw him again – stalking – and she was just moving on. Maybe when she thought he was gone, she headed back toward JPJ, and he grabbed her.
241 all! Where is TX granddad?
_____________________________________________________
This is one reason why it might be useful to know what she was on, if anything that night. If she was drunk or stoned, you might have one reading of her behavior — either that she was trying to get away from someone but doing so in an illogical, ineffective way by moving further and further away from the well lit arena entrance or that she was trying to find the next party. If, as just one example, she was on extacy, however, which is something I have considered for a while, then all of her reported behavior would be consistent with the effects of that drug — including overly but strangish friendly behavior, ticket shredding and hitchhiking. Other stimulants could work the same way. I don’t think that we need to know though as long as LE knows, as I don’t believe we can really help solve this crime. The general public can if they saw something or know the bad guy, but not most of us.
To the extent the Harringtons want to use this tragedy to protect other young women though, it probably would be more effective to talk more openly about the mistakes Morgan and her friends made (though I understand one would feel a sense of blaming the victim in doing so), as opposed to having anti-violence rallies with folks who already all agree that violence against women is bad. They are not going to be able to change the behavior of the psycho bad guys who prey on the vulnerable. The work they did to get familial DNA up and going in VA (and hopefully at some point spreading it into other states/the federal codis system) is awesome of course.
I wanted to get a few “facts” straight in my mind. I have followed this case fairly closely. I visit C’ville regularly and am familiar with the jpj arena area. What I think I “know” comes merely from memory in viewing the now thousands of posts both on this board and the former findmorgan board.
1. Did the police actively search a section of I64 because Morgan’s cell phone was pinging from that area? If so, what area was searched and were both east and west bound lane areas searched?
2. Did Morgan make it across the Copley bridge and visit a bank (presumably to get money to buy another ticket)?
3. Which side of Copely bridge was Morgan observed hitch hiking on – on the right side leading to Ivy Rd. or on the left side leading back to jpj and the parking areas ( I think this is most important to know – there is a regular sidewalk on the side going nortbound toward jpj and limited concrete area going toward Ivy.) Or, was she all mixed up and hitchiking from the “wrong” side for the direction she was seeking to go?
I want to clarify a few things in my mind and it may lead to a sharper focus for all involved. If she went to a bank on IVY then it is logical that she was trying to get back to jpj via Copley. It is actually a pretty good walk from Ivy to the arena. She may have felt she was going to miss Metallica or she simply got tired and tried to hitch hike. She was wearing boots with a fairly high heel. This would make it uncomfortable for her to walk, and who knows, her feet may have been hurting.
I think that knowing the direction she was headed in is important so that a theory can be formulated about where the perp who may have picked her up was headed, i.e., was he/they headed from Ivy onto Copley and toward jpj or coming from jpj to Ivy. I think that whomever may have been driving the vehicle of death that night must have a good idea of the roads in this area. To the uninitiated, there is little reason to turn onto Copely from Ivy and head to the jpj and other uva venues unless you’ve got some business there or know where you are going. the same holds true for going from jpj area via Copley toward Ivy.
Depending upon the theory of the direction of the perp’s vehicle and morgan’s direction, I have a theory that sketch (most presumably a black man) was heading toward Ivy by way Copley. I think that he targeted Morgan as a target of opportunity (the way animals in the wild hunt – they attack those who are separated from the pack). If I were in LE in that area I would take the sketch of sketch to Buffalo Wild Wings grill on Arlington and start asking some questions of the regulars and bar tenders who may have worked around Oct. 17, 2009. At night this place is sort of a black bar (now don’t go getting all pc on me). If I were driving from there and knew my way around and knew that there was a big event around jpj, I would not go on 29 in front of jpj because it would be a pain in the a… and lots of cops, etc. I would go up Arlington to Massie and make a left, then I would follow Massie a bit and make a right onto Copely if I was going to Ivy (bus. 250)
I’m wondering too if ALL of the UVA bus drivers (typically students) on duty that night in vic. of Ivy were interviewed to see if they saw anything even remotely unusual.
I have many other questions as we all do, but this is all for now.
Dr. Pepper-
Hello thank you for welcoming me back.
All of those scenarios are plausible Dr.Pepper.
We have alot of information but we dont know exactly when things happened or exactly where- or how many times ect….with in the known timeline-
FI
Did kickees encounter happen directly after the ticket taker told Morgan she would have to buy another ticket?
What happened between the time Morgan first left the arena and when she encountered Kickee at 9:00pm?
We know that she received a phone call from SS at 8:48- in which Morgan indicated she would find a ride home…also SS conveyed ideas on how to regain reentry…
Well if Kickees encounter was at 9:00pm, and this encounter took place “moments” after Morgans attempt to reenter at the front doors- then how can this account be right?
Snipped from Hook Article-
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.
—-
Exactly when did Morgan realize she couldnt regain reentry if this account is her only attempt, then kickee encountered her directly after, and she never made another attempt after she left the arena for the “second” time- directly after the first time…
So why at 8:48 did she tell friends she couldnt renter…and when in the timeline did this call occur?
I dont know if I am explaining this well…do you understand the points I am trying to make?
Dr. Pepper? Blink? Anyone?
Morgan was said to be outside IIRC as early as 8:20, perhaps earlier…yet she only attempted to reenter once? and this was obviously before 8:48 right? and is described in the above snippet… then how can Kickees encounter have happened immediately “moments after” this one attempt. Yet Morgan received the call at 8:48…
Im lost- What happened?
What happened to her camera? The one that is hardly mentioned now…what happened to her ticket…what happened to her multiple attempts at reentry…what happened to her phones battery? What happened to the necklace she was wearing, the one that hardly ever gets mentioned anymore… What happened to getting a ride from friends…
IDK
AJMO
The last people to see Morgan Harrington are 2 men “on the track”, who could only have been some form of staff to JPJ/UVA, who claimed Morgan “curtsy’d” at them in front of the port.
OR
The last people to see Morgan are those claiming to have seen her hitchhiking on the bridge.
The timeline does not match the timeline, sigh.
B
Mike Hello.
I will give it a try..
1- I do not know if they searched both sides of I64- i remeber thm searching the grassy area near a highway..but to my knowledge none ever came forward to say why, or if anything important was recovered… but if they did search I64, it couldnt have been because of her cell phone pings- her cell went dead- that night at 9pm IIRC- it ws found the next day, battery missing never recovered- but the back to the phone was found.
2- Speculation is that she could have been trying to get to the bank or other- but that has never been confirmed. To my knowledge, no video- from any of the surrounding businesses showed Morgan- Dr. Harrington was asked a question regarding a rumor that Morgans debit card was used that night- he declined to answer, stating that it is part of the ongoing investigation.
3- Early on it was said that Morgan had been seen on both sides of the Copely road bridge… I do not know if LE has since changed this thinking… WE are not privy to where Morgan said she wished to go- although it is said that she asked the BBP to take her to a specific destination- even so- after their departure, we do not know if she still intended to get there, and resorted to HH- what we do know is that she never asked anyone besides the BBP for a ride- and she did not flag down the curtsy duo- we also know that her belongings were found in the lot near the fence- and we know noone saw her neter a vehicle nor did anyone see a vehicle slowing down as if to acknowledge a HH…
I can see Morgan trying to get back to the arena or to her car.- good point-her feet may have been tired…but if this was her reasoning, then it seems that her best bet would have been the curtsy duo, as they were heading in that direction, or could have easily changed their direction, yet she never asked them for a ride to JPJ…
I also agree that the perp knew these roads – and I can understand your point- if he was merely a passerby that took advantage of her HH that would make sense, but regardless of the direction, it would seem that he may have pulled over or stopped Morgan in the FOAN lot-perhaps he never had a destination in mind other than AF…perhaps he was on the hunt for a victim and not out and about for any other reason…
IDK your theory is a good one though, in the sense that he may have frequented the establishments in and around the area, possibly even the wings place-
I hope LE checked out all of the businesses and I hope they showed both Morgans photo and the Sketch.
AJMO
FWIW I believe it was reported that the VSP were looking for the cell phone battery in the vicinity of the Crozet exit off of I-64 (the exit is route 250 – which becomes Ivy road in Charlottesville. The town of Crozet itself is about 5 miles from the interstate.
The shortest distance from Charlottesville to Crozet would be to take 250 west (about 7 miles) and then route 240 (about 4 miles) into Crozet without going on I-64.
Morgan’s party reportedly stopped in Crozet prior to going to the arena.
Interestingly enough, after reaching Crozet route 240 turns south and goes under I-64 (no access) and continues to the Blandemar Farms/Anchorage Farm area. You do not have to go on Route 29 at all to get there.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Commitment_to_Find_Harringtons_Murderer_Continues_126459868.html
July 30, 2011
A Roanoke man isn’t giving up to find answers in the murder of a college student he’s never met.
Kenny Jarels has been canvassing the Charlottesville area heavily for more than two months. Saturday was his fifth time in town, as he tried to keep Morgan Harrington’s name in the spotlight.
Harrington was a Virginia Tech student who vanished in Charlottesville after a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in October 2009. Her body was found the following January on an Albemarle County farm.
Through distributing fliers and safety tips at a stand he set up near Zazu’s on Ivy Road, Jarels is searching for resolution.
“We firmly believe there is someone out there that, for whatever reason, they won’t come forward to the Virginia State Police and give them the information that’s needed to solve this crime,” he said.
Jarels is also fundraising for a school in Zambia, Africa. A portion of the school is being built in Morgan Harrington’s name
I don’t think it was ever disclosed what the police were looking for off the highway, just that they were looking and where.
Thanks for the info George. I looked at mapquest (seemed better than google maps) and you are right, the perp did not even have to get on 29 to get to AF. However, not to be picky, but it looked like 240 turned into plank road which intersected with the crossroads at 29 near north garden, south of the farm so prolly perp would have to go a bit north on 29 to get to red hill road or the other possibilities. I followed blandmere road up north and saw that it ran into taylors gap rd. which turned into dry bridge road which connected with morgantown rd. which ran into 250 Ivy road. Let’s just say that either one of these rtes is how the perp got to AF. that would cement in my mind that this guy/guys is a local with detailed knowledge of the immediate area. (query what was he doing in Fairfax when he assaulted the other woman – did he then move to this area?). One is tempted to believe that he has some connection with crozet (are there many blacks in that area? – I don’t know bc I am not a local but have merely driven through). How about fairly young black men who have recently (last 5 years) moved in. He may have tried to take Morgan back to crozet and couldn’t control her, etc. He then killed her there and drove to AF the “back way” But, what is troubling is if the murder happended in vic of crozet why go to all the trouble of going to AF? It seems that there is plenty of rural/rugged terrain where the body could have been disposed of and probably never found. Maybe he drove to Blandmere area with a distinct purpose in mind – to sexually assault Morgan and kill her. That seems more probable. I know this has been parsed over a bit, but did LE look into each and every possible vacant or half built home in that area? Was a dog taken through even at that late date?
My feeling is that this guy knows the area very well – both the Copley/Ivy area and the roads to AF and environs. There has got to be some way to narrow this search down now that there’s the sketch and some sort of DNA (still a mystery to me as to type and were found)
I guess at this pt. I am rambling, but I think the potential rtes of travel and knowledge of the same together with AF (location/location/location) are key to solving this case.
Let us hope that at least one more tid bit of information is revealed which will be a solid lead.
” The Timeline does Not Match the Timeline”
Yes!! That is it in a nutshell.
And if the timeline does not fit then how can LE be basing much of the facts on this so-called timeline?-Despite the fact that Morgans behaviors and the behaviors of her friends ect after the concert do not fit with the facts as we know them.
Morgan did not find a ride with friends. Morgan did not briefly encounter the BBteam- she was with them for a considerable amount of time- it seems as if she was under the assumption she could catch a ride with them…. the friends waited around for a Morgan they supposedly knew wasnt returning to the vehicle… and they then went to a restaurant to wait until dawn on their friend, who told them not to worry shed find a ride “home” with friends. An irrational wobbily intoxicated incoherent young woman- is seen making her way to THE lot – leaning on cars for support….and then it is said she curtsies for the duo and then is on the bridge HH- all in the matter of minutes. ECT ECT
None of it matches in My opinion only.
Redly- I think you are correct it was never disclosed what LE was searching for or if they ever found anything of significance.
George- you are also correct in that that it was rumored to be Morgans cell battery that they were searching for, but to my knowledge that was just a rumor.
FWIW IME time seems only to lessen the effects of alcohol or drugs… (although their are some that their effects do not “take” immediately- such as creeper dope ect)
SO in this sense I can understand it being important to know exactly what Morgan was partaking in…
Does LE know or are they speculating?
AS for others learning from this tragedy and from any poor decisions made-
The lasting warning, regardless of alcohol or other seems to be-
DO NOT disregard the buddy system. DO NOT let your friend fend for themselves- nomatter what- stay together.
If you do become separated, if your friend is hell bent on taking off- alert someone -anyone- the parents, the boyfriend,the sibling- call it a night and all of you make your way home together…just dont decide oh well- and then jump into her vehicle and drive home-
AJMO
Morgan asked for help to all the right people except LE why? They were around JPJ and called in for various offenses. And the other way round: ‘ why did LE not notice her?’
To answer the last question: she was noticed by a lot of people including security and law officials and the camera s of JPJ. This may be part of the problem we are dealing with. Even the limo drive had some security background.
Even the BBP are somewhat ‘ official’ liasons to the powers that be at JPJ as well as the ticket taker, the curtsy duo and maybe even the mysterious calls and destinations up to AF.
I think its helpful to think of her actions as rational yet desperate instead of ‘ intoxicated’ .
So then we have Sketch, the obvious thing to do would be to find out if he could be involved in a job involving security or maintenance in or around AF/JPJ/Fairfax. He probably was involved in offering ‘ help’ .
And also he probably was not alone.
The most troubling is hearing ‘ we dont have much to go on’ .
There is so much
Mike,
You are correct – there are a couple of turns you have to make after passing under the interstate before turning on Red Hill Road from the north but they would be no problem for someone familiar with the area. I drove the route the first time with no problems using a Virginia road map atlas.
I am starting to think maybe Morgan was trying to get a ride back to Crozet. If she was friends with the parents (or roommates) of the person they picked up earlier there she may have wanted to go to Crozet and await her friends after the concert. Also, if she could not get a ride from the basketball players she could have called someone at that address and asked them to come and get her as Crozet is only about eleven miles from Lannigan Field.
Any why, why, why is the location she wanted to get to being withheld by the VSP?
mike , buffalo wings has been” rumored ” as a spot where a scent was picked up .white shirt(under the black zip up sweater),khaki’s(we dont know if it’s khaki’s) on a black man(?)(yeah, around a college) ,restaurant uniform?(busboy dishwasher).there is a wings restaurant 4.3 miles from giant,straight shot. i am linking this article because of the girlfriend who provided the tip,i would love to read an expose on someone like her ,the mental process that she went through to get to the point where she picked up the phone and called. http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-cori-desmond-trial,0,672901.story
Susanm, thank you, I didn’t quite get the pt. from the link to ktla but that page seemed sort of weird, californiaish. In any event, are you thinking about “Wild Wings” restaurant which is in the train station on main st. aka, university ave. = extension of Ivy rd? I think from memory that that is the restaurant where there were some spurious reports of a scent. That rest. is a fair piece from the jpj arena but not that far. I was referring to “Buffalo Wild Wings” a chain type restaurant on Arlington which is off of Emmett (Rte. 29) in the fringes of the Barracks Road shopping center. Buffalo Wild Wings is closer to jpj and my pt. was that the driver/murderer may have wound up on Coply at the wrong time for Morgan after coming from Buffalo Wild Wings, a sports type bar with a later night black clientele.
There must be a match between sketch-DNA found on the tshirt and on location at AF? If not that be very strange. Unless time decays evidence too much to make such a link.
Also I wonder why the RV lot was not sealed of as a (possible) crime scene on that sunday or even later considering the wealth of evidence which we didnt know of at the time. It was not such a hindrance to let the concerts continue sunday etc and closing of the relatively unimportant athlete lot for just a few days to do some closer scrutiny.
After all this time these questions do not seem to be a risk to the active investigation? I do hope they get results soon!
The driving distance from JPJ Arena to the Route 29 intersection with Red Hill Road is eleven miles.
The driving distance from Crozet to the intersection of Red Hill Road and Taylor’s Gap Road (using the back roads from Crozet) is also eleven miles.
FWIW
There is a wings restaurant (Wings Over Charlottesville) right near the intersection of Ivy and Copeley. Could this be where the scent was picked up?
The wings rumor was made up. It was part of the “she hopped a train and ran away” storyline.
I posted this article a few days ago, but went back to day and found additional comments I think are worth Blinksters reading:
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Commitment_to_Find_Harringtons_Murderer_Continues_126459868.html?storySection=comments
to dda, I think that “wings” rest. opened after Morgan disapeared. It used to be a diner.
In memory of Gini, good call on the comments – very interesting and provacative. However, Michael seems to be lobbying for an analysis that Morgan passed away by accident. This does not seem to square with the reports (By Gil H. herself) of the horribly shattered bones of Morgan, implying at least that she was either mauled to death or her body desicrated.
I found this article regarding the search along the Highway:
http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/79436232.html?storySection=story
Snipped-
Harrington Search Sends Troopers into Interstate 64 Median
Albemarle County
Motorists traveling along Interstate 64 between Charlottesville and Crozet may have noticed people walking in the median Wednesday.
Posted: 4:54 PM Dec 16, 2009
susanm: Thanks for the article.
MsL: I know the 29 stalker was believed to be white but I just wondered…since they never caught him.
So do we know whether familial DNA testing has been done in Morgan’s case?
Amy: The DNA on the shirt is Morgan’s. No other DNA is on it, as far as we know. Seems unlikely to me too. Wouldn’t there be some other DNA–even if unidentified? If so, obviously more people than Sketch were involved…
Mike, I agree. Michael also does not explain how the Sketch, a violent sex offender, whose DNA was on her bones, came into the picture: how does HE connect to an “accidental” drug overdose causing death?
See his comment:
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Commitment_to_Find_Harringtons_Murderer_Continues_126459868.html?storySection=comments
Kenny my friend, the flyers should suggest that dropping illegal drugs into drinks, or giving or selling them may result in death. If you drop the “M” word you may get some answers. It is for VSP to state that, I know you believe it in your heart. And, the state she was in, may very have been due to an evil person or persons. But, many people associated with the final man that saw her, may not believe him to be a “COLD BLOODED” Murderer. You continue on, I am very glad you continue. I too, will continue. It is not a matter if I am right or you are right, what is important is something very bad happened and Morgan was not responsible for her death. To this day, drug dealers are distributing illegal drugs, often they are not even what they claim them to be.
Maybe he implies that Sketch disposed of her body? See his comment:
“The shirt was found prior to the body being be found. So this indicates 2 encounters.” I don’t know what to make of his comments. He certainly sounds as if he knows something, but perhaps not.
And what about Dark Angel’s comments about the suicide of someone in early 2010 (when Morgan’s remains were found), who hung around both 14th Street and Anchorage Farm?
“The person who holds the key to this murder is dead, by his own hand about the time Morgan was found. We found this strange giving the fact this person hung on 14th Street and knew the farm. Until someone other than myself look back I believe the case could be a start in finding out what really happened.”
Please post if you know anything about this. Could this be Dakota? He has a similar writing style.
In memory Of Ginni Hello- thankyou for linking that article- I missed it the first time around.
I read the comments-
First, let me say I do not know what happened to Morgan Harrington.
I do not know if she took drugs that night either, whether by her own decision or if they were slipped in her drink ect., or whether or not this lead to so,me sort of “accident”…
I do not know if she had a “first encounter” with someone other than a known violent rapist, someone who did not harm her, or perhaps with someone that tried to help her…
But If someone other than Sketch was present or knows about what happened than they should come forward to aid the investigation…How does the term murder, stop them from doing this?- BTW- LE has not said murder they say homicide-and they have even used the language of this “tragedy”
Homicide does not necessarily mean cold-blooded murder- and I think softening the language to state a tragedy occurred, is leaving the door wide open for some helpful person to come forward and fill in the blanks- with a truth that might encompass an accident…
LE has even stated that they do not know what happened, that someone may have tried to help Morgan by giving her a ride ect and she later met up with a killer- -
I understand no one wants to be the last known person to have contact with a homicide victim.
But it seems to me, just my opinion only that there have been many opprotunities for a witness to come forward, Blink IIRC once offered to provide an attorney, free of charge to anyone coming forward.
I do not know if the offer still stands, but my point is, there have been many offers-and not just by Blink – & it seems to me, if this were a situation where someone was frightened to come forward with what they knew, securing an attorney would be the best way to resolve this quagmire- instead of remaining silent.
Sketch was/is a LONE violent rapist, not a murderer…. Why would he deviate from his MO? His MO leaves room for a witness or family member/friend ect to come forward. Why would a witness remain silent inorder to protect someone involved?
Tell what you know and let the truth be known-
If it wasnt murder but an accident say so. But if Sketch is the culprit, then he should surely be held accountable for his known crime-of rape- yet noone has come forward -in the years since the FF rape, to out him in that crime either- and the word murder was NEVER mentioned by anyone back then…
Perhaps it could be that Sketch never intended to kill the FF victim- perhaps he would not have, had he not been interrupted..Perhaps he never intended to kill Morgan.
Perhaps it was therefore an “accident”
But the fact is, he beat the FF violently and even if his intent was not to kill her, his brutal rape was a crime, and could have resulted in her demise.
He needs to be stopped – and at the very least he needs help- his loved ones or friends ect should be protecting him from himself and in turn they would be protecting their community from him.
–Perhaps Sketch is not her killer but may have turned his life around, and was a good Samaritan that night or a witness, then he should still come forward, even at the risk of being prosecuted for the FF rape ect- to tell the truth of what happened to Morgan. If he has turned his life around surely he can see this is what must be done- Write an anonymous note.
As I have said before, I do not know what happened- and nothing makes my opinions or theories any more or less feasible than anyone elses-
Whom besides God, Morgan, and ____ Knows the truth of what happened?
We dont know, and sadly those that do know arent talking.
Come forward and tell what happened- I think LE would listen.
Peace
AJMO
RE: The Wings Over Charlottesville post from DDA:
I did a property search on the charlottesville,org to see who owns it. There isn’t anything entered as of yet unless I entered data incorrectly. The restaurant is located at 2029 Ivy Road. When I did the search, the only thing that came up was the listing for University Forum apartments at 2021 Ivy Road where it indicates that there are 220 apartments over twenty dwellings (I’m not sure if they are all right there or scattered throughout the area). However, the owner is UVA Foundation. It may have little or no relevance, but I was not aware that the apartments were that close to Ivy Rd. which are seemingly away from grounds and student housing, perhaps athlete housing.
when a coroner states a “manner of death” he/she will indicate, one of “homicide” “accidental” “natural causes” or “unknown” It is necessary to view the actual death certificate to determine what the cororner put down. Homicide can mean many things from an intentional killing (murder) to a death by negligence, etc. i.e. “unintentional manslaughter.” I am in Pa but I suspect that the same holds true for VA.
The actual cause of death may still be undetermined. The manner of death is merely a legalism to distinguish where the death “fell” in the legal system of definitions.
From what I recall from the state of Morgan’s body at the time of discovery it may not be possible to determine the “cause of death.” Apparently, the toxicology results (if any) have never been released to others than the immediate family.
obviously, this is a tough one. The delay in finding Morgan’s body works against science.
In keeping with what Michael has posted as several comments about Kenny’s story, I think he is driving at that LE should start shaking down some of these low life type druggies (who freguent jpj venues) and scaring them with a murder rap, the ‘M” word. There is a limit to what le can do with this. They need some sort of probable cause to detain an question these types. It is a good tactic, but it may be too little, too late.
mike says:
“The delay in finding Morgan’s body works against science.”
But sometimes the rate of decay of a compound is known so investigators can determine the approximate concentrations of the substance in the body at the time of death if that time is known.
An example would be a small airplane crash that went missing on a certain date. Several weeks later it is discovered and the body tissues of the pilot are analyzed by pathologists to see what, if any, drugs were present and to calculate what the concentrations were at the time of crash.
All the long time followers of this case should recognize the posting style on that link. Can’t believe people are wasting their time on him again.
Blink, Could you take a look at this and share your wisdom?
http://www.rockvillemusicmagazine.com/2010/10/morgan-harrington-murdered-metallica.html
There are several statements that I do not remember reading before and I was hoping you could confirm or deny their accuracy?
1
“One man said she even took him by the arm calling him baby, attempting to have him escort her back inside.”
question- Is this kickee? If so, not only did Morgan say “lets go”- not “let go” but she called him “baby” and motioned/asked for him to help her gain readmittance? Then when he refused swore at him and lightly kicked him on the butt?
If this is truly what happened then it would seem to me that Morgan wasnt acting irrationally just desperate to regain reentry…
You once were going to “out” kickee – I am not asking you to do that, but if you would kindly answer, Is kickee a person that Morgan would have believed could have some pull in getting her readmitted? Was he wearing a uniform, or easily recognizable or did he resemble a friend?…work for UVa or such …or is it just that he was “there” near the side entrance, and had a ticket?
Next-
2 “Virginia State Police believe the young woman was attempting to hitch a ride back to her apartment, located more than a hour away.”
Question-Blink, Is there some confirmation other than her friends saying Morgan told them via cell, she would find another way “home” did home mean to her apt?…Did Morgan want to go back to her apartment? Is this where she asked the BBP to take her?
AJMO
Hoping you will shed some light- thanks
Mom 3.0- I personally do not believe that Morgan said she would find another way home, in a friendly way, I think the tone was very different, if those words were uttered at all,
According to VSP, the friends “went to a restaurant” after they left JPJ. They went in her car, without her; I simply do not believe that the “account” of that night by VSP’s interpretation is accurate, or even logical.
I don’t get the whole friends thing. Even more so now. Did anyone ever ask them if they knew why Morgan’s ticket was ripped up? Was it in her purse? It looks like she got locked out by accident, her friends didn’t come to help her, and a predator was lurking about. Is that what happened?
I want to know how often VSP works on Morgan’s case?
Yes Blink- I too feel the same way in regards to what Morgan may have told her friends
If she said that- it seems she either said it in brush off kind of way or in jest or hoping they would get up off their butts and leave to give her a rdie home…and it seems that if she did say it, even her friends did not believe that she would or did follow through with her “plan”
Besides how could she? She didnt have her keys to the apt Did she?
I agree that their waiting around “for hours” at the concert, then taking off to the restaurant to wait for her until dawn- does not fit with a group that believed she had found her way home “with friends”….
It isnt logical- and Morgans own behaviors seem to tell a different story also. She seemed to only want to regain reentrance to the arena- She did not seem in a hurry to leave the area…She did not immediate HH and she didnt accept any offers of a ride “home”
So is LE basing this info only upon the brief 8:48 call by the friends? or
Did the BBP say this is where she asked to go? I am sure she didnt stick out her thumb and yell her destination out to passers by…
Is this an instance of LE making the accounts “fit” into their theory or an attempt to make them form the timeline? IDK
IRT what the friends said Morgan told them…as we have all learned by posting it is not what you say but how you say it- and so much is lost in the written word you miss tone and sarcasm and inflection ect-
Does it matter exactly what Morgan said yes, but even if those were her words exactly, it depends on exactly how she said it- tone inflection ect.
Which brings me again to the kickee account aforementioned…
***********
Blink did you miss the question or are you declining to answer?
Do you know -
Did Morgan call kickee baby? Did she want him to get her readmitted to the concert?
Is this one of the times I should take your silence as affirmation?
Until I hear otherwise from you – I will take the silence as affirmation…
My thoughts- based on this “baby” account
If she grabbed his arm and said lets go baby – & wanted him to escort her past the guards, THAT is a much different interpretation of the kickee encounter, and would seem to shed a whole different light on this once thought to be irrational strange seemly somewhat violent encounter.
Would our knowing exactly who kickee is, also shed a different light on the encounter? Perhaps showing Morgan as more as a damsel in distress- than an intoxicated mess?
AJMO
I am sorry Mom 3.0, I did miss your question. I have NEVER heard anything about Morgan calling anyone baby, so no I cannot verify that.
B
Or perhaps she called him a baby- when he began whining about the playful butt kick?
perhaps the encounter was gee what a big baby you are- sorry I even asked for your help you baby…
See tone and inflection and sarcasm matter…
This use of the word baby fits more with the shaking of the leg and laughing which J2K once3 said seemed to be Morgan and the BIB making fun of Kickee…
I guess the most important question is did she want kickee to escort her inside the arena?
If so it seems Morgan was not through with trying to regain entrance…that all changed when the BIB- the BBP arrived/exited-
Why? Why did Morgan readily walk away WITH them- and give up on readmittance- at least for the moment- was she under the assumption that they would get her in at another door? Surely they did not have tickets to Metallica- yet they exited the arena….
Did they say -stick with us we’ll either get you in -or we will give you a ride…
Morgan seemed to believe she didnt have to find another “kickee” Seems She thought her prayers were answered when the BBP walked out that door…
AJMO
AJMO
Thanks for the responses Blink-
Not sure what to make of it all-
I sincerely wish that all accounts ect were easily verifiable.
it looks like UVA is renovating lannigan field…a lot of construction around the fence by the railroad tracks and elsewhere. maybe they will find some more evidence if that indeed is where the abduction took place.
i am a uva student, so this case hits close to home.
hoping for a resolution for the family!
Welcome to BOC, and I suspect there has been evidence recovered they are unaware was evidence.
B
Redly,
I don’t think I was reading here when HE was posting–but I went back a few months ago and re-read old posts so I think it’s D. Blink questioned him carefully. Am I wrong? I just remember he was fairly incoherent and claimed to know all sorts of things or alluded to all kinds of things…
I don’t really know what to say except that I am still here, and I am still praying for the Harrington’s.