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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Hello All ~ And Hi to you Hummingbird , I knew you would be here , so good to see you . I hate that I missed seeing you on your visit.
I keep going back to that night , and what VSP had put together in their last timeline & sightings / contact with Morgan . The contact VSP referred to when Morgan left the doors of JPJ was the “ticket taker” . This ticket taker could tell she was in some type of an altered state , and I believe did see a small amount of blood , did he also notice if she had been crying , or if she seemed to be in distress ? VSP says the ticket taker informed Morgan of the no re-entry policy & that she understood & chose to leave anyway . ** Well I DO NOT BUY THAT !**
Why ? A simple reason & if any of you have ever been to a loud rock concert , you’ll know what I’m talking about .
**NOISE LEVEL **
Ever go to a concert & have your ears buzz & ring & feel congested when you left? Maybe for a few hours? A few days ? Or a week ?
Do you recall trying to carry on a conversation right after leaving a concert & being unable to hear your friend unless they were screaming at you , & then you still might not hear it all ?
I do not believe Morgan was capable of hearing anyone to discuss anything because of the noise levels possibly causing temporary hearing loss that was caused by the high & dangerous decibel levels.
There are safe levels of noise that a person can be exposed to without possible temporary or permanent changes in hearing . The levels of a concert far exceed the safe levels.(examples will follow below)
A loud horn honking would also put the decibel level in a range about the same as a loud rock concert , especially if you were down near the speakers.
** I do not believe for one second that Morgan was able to hear & comprehend the person at the door telling her if she walked out there was no re-entry. **
* Noise Levels *
1.)any sound above 85 dB can cause hearing loss.
2.)Even 1 instance of loud noise can cause a person to have tinnitus for hours or days .
**here are some examples of noise levels **
*Car horn, rock concert, or orchestra = 110 dB
*Jet engine or emergency vehicle siren = 120 dB
*A gunshot, firecracker or jet taking off = 140 dB to 165 dB
I suspect the noise levels at JPJ were closer to the dB range of 120 to 140 range , with the loud guitar solos far surpassing the 120 to 140 range.
source below here@ link
http://www.lereel.com/what-causes-ringing-in-ears-decibel-guide-to-know-when-you-risk-tinnitus-or-hearing-loss
I believe they need to talk to the “ticket taker” again.
A bit more to back this up :
volume levels commonly reached at rock concerts, which can range from 110dB to a staggering 140dB.
At 130dB and above, pain is often experienced and immediate hearing damage is not uncommon.
As a consequence of this, not only is it absolutely imperative that musicians take measures to protect themselves from frequent
exposure to the volume levels reached at live performances but also that those in the crowd take measures to prevent potential damage.
http://www.lereel.com/how-loud-is-too-loud-threats-to-hearing
I like Amy’s thoughts above about th DNA ‘problem’. Reading between George’s lines … I’m picking up what he’s putting down. From the start (IMO), Morgan was smeared as a ‘run-away – hitch-hiking – slore’. Why? Maybe hoping a drug doing, troubled girl would be forgotten about sooner rather than later?? Confident she was ‘dumped in a very ‘clever’ place, were they? Remember all the erronous descriptions and ‘evidence’ put out there at first; all the while the VPS spokesman kept saying they would correct any mis-impressions put out?? They never did, did they? Just more necklaces, short and long boots, t-shirt with or without images, NO EVIDENCE OF A STRUGGLE,’friends or foes’, etc., etc., etc.
Something ‘stinks’ with the group she was with (IMO)… and the ‘story’ LE ran with. ——WHY—–?? —- WHO —–’controlled’ the story —–??? There, is the answer to WHO, without mercy or remorse, murdered Morgan Harrington.
PS: Again, only my opinion —- just WHO is seen with Morgan on these “NON-existant” arena security tapes??
VPS has stated they have them and Morgan was NOT seen on them. WHY wouldn’t she be on them then OR now???? Well, if she WAS there — hell yeah, she’s WAS on them!!! WHO else was seen near or with her????
Where are the tapes NOW??
I am not sure I have ever heard VSP state they had tapes from inside the arena.
B
Rose and B., VSP stated that they “viewed” the tapes and Morgan was not spotted in them.
That is correct, but to date, it has not been released what tapes from what locations inside the venue they are referring to. It could have been 30 seconds of an overhead camera in one hallway.
I say this because I know that there is live monitoring inside the area by UVAPD, but all my requests to find out exactly what was available for VSP to “view” have gone un-answered.
I do not that the security and monitoring architects that were hired originally were brought into a meeting immediately after Morgan’s disappearance, but I do not know the outcome.
Lastly, Dino Cappuzzo was standing below an overhead camera in the parking lot at last years tour I was barred from, lol- what of those?
B
Alabamamom: VSP says the ticket taker informed Morgan of the no re-entry policy & that she understood & chose to leave anyway . ** Well I DO NOT BUY THAT !**
she was wounded and walked unbalanced / stumbling outside nodded (?) at the ‘ticket taker’ AKA security guy/gal who ‘warned’her she would be on her own outside and then she immediately (?) turned around to re enter and was refused re entry because (?) an invisible line was crossed??
her wounded and unstable behavior (confusion, ripped ticket etc) further boldened the ticket taker and security to decide the invisible line did its work as a one-way sign and keep out the unwanted Metallica guests. Clearly she would disturb the peace inside. They would even dare to say the word ‘irrational’ . There you go.
unfortunately we know its not uncommon for guests to be allowed re entry so that story don t float. It would be much simpler for me to accept if Morgan just walked outside and then was refused re entry cause the ticket taker didnt even see her leave. But this story…
There was only a ‘live’ view, meaning someone would watch the arena through cameras no recording so maybe a matter of semantics. Why? : shortage of harddisk space to record footage for later review…. yet enough HD space to record high definition BBP games at the athlete lot and broadcast them (most dime stores have a 10 year old harddisk to record at least a night s footage). Well the superstars are the BBP not the customers with valid tickets to a concert. I think this was a commercial decision not done on purpose to create a security risk.
If there were any tapes do you think Morgan was NOT on them? As at least someone would be smart/basically capable enough to point a camera at the doors. Unfortunately there was only multiple cameras with 1 live person ? This basically ruins the purpose of camera s as they have no use if they are not watched or recorded. We all know you can only watch 1, maybe 2 screens at the time.
there are in any case founded suspicions of malicious pre meditated intent its unclear who as for now
One trail could be the fall, was it an accident or did a stalker push her, Or did it start outside, on the lot? Or did the sadist find her HH ?
The latter possibility is the most difficult one to grasp and introduces a random perp (sketch). Still can t shake the feeling this starting much much earlier in the evening.
my guess is most friends were really in the dark about what happened to M. maybe even up until the point at waiting at her car for her. Only then were they informed noone knew that she was refused re entry and had no way home.
i d look closer at the people who said she was ‘alright’ people who had no basis of assuming there was no problem.
Didn’t LE release a still shot of some girl they thought might have been Morgan months and months after BOC video analysts had ruled her out as being Morgan?
I want to say this: I wasn’t aware that you were barred from the walk-through Blink and that is disturbing. You’ve always said we’re the sum of our parts and many people here have unselfishly given their time to trying to help in any way possible, so any snub of you is a snub to us all IMO. That’s another reason I was so disappointed in how some of those former posters appeared on the Hook’s walk through article making snide and unfair comments about BOC (without actually mentioning the site) and though they may have been directed at one person, I felt the sting as well. There were a lot of times over the last 2 years that had it not been for BOC, Morgan’s case would have been forgotten. I honestly believe law enforcement could benefit from sites like this if they stopped thinking they’re so superior.
It also bothered the heck out of me that Blink was banned from the the walk through and raises my hinky meter big time.
Why why why???
Does Blink know too much?
Ask too many relevant and uncomfortable questions.
Does Blink refuse to go away, shut up , back down?
WHO banned her and why did they do that?
WHO pressured who to blacklist Blink.
I know the Harringtons’ respect Blink and BOC as Dr Harrington has posted here on many occasions, including times when he felt the need to “speak” on behalf of Morgan or his family.
I agree with Mary there have been many times over the last two years that had it not been for BOC , Morgans case would have been forgotten.
WHO benefits from Morgans case being forgotten?
Besides the perp?
WHO or WHAT institution, in a position of some influence, could control or feel the need to control who could or could not attend the Virginia State Police organized walk through?
UVAPD officers salaries are paid by University of Virginia.
The crime originated on UVA grounds.
I believe Dr Harrington heads a clinic that is part of UVA.
Virginia State Police are paid by the state of Virginia as well as UVA.
Then we have the whole outside security working the events at JPJ Arena , and the off duty police officers moonlighting in security and the security company being hired by and paid by UVA.
It appears at times as if poor Morgan unwittingly became a victim and a pawn once again, even AFTER she was tortured, raped , murdered and dumped in a remote corn field.
How much went wrong in one night for this young woman in distress?
I also feel that Morgans troubles started earlier in the night.
Too many things went wrong and have been unexplained.
The Sketch connection also bothers me the who , how and why of it and the DNA, and planted T shirt after the fact and just before her body was found.
How many red herrings have been thrown into this investigation from the start to slow it down, impede it
make it go away?
It will never go away. Not with parents like Dan and Gil Harrington, a tireless Victims Advocate like Blink, and a bright spirit like Morgan Harrington.
A curse on you cowards, murderers, obstructers of justice, hiders of the truth!!
May you rot in hell, and Morgan haunt your nights and torture your souls like you tortured her and robbed her from this world.
I repeat Karma is a bitch.
What goes around comes around.If not your heads on the heads of your loved ones, struck down by some horrible calamity.
To know something and say nothing is criminal in itself and you have Morgans blood on your hands.
J4M.
I am somewhat limited in how I can respond to this for obvious reasons, this is an active investigation.
The Harrington’s deserve their privacy in this regard as well, so I will simply say they did not understand my non-invitation, were not given a choice or media list until late the afternoon beforehand and they were about to embark on the death scene of their beloved daughter, additional stress they did not need.
Hopefully when this case is solved, we will have an open dialog on here about all these little nuances, in the interest of learning how we do “better”.
VSP (through Geller) was very upset about the release of the connection to the Fairfax assault and sketch, citing they wanted more investigative time to run down leads. I understand that, and I support it, except they were not aware that my sources had confirmed this to me weeks prior, so I had already done just that.
At the time, it had not been identified what assault it was attached to, I researched that over that time period, and through process of elimination, I was able to confirm which case it was, and then I announced it, after advising the Harrington’s I was going to do so .
I do not give a rats ass what was said, being excluded, or the fact that VSP took it upon themselves to only invite VA local news, and I can also tell you during the tour, they had officers stationed to intercept any media that showed up outside of the “list”. They said it was to maintain the land owners privacy.
The child laid out there for 3 months on 700 acres of land, I am fairly certain that is a ridiculous notion.
Overall, I have to say, I have found the detectives in this case to be open to leads, and accessible, but very, very behind the curve in the usage of media in criminal case work. That is almost entirely the culture within VSP, and also any State Police Agency.
That said, I am a firm believer in transparency, and there is a fat tarp over this investigation, and imo, it serves nobody, least of all Morgan Harrington. If an approach is not working, it seems elementary, but try something else. Not new, not novel, but definitely necessary.
B
If the VSP ever arrests anyone for the crime against Morgan then the defense attorneys would have access to all evidence against their client. Also, Rader and Capuzzo and the JPJ Arena officials could be questioned under oath and penalty of perjury about the JPJ Arena video taping system and the missing tapes.
Surreal how the interests of the Harringtons in finding out the truth might align with the interests of the accused?
Thanks Blink, very interesting.
This puts some things in perspective for me.
I just want to clarify that in mentioning that Dr Harrington works for UV
I was not suggesting any complicity on his
part re any media but especially you B from being barred from the walk through.
More I was stating how complicated it all is and that I appreciate his position.
My heart goes out to the HarrIngtons who I have grown to love and respect for their courage and vigilance in the face of the unspeakable.
I also will be waiting to see what unfolds when the statute of limitations runs out.
Thankyou for taking the time to clarify thIs part of the puzzle.
J4M
Wow!! Finally I successfully posted from my phone!!
Can’t tell you how many of my previous lengthy tomes have been lost in cyberspace
LOL!!
Have a great weekend one and all.
Godspeed darling Morgan little blonde pixie xxxx
So well said Hummingbird @ 8:18 PM. Very well said.
Brilliant and moving Post Hummingbird-
Blink your response has left me speechless. Thank you for coming out from behind the curtain to give your thoughts.
Blink, I was on the job yesterday when I read Hummingbird’s remarkable post, so I really didn’t have the frame of mind to read your response like I needed to. This morning I’ve read again and I’m very much in awe. Thank you for finally coming out and saying it like it is. I would love it, if you came out from behind the curtain, as Mom3 said, more often. Say it like it is. Thanks again for sharing.
Blink says: At the time, it had not been identified what assault it was attached to, I researched that over that time period, and through process of elimination, I was able to confirm which case it was, and then I announced it, after advising the Harrington’s I was going to do so .
_______________________________________________________
I remember you posting your article saying that it was related to the Pham case. It was after that being incorrectly reported that it was related to the Pham case that VSP was compelled to release the sketch to avoid the incorrect report that there was an double serial killer on the loose.
@josie
At times you cannot imagine how I wish I could disclose things I would like. It takes everything to remind myself that Morgan’s interests come first. Sometimes that means zipping it and taking a beatdown.
That said, I feel like I have been pretty vocal about what a mess this is.
Protecting a prosecution in this case is the priority
@redly
That is not accurate. Link please. Did not happen like that, and
Vsp knew BEFOREHAND.
Also, your assuming there is no connection to the Pham case, that has not been solved.
Blink, how many people are we, the sums, and is there anything we can do to get someone like Ken Brennan to look into Morgan’s case?
Agree with Hummingbird at 8:18 o’clock.
No excuses …. this has gone on far too long … PC, or whatever.
Most agree this is/was a solvable crime … so, something is keeping it from being solved. Seems to me (Parkway murders, etc., etc., etc.)(Ephert), this juristiction ‘worships’ cold-cases and unsolved crimes. Why??? Collusion, incompetence, or philosophy? None of these is acceptable or is owed an excuse. Morgan deserves her justice – or none of us or our children do.
Excuses, excuses, excuses … NO more excuses … Law Enforcement Professionals, SOLVE this crime!
I want to ask something, very respectfully, what if the shirt was actually found on the 11th as every other news outlet has reported? Does that change anything other than the theory that the shirt was found on the 5th, pre-search announced for the 6th? I mean if the shirt was actually found on the 11th, was anything going on on that date that might progress the investigation?
It was not. I was sent for testing that day.
B
Good point Alexandra I for one would donate money to pay someone like Ken Brennan.
It is no longer just about Morgan if heinous crimes like this occur and the perps go free none of our daughters are safe.
What is this big fat tarp over this investigation and why is it blocking finding justice for this family?
What and who needs to be exposed to blow the lid off this thing?
There seems to be layers and layers of corruption, and or incompetence in this jurisdiction.
Like an illness undiagnosed that becomes systemic over time, and seeps into everything, through and through…..Corruption is everywhere I realize, and don’t mean to single out Virginia, but in this case,that is where Morgan was murdered and what this investigation is up against.
I am sure individual LE members are well intentioned and have integrity regarding Morgans case, but there is an invisible wall or “tarp” as Blink called it that is obscuring the truth and it seems all pervasive.
I want to take a knife and rip a huge hole in that tarp and expose whatever and whoever it is hiding!!
Thank you Josie and Rose and good to see you Mom3.0.
J4M.
Alabamamom’s posts reminded me of a nagging question re: Morgan’s ticket/JPJ’s re-entry policy. Could someone clarify what the policy is, b/c I’ve heard two conflicting things: #1, JPJ has a strict no-ins-and-outs policy, so even WITH your ticket stub you can’t get back in, or #2, you CAN get back in if you have your ticket stub, but Morgan did not have hers with her (or it was torn up or whatever).
Now, the “ticket taker” says he warned her that if left she couldn’t get back in; this would only make sense for him to say in the case of scenario #1, no re-entry. But didn’t someone (the same ticket taker, or a different one??) ask her about her ticket stub when she tried to get back in, and that’s when she said it was in pieces in her bag? Why would he ask her this if there was no re-entry regardless of stub? But if there WAS re-entry with a stub, the first ticket taker wouldn’t have known, as she walked out, whether or not she had her stub, so why would he tell her she couldn’t get back in (as opposed to saying, for instance, “you’ll need your stub to get back in”)?
Furthermore, not sure if this was confirmed or not, but I remember reading that someone (the BB players or other concertgoers outside the stadium) offered to buy Morgan a new ticket so she could get back in. If so, why in the world would she have turned that down? Makes NO sense to me, especially as she had been looking forward to the concert for so long (and recall her excitement when first getting out of the car with her friends, telling the people near them in the parking lot whom she didn’t know how pumped she was to see the band). This is just my own personal experience, but I just flew 400 miles to see my favorite band in concert a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, WILD HORSES or the second coming of Christ would not have kept me out of that show. With the possible exceptions of roofies (i.e. being slipped date rape drug) or a bad acid trip, I don’t think that even intoxication would have gotten Morgan so sidetracked as to forget about/give up on seeing the band. That’s just my gut instinct, of course, but Morgan strikes me as one of those people for whom music is like a religion and ALWAYS comes first.
I have never seen anywhere where someone is quoted anyone offered to purchase a second ticket for Morgan.
B
Could someone (Blink?) contact Ken Brennan and see what his fee would be to look into this case. Maybe we could put together a fund for his time and effort? There are concerned readers from all over the world here. The VSP investigation is going nowhere.
I was looking at some of the comments of ordinary citizens on early newspaper articles related to Morgan. It was striking how many people commented that the VSP seemed to be ‘going through the motions’, ‘holding back’, not being thorough’, and even “stonewalling”. And this was in the time period before Morgan had been found on Anchorage Farm.
Been away for a while, got a promotion, still haven’t hired anyone to take over my old position, so doing both and so I’ve been quite busy. Missed all of you and our conversations here on BOC.
Morgan’s case has always frustrated me. And, for some reason, I am strongly drawn to Morgan, and her family. I have shed many a tear over this one. Anyways….almost every single thing that happened to Morgan that night from her friends letting her walk away alone and on, is just ridiculous. At so many different points, people had so many opportunities to change the course of that night, and didn’t. And, I am going to be completely honest about how I feel here – the police have done a lousy job. The have absolutely failed Morgan and her family. I’m convinced that this case needs to be taken over by someone else, and then, and only then, will it be solved. And, to know how heart breaking Morgan’s death is, and the violence in which happened, for them not to be doing 100% of what they can, exploring 100% of the avenues, utilizing 100% of the tools (including the media and public), and to not be giving it 1000% of your heart, your passion, to trying to find this bastard, just makes me sick to my stomach when thinking that these are the same people who are supposed to serve and protect.
2 4 1
@redly
That is not accurate. Link please. Did not happen like that, and
Vsp knew BEFOREHAND.
Also, your assuming there is no connection to the Pham case, that has not been solved.
__________________________________________________
I tried to give a few links several times but the posts disappear. I assume they are going into spam.
breaking them up in case that was the problem.
Here is one:
http://www.readthehook.com/67132/morgans-killer-fairfax-case-connection-offers-hope-fresh-fear
No, they are here, I wanted to snip them for readers:
Snipped by Blink, from above link:
a possibility,” concedes State Police spokesperson Corrinne Geller, who says police would have actually preferred to withhold the information and the composite sketch from the public even longer than they did in order to collect more information and finish pursuing investigative leads with the Fairfax police department.
Geller says the timing of the release was prompted by a crime blog, which announced that investigators had discovered a link between the Harrington case and another recent Fairfax case–- the wrong one. When news outlets began contacting her for confirmation, Geller says, police feared widespread misinformation would damage the investigation by prompting a flurry of false leads.
“It pressured us to get this information out there,” says Geller, admitting that the decision was so rushed that police hadn’t even shown the composite to David Bass, the man who found Harrington’s remains and who might have recalled seeing someone fitting the description on his 742-acre farm.
Let me say this, I know exactly what Ms. Geller said, I am telling you, that IS NOT how it went down. In fact, you should know that Dr. Harrington had to personally call her to find out why since they ALSO knew about the connection for weeks via VSP, these comments were made, and sketch’s “sketch” was still not posted on the VSP site. I was the unpopular gal who got the bullseye for their inaction, and that is what happened. Secondly, I will add, that in PIO or even PR circles within LE, that quote and “stance” was seen as very unprofessional considering the next update, which you neglect to mention:
Contrasting viewpoint, no?
http://www.nbc12.com/story/12750673/sketch-generates-more-than-50-tips-in-morgan-harrington-case?redirected=true
snipped from above:
“I’m glad to hear it’s shaking something loose out of the tree. That’s great,” said Gil Harrington.
Calls and emails have poured in from Fairfax to Charlottesville and well beyond Virginia’s borders ever since the sketch made headlines again and went national.
“It pretty much runs the gamut people who think they may know, the person people who are adamant they know this person, which is great,” said Virginia State Police spokeswoman, Corrine Geller.
State police released the drawing Thursday after revealing the man, wanted for a Fairfax City abduction and sexual assault, is linked through forensic evidence to Harrington’s abduction and murder. Investigators spent Friday vetting and prioritizing the leads.
“Hopefully, in the end, that tip is among those fifty we’ve received so far, or continue to receive over the holiday weekend, we will bring not only the Morgan Harrington case to a resolution but also the 2005 abduction and assault,” said Geller.
So which is it, good Blink or bad Blink? Redly, I know you really work to defend UVA, VSP, etc and I find you rarely ever concede, but I don’t mind that so much as I mind the fact, that at the very least, I would appreciate it if you could at least acknowledge that even the VSP changed their tune, and that should tell you something between the lines, and I know you know that.
B
and here is a link to the actual story. see the link description. the paragraph about geller was added later that morning after VSP released the correct info.
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/07/01/morgan-harrington-murder-breaking-news-virginia-state-police-to-announce-link-to-vanessa-pham-case/#comments
I haven’t posted in awhile, but I think I can clarify the ticket policy based on my understanding. There is a sign posted as you enter JPJ arena through the main entrance doors stating that there is no re-entry without a NEWLY purchased ticket. I don’t know whether or not signs are posted at the other entrances. The same policy exists at the football stadium. Tickets are not ripped with only a stub returned. Tickets are electronically scanned with the entire ticket returned to the holder. Once the ticket has been scanned, it will be rejected by the electronic scanner if someone attempts to re-enter on a previously used ticket. According to the VT athletic website, the same policy exists at both Cole Field House and Lane Stadium so I doubt that Morgan was unaware of the possibility of such policy at other sports and entertainment venues. With regard to whether or not this policy is always strictly adhered to, I have no idea.
I don’t keep notes, but if I remember correctly, the original “breaking news” from this site was that a connection had been made to the Vanessa Pham murder, re: the first page of comments about the connection. I do not recall the comments from Ms. Gellar when I read the original posting, but again, I am relying completely on my memory of events. To me, it’s always seemed more likely that there would be a connection made to the Cassandra Morton murder in Lynchburg. Until the young woman is found, hopefully safe, the thought has to be in the minds of investigators that the disappearance of Samantha Clarke could be connected. There has to be some reason, some tip, that causes LE to return time after time to the lake in Greene County. It would seem that LE believes the young woman has met with foul play.
@peace through music September 25, 2011 at 3:14 am
IIRC the Disappeared episode had a video clip of Rader saying something like that, or someone asking her if she needed a ticket and she said she already had one. He either stated outright or seemed to imply someone had offered to buy one for her. It was mentioned regarding Morgan’s refusal of help from so many outside the venue.
Blink, I have no doubt that VSP and the Harrington knew about the sketch link for weeks before it was announced. I was responding to your comment that “At the time, it had not been identified what assault it was attached to, I researched that over that time period, and through process of elimination, I was able to confirm which case it was, and then I announced it, after advising the Harrington’s I was going to do so.” This just doesn’t seem to be right as I remember from that day (and the two links show) that you published your story linking it the the Pham case, not the sketch case.
Whether or not VSP was right to withhold the sketch link until it did is not something I am qualified to answer. I am confident that what you do you do to try to help.
Understood, but here is the link to the piece, which I feel would have been appropriate for you to include:
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/07/01/morgan-harrington-murder-breaking-news-virginia-state-police-to-announce-link-to-vanessa-pham-case/
You can see from the hard link title only, that is where the truncated version made such assumptions, imo, the text is clear.
I did not edit it, you can read it for yourself, and I stand behind it 100%. With respect, you made it sound like I got it wrong, I simply reported exactly what was going on behind the scenes, to THE EXTENT I am able without compromising sources, or correspondences from LE in an active case.
It is true I am always thankful where our work is helpful to an investigation as it has been countless times, that is the goal, but in this particular instance, my ONLY concern was that someone would see that and either run the other way to protect themselves, or turn this freak in prior to the Holiday weekend.
Thank you for being open to the discussion.
B
I want to add to my above comments; at the time news of the Fairfax connection was released, regardless of what or who caused the release, everyone had high hopes that the sketch would result in an arrest. I think we all share the disappointment that such has not been the case. Every minute a killer walks free is one minute too long.
SO then you concur it was prudent to do so, correct?
B
Ken Brennan’s webpage:
http://www.olympianinvestigativeservices.com/index.html
I have gotten a few messages about this thread. Specifically regarding Ken Brennan, I have tried to contact him in the past to no avail. If any of you can try and get through it would be great….good things might just come of it.
I don’t post much. Let me just say this regarding other things inferred here which may be correct or not (who knows). I truly believe that Blink and others out there have done their darndest to do the right thing by Morgan and the Harringtons. We all want the same outcome and want this case solved. We may not all agree on the process, so we each walk the path we know best. As you have noticed, the ego-power struggles haven’t helped and are wasted energy that divert attention from what really helps. This is not a contest. I respect all of you because you keep the fires burning here for Morgan. The Harringtons respect all of you. And I want to say that I have never, EVER, heard a negative word from them about anyone who has tried to help. They are the most grateful, gracious, gentle people who have lived through two years of the most ultimate nightmare. I wish everyone could imitate their example in a positive effort, dropping negativity, and just respect others who make their own efforts to help. If the Harringtons can do that, we can too.
Truer words, my friend- Thanks for the gracious and elegant reminder.
Hugs
B
The only reason for a second ticket to be useless also would be if Morgan was refused re entry on other grounds than a ticket (behavior?)
Also I keep asking about the timing, in a normal human interaction when someone basically turns on their heels to return, policies are meaningless cause you can see leaving was not meant, unless you r a robot.
It is a good policy to refuse obviously agressive, misbehaving visitors but I am still not sure that she was not just wounded and confused in any case a manager or security could have been (or was?) called.
Blink, I have no judgment as to whether or not releasing the sketch was prudent. I don’t know LE’s reasoning behind wanting to withhold the sketch for a period of time so trying to express an opinion, IMO, would be useless. Since no arrest has been made, either over the 6 years since 2005 or during the months since the sketch was released in connection with Morgan’s case, I really do have to wonder, is it a good likeness of the person we know for a fact attacked the young woman in Fairfax? In my day to day life, I have to admit, I don’t dwell on Morgan’s death constantly, but when near University grounds, such as Saturday’s football game, I do tend to observe the black men who I think could have been at the arena that evening. For example, I find myself taking a second look at scalpers, gate attendants, LE, etc. What I have to say and have said several times, the sketch is so generic that I think using it as a means of identification would be and has been difficult. If this man is caught before he attacks again, I believe it’s going to be a matter of carelessness on his part. Either he will say or do something that will make the wrong person (for him) suspicious. I think the sketch did serve the purpose of making people aware that the killer is probably African-American, so coupling that with a few ill chosen comments on his part just maybe will some day be his downfall.
I watched for the 2nd time the case Ken Brennan was called in on of the female who was assaulted in her hotel room , taken to a cul-de-sac 10 miles away “dumped” & left for dead. It intrigued me the 1st time I saw it when it originally aired. It REALLY hit home last night when I viewed it again.
Something he said about the videos :
“You have to watch every single frame on every single video”
“Every single one of them.”
He slowed down the video tapes to slow motion so he could scrutinize every single frame , one by one . Had he NOT done this , he would have not noticed the suitcase getting stuck as it was being pulled off of the elevator & this case would still not be solved.
Here is his webpage again :
Ken Brennan’s webpage:
http://www.olympianinvestigativeservices.com/index.html
Blink, after rereading several older articles, I still think about the many quotes that stand out as VSP’s opinion that Morgan’s killer has intimate knowledge of the area/farm/land. While doing a little researching this morning, I came across this. I’m not sure if you have ever seen it, but it’s worth a look…
http://webprod1.walkscore.com/report/1864+Anchorage+Farm+Charlottesville+Virginia+USA
Over the last few weeks I’ve researched and attempted to find some new commonalities worth exploring in respect to the killer’s profile and what he might have been doing for work or leisure back in 05′ and in 09′ in Fairfax and Charlottesville. I’ll post again when I have something of interest.
From the “Disappeared ” program , “Heavy Metal Mystery ” , it was stated with emphasis that Morgan was offered numerous offers of help or assistance , and declined them all.
All I can say is that sounds to me like a bunch of Baloney.
That sounds to me like “blame the victim ” all over again.
One thing I DETEST more than almost anything is to Blame to victim !
http://webprod1.walkscore.com/report/1864+Anchorage+Farm+Charlottesville+Virginia+USA
For the above link, you most likely will receive a “Oops! Internet Explorer could not find webprod1.walkscore.com”, it’ll already be pasted in the google search bar on that page after clicking on the link, just click ” google search” from there and it should take you there.
@crimewriter
That link did not work for me?
When Ken Brennan solved the case he had two things going for him: the cooperation of the hotel where the assault occurred and the cooperation of the local police. In Morgan’s case he would most likely be stonewalled by the JPJ Arena part of the University of Virginia and by the Virginia State Police. Still it would be worthwhile to hire him if only for him to highlight where the bottlenecks really are in this case.
The matter of the videotapes is really beyond comprehension. Was there a problem with the tapes, their location, being erased, being lost, or WHAT? I guess next month someone could buy their daughter a ticket in Morgan’s section for a rock concert and – pooof – another young woman vanishes?
So why would someone refuse help from groups of people and then go up to a bridge all alone and hitchhike? Only two reasons that I can think of 1) She knew the person who picked her up 2) She was never on the bridge and was grabbed in the back of that dark parking lot and thrown into a vehicle of some sort.
Personally, I lean to option 2.
*************************
alabamamom says:
September 26, 2011 at 10:30 am
From the “Disappeared ” program , “Heavy Metal Mystery ” , it was stated with emphasis that Morgan was offered numerous offers of help or assistance , and declined them all.
All I can say is that sounds to me like a bunch of Baloney.
That sounds to me like “blame the victim ” all over again.
One thing I DETEST more than almost anything is to Blame to victim !
Why decline help from people in the parking lot at the blazing lights and secured enivronment of JPJ but accept help from a total stranger on a dark public road?
Also its not like Morgan did not search for help, very contrary , she chose friends and figures of at least some authority. Nothing irrational there.
It seems her refusals for help when it was a stranger offering (as is prudent to do). In fact this way Morgan took the choice of who to ask for a way out of the desperate situation she was in. Maybe this all started inside JPJ but there is no proof for that theory.
This is all just my own opinion, but I don’t think there’s any doubt Morgan was on the bridge. Obviously, the Harringtons believe she was because they were willing to accept the placing of a plaque, and they were present the day the plaque was dedicated. The witnesses, who I am guessing made the decisions themselves to not be identified (smart move IMO because of comments made about those who have come forward) are described as “independent” witnesses. To me, that means they have no connection to each other so they didn’t get together to cook up a story. I think the father and daughter are considered as one witness, and then apparently there were one, two or more additional people who saw her or someone who looked like her on the bridge. As for not believing Morgan refused help, why is that so unbelievable? It seems to be a known fact that she fell inside. At least one witness has said she refused help after the fall. I’m willing to believe LE knows a lot more about her state of mind from talking with the people she interacted with inside and outside the arena than has been released. I don’t believe LE formed whatever opinions they have from only one interview or one group of interviews (i.e. the basketball players.) I think what they have established as her state of mind or condition is based on the sum total of all interviews, from both inside and outside. Again, just my opinion, but what I think they have established is behavior by a young woman that was not consistent with her day to day life. This, I don’t take, as a blame the victim scenario, but more an attempt to understand how what happened to Morgan could have happened. Could this normally level headed young woman have done something as dangerous as hitchhiking? Probably not if you only look at her life and actions prior to October 17th. What LE has tried to do is build a picture of what happened in the hours before her kidnapping. If this was a stranger abduction which all signs seem to point toward, then what happened to her the night of the 17th is the crucial time. If she was acting out of character, confused, angry, combative, submissive, whatever her condition, it all goes toward understanding how a predator got his hands on her. I think LE believes her conversation with the basketball players is important. Not because they were involved in her disappearance. LE has said their alibis have been checked, they had another event to attend. LE seems to indicate that she requested to be taken somewhere, but they won’t say where. That maybe is the most significant piece of information they have, something that hasn’t panned out yet but which they hope eventually will provide the break they need. We like to say don’t blame the victim, but also, don’t kill the messenger. The important matter is who killed this young woman. LE will never solve this case if they have to worry about whether or not they are portraying this young woman in a favorable or unfavorable light. If there’s anything that suggests her actions put her in contact with her killer, then they need to know those facts. Finding the killer is the goal. No matter what is learned, Morgan cannot be harmed. The greatest harm is never finding her killer
I just read Amy’s comment. If Morgan made a specific destination request of her kidnapper, maybe she accepted a ride from someone who said yes. Asking the question and getting an answer would take only seconds. I’m not sold on the idea she was hitchhiking, I think it’s just as likely she was taken from the parking lot, but I think the witnesses who saw her on the bridge all had some reason to believe she was hitchhiking. Either she was facing traffic or she actually had her thumb up in the classic hitchhiking pose. No one saw her get into a car, so what actually happened is the great unknown.
Maybe because she wanted a specific type of help — i.e., to be taken to a specific place or to get a specific thing. Maybe she wasn’t interested in either getting a new ticket (which she could have bought herself) or in sitting in the foyer of the JPJ and waiting for the concert to end. Maybe she wanted to go to a bar on the corner and no one was willing to drive her there so she was walking/hitching in that direction.
Amy, I agree, I think is it very important who she asked assistance and who she was willing to take assistance from. The fact that she asked the Black basketball players for assistance (and refused other offers) and that Sketch is Black could be quite telling, perhaps if she did enter his vehicle voluntarily, she may have thought (or was made to think) that he was connected with them in some way. Was Sketch in the lot and overheard her speak with the players? It can’t all be coincidence that she vanished shortly after this encounter, can it?
Okay, just go to http://www.walkscore.com/ and type in 1864 Anchorage Farm Road Charlottesville, Virginia -It’ll give the distances of certain businesses categorized as entertainment, coffee, shopping etc. (the Trading Post, Mr. Ho’s Humble Pie etc.) My thinking is that if Morgan’s killer had intimate knowledge of the farm, where did that intimate knowledge arise from? Is it someone who passes by it each day? I’ve always thought there was some sort of connection to Blandemar Farm Pond (fishing?) -but as the scenario goes, the possibilities are endless…
Random thoughts:
Thank you for that link crimewriter. I noticed that a middle school is one of the closest locations to 1864 Anchorage Farm Road. Wasn’t there a middle school across the street from the Fairfax assault? And was there some type of statewide sports event held at the Fairfax middle school? Reaching here I know but….
If all Morgan wanted to do was go to a bar on the corner, why in the world wouldn’t someone just take her there? If their offers of assistance were only what they wanted to do (buy her another ticket? give her money? call someone?) then what real assistance was that if she really just wanted to go to a bar on the corner? If all Morgan wanted to do was go to a bar on the corner, why would that be a big secret? Why is where Morgan wanted to go so hush-hush?
Just wanted to say thanks MsL for clarifying the JPJ ticket policy, and thanks mary for reminding me where I heard about that (supposed) offer to buy Morgan another ticket. And alabamamom, that moment on 20/20 with the video frames is JUST the kind of thing I was talking about–the miniscule details and endless follow-up that law enforcement would never have had the time or resources for. What I took away from the show was how frighteningly easy it would have been for that case never to be solved, and what a shot in the dark that it WAS solved.
I just have to hope and believe that LE in Morgan’s case know more than they are sharing, and are doing more than they let on…. my heart goes out to the Harringtons. I am humbled by the grace and patience they have shown through this whole ordeal.