Two Years Cold-Morgan Harrington Murder: Two Women, Two Locations, Too Long
Girl In The Hayfield
Morgan Dana Harrington was the ingenue of artist and adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, Jane Lillian Vance.
She was scheduled to travel with her to Nepal in the Spring of 2010 while continuing to pursue her Education degree in her third year as a Hokie.
Morgan would not make that trip, and Vance would complete her latest work in her former students honor, last week.
With her Mother Gil’s help, albeit posthumously, Morgan is indeed educating children; the underprivileged children of Zambia. In April, 2010, Gil Harrington carried some of her beloved daughter’s ashes during the Orphan Medical Network International (OMNI) pilgrimage to Zambia. After raising donations for the Morgan Harrington Educational Wing, Morgan’s ashes were mixed with the concrete foundation of the school bearing her name.
At 5’6” , with breck-girl locks and eyes like briolette faceted tourmaline’s, Morgan was a stunning beauty.
Behind her neon smile was the burgeoning sophistication of a girl beyond her years and peers.
This gilded lily stood out.
On the grounds of the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia while attending a Metallica concert with her friends, unfortunately, she also caught the eye of a dangerous predator. The cost of admission to the events that followed, would be her life.
Devoid of her ticket to return inside the presumed safety of the venue and old friends, Morgan scored the unwilling and unalterable ticket to the cross-hairs of a Medium Build, 6’ African American sexual sadist who has likely spent the last four years honing his skills.
“Sketch” was interrupted by a passerby during a vicious beating and sexual assault in Fairfax on September 24, 2005. His DNA is linked to both victims.
Lights, Cameras, 400 Blue Phones
According to JPJ and UVA security guidelines, all hired security must be law enforcement.
In addition to the regularly scheduled patrol assignments of UVA PD, events such as the Metallica concert required additional security posts which were hired via a security request when the date was booked. Although additional UVA officers were working the night of October 17, there has never been a statement regarding any observations from that evening on their behalf by Melissa Fielding, Investigative Lieutenant.
However, in a private meeting that included UVA PD staff, shortly after Morgan’s disappearance, an attendee speaking to www.blinkoncrime.com on the condition of anonymity, told me he heard Fielding tell someone openly that Harrington’s car never left Harrisonburg, or JMU, and that it was a different friends car that was driven to the arena and hers had been accounted for.
In response to another UVA PD staffer loudly offering that he heard that Morgan was behaving “obnoxiously” during the trip to JPJ, which resulted in a tiff between the friends and the reason she ultimately left the concert, Fielding snapped “That was still no reason to leave her.”
When pressed as to why she thought they still believed Morgan’s car was not a factor when Lt Rader of the Virginia State Police (VSP) and Dr. Harrington, Morgan’s Father, both confirmed her car was the vehicle the foursome traveled in, she repeated that information was incorrect with no further explanation. While VSP was leading the investigation at this point, it certainly still begs the question as to why the original agency tasked with her disappearance, and still assisting, would have such important misinformation circulating in an active investigation and ongoing search.
According to the Office of the Executive Vice President of UVA, UVAPD security personnel are also responsible for surveillance on grounds. The central monitoring area, which is linked to the security cameras in several lots and public areas, is located in the central parking garage. There is no information available on the storage medium of recorded footage from the cameras, and requests for information were deferred to VSP.
The University of Virginia uses technology to improve security on Grounds. University Police install video cameras in several parking lots and public areas. Additional cameras may be installed in the future. Security cameras will be connected to a central control room operated by the Police Department in the new Central Grounds Parking Garage. The purpose for using the cameras is to reduce incidents of crime while limiting the need to expand the Police Department.
VSP is not discussing the specificity of what they have or do not have regarding footage supplied by JPJ/UVA.
With the exception of course that out of everything that has “been supplied to them”, there are no images of Morgan whatsoever.
Stationed inside the arena, is UVA PD security, non-police event security run by RMC Events, security staff employed directly by Metallica, UVA facilities management personnel, and contracted vendors to both JPJ and UVA. Firemarshall, zoning, and University guidelines also require EMT attendance.
Invisible As The Web In a Spiders Belly- Marge Piercy
Morgan asked her friend and roommate Amy Melvin to accompany her to the restroom at approximately 8:20PM.
Because of an earlier spat and lingering tension, Amy declined and Morgan left her seat alone.
Earlier, Morgan attempted to diffuse the matter upon entrance to John Paul Jones Arena in a conciliatory gesture, by purchasing a Metallica T-shirt for Amy. Amy reciprocated.
When Morgan climbed between the seats to make her way to the restroom, it was the last time Amy Melvin, Sarah Snead and Dan Cassagne would see their friend alive.
Morgan’s friends treating her like a vexatious afterthought did not aid the situation in the least.
A fellow Metallica fan sitting in the general area of Morgan and her friends, whose name is being intentionally withheld as a potential witness in this case, both observed and interacted with her until she left her seat; he assumed, for a drink.
He said during the Lamb of God set, Morgan changed her seat in the middle, and characterized her as very friendly, but “erratic” and repeatedly asked he and his companions for a sip of their non-alcoholic beverages.
In his opinion, Morgan exhibited signs of being under some sort of influence, was definitely overheated and parched.
A few minutes later, another witness claimed to be online with Morgan at the concession stand where she purchased a soda.
Shortly after this exchange, Morgan is seen dabbing a wound on her chin in the ladies room. Witnesses in a different area of seating believe they saw a woman matching Morgan’s description fall on the steps to the immediate right of their seats, and was not carrying a drink at the time.
After Amy and Sarah left their seats to look for Morgan when she failed to return, Sarah phoned Morgan on her cell at 8:48PM .
Morgan was clearly upset as she told Sarah she was refused any option of re-entry by security, but did not reveal why she went outside the arena in the first place.
This account conflicts with that provided by lead investigator, Agent Dino Cappuzzo, of the Virginia State Police, who commented during last years walk through on Anchorage Farm that a ticket-taker informed Morgan she would need to repurchase a ticket in order to return to the concert after she indicated that her ticket was “in pieces at the bottom of her purse.”
Morgan had the means to purchase another ticket. What she did not have, was her red digital Kodak camera she was digging for when she first exited the arena, and not a shred of her Metallica ticket has ever been found.
Concession Confessions- The Deadly Kind
Think a concession connection is far-fetched? Tell that to Inna Budnytska.
Michael Lee Jones, former concession employee for Centerplate and then Ovations, used his position as a traveling contract food service employee to prey on his victims. Mr. Jones worked at a ball field in Norfolk, VA for 12 years.
While it is assumed any other reported assaults with a DNA sample he was involved with would come to light, 84% of stranger rapes go unreported statistically speaking, there are likely unreported assaults.
Jones has no known direct connection to Morgan’s case, but the parallel of access to grounds in some of his crimes and therefore victims at the venue he was working, is investigative 101.
Without the tenacity of retired Long Island cop turned- investigator Ken Brennan, and the equal ability to be open to civilian assistance by Miami Detective Allen Foote, Jones would be free right now.
Mike Jones would not have been caught in this case, or the other cases, and would likely have raped and assaulted other victims.
Unlike Inna’s case, without the benefit of video in Morgan Harrington’s disappearance, witness accounts of her time and movement throughout the JPJ arena and subsequent grounds make witness interviews invaluable.
It is abundantly clear that VSP, profiling experts and analysis of the topography of the700 acre Anchorage Farm indicate whoever is responsible for placing Morgan there, was intimately familiar with the property.
In fact, Lt. Joseph Rader, believes her recovery location as chosen by her killer, is the “most important aspect of this investigation… People of North Garden, this will mean something to you.” ”
People in the Anchorage Farm area, you know what goes on there, you know the history,” said Rader. “You know who comes in and out of the vicinity and you might not realize it but you probably have some information for us that you don’t even think is important.”
In an earlier article, published shortly after Harrington’s remains were found, we reported the most recent activity of the land and it’s owners David and Nancy Bass. During the time of Morgan’s disappearance, the farm house, or the home on the Va historical register occupied at the time by the Bass’s daughter Jenny, was undergoing renovations to its hvac.
A carpenter working for Mr. Bass during the Summer of 2009 recalled stopping a black male driving a black jeep on the back of the Bass property and was told he was David Bass’s brother.
While the farm’s renovations, rezoning and subsequent withdrawal from a previous taxation commitment was compelling reading, it did not produce any leads and The Bass family did not recognize the image of sketch when shown in July 2010. Perhaps the historic property needed more history.
Time For Loud- Not Enshroud
If Anchorage Farm holds the key to revealing Morgan’s killer or killers, what other secrets does it hold?
Plenty, and they lead right back to a time in Virginia history that rips the scab off of a fairly fresh wound for many generations, and back to The University of Virginia.
In the 1740’s, Albemarle county, which was formed from Goochland and Louisa counties, was a vast frontier largely owned by Peter Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson’s father, and Col. Charles Lewis, brother of Robert, grandfather of Meriwether Lewis.
Courtesy of Legends Of Lewis
The men opened two plantations near each other, and produced three generations of one or more first cousin marriages between the two families.
Both families amassed great wealth over the years through slaves and land, but as the eighteenth century drew to a close, through a series of farming failures and poor plantation oversight, the Lewis family fell on extremely hard times.
Charles Lewis sold everything he had with the exception of the North Garden property which he gave to sons Randolph, Lilburne and Isham.
The Lewis plantation later named Anchorage Farm by the White family, would remain with Lewis family members through 1846.
In 1808, with looming debt, resentful neighbors and and little cash to parleigh into prospects, Lilburne and Randolph decided to immigrate to Kentucky, the popular new destination for those in crisis, leaving Isham, and a few aunts to toil what is now known as Anchorage Farm.
With remaining slaves in tow, the Lewis family traveled by barge to their new home “ Rocky Hill”.
Three family members would die in the first eighteen months, and the worst was yet to come.
In the Fall of 1808, Isham Lewis traveled to Rocky Hill to pay his respects to his recently deceased older brother Randolf, announcing his plans for an indefinite stay.
Isham was widely known for his less than gentlemanly status and his reunion with brother Lilburne, who by this time had spiraled into a deep depression treated with ardent spirits.
Thomas Jefferson’s nephews Isham and Lilburne forged the unholy alliance that would eliminate the possibility of a Lewis dynasty in Kentucky, forever.
The fuse igniting the transformation of Rocky Hill to Rocky Horror was lit.
A teenage slave named George, who traveled with the Lewis family from Albemarle three years earlier, ran off for a few days in December allegedly due to Lilburne’s treatment of him.
Fueling the alcoholism and depression, Lilburne’s new wife Letitia Griffin Lewis was pregnant with James Griffin Lewis, the couple’s first child together.
On December 15, 1811 George was asked by Lilburne to fetch a pitcher of water believed to belong to his beloved Mother Lucy. He broke it and returned to the plantation, met by the homicidal rage of the Lewis brothers while all the slaves were made to bear witness, lest they had any ideas such behaviors would be tolerated.
Lilburne and Isham drug young George to the main house, gathered all the slaves to watch, and Lilburne buried an axe in George’s neck to the horror of all.
He ordered another slave to dismember him and threatened all that If anyone had any similar notions to his, they would receive a duplicate fate.
Fate, in fact, would make an appearance shortly in the form of an earthquake, which made George’s remains accessible to the family dog, ultimately discovered by a neighbor and reported to police.
Isham and Lilburne were indicted and freed on bond. The brothers formed a suicide pact and headed for the Rocky Hill cemetery where Lilburne ended up shooting himself in the chest while showing Isham how to release the flint lock.
Isham fled only to be captured a few days later and jailed for assisting in his brothers suicide.
Letitia, now a widow, fled Kentucky in fear with her newborn son.
Mysteriously, Isham garnered his freedom anyway, through an assisted jail-break.
He disappeared, was believed to live under an alias, marry and was allegedly killed in the battle of New Orleans in 1815.
His remains were never positively identified.
Brother to Dragons, indeed.
In his eventual biography of Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson eluded to the explorer and Governor of Louisiana’s familial afflictions with mental illness following his suicide. A memoir of an escaped slave, written by Francis Frederick, is believed to depict the treatment of the slaves owned by Thomas Jefferson Randolph, with whom Thomas Jefferson and family resided and attended the adjacent school as a child.
In this period, Virginia was the largest destination for slaves from the Bight of Biafra on the West side of the African coast, and the natives spoke patois.
The extended Lewis family owned plantations on Buck Island, Red Hill Depot, and Monteagle, which is believed to be the former name of the Lewis Plantation.
Committed at a time and place where it was illegal to murder a slave, George’s story is definitely an anomaly due to the horrific murder becoming known publicly.
Thomas Jefferson is believed to have owned about 200 slaves; a combination of in inheritance from his Father Peter, his wife’s very prominent family the Rudolphs, and through sale.
His father Peter and he were also very close to the William Cabell family of Tuckahoe, one of the largest slave owners in Albemarle, and relatives of Samuel Cabell, murdered for “taking up” with a former slave and living openly with her and their children.
Could the current Albemarle descendants from either side of the family tree shed any light on family legends that might lead sketch to dump Morgan Harrington’s remains on the former Lewis plantation? Have they even been asked?
There is no shortage of information today about slave masters and plantation owners producing offspring of mixed race.
In the case of Morgan Harrington’s murder, there is a forensic DNA link to an African American male, also linked to a brutal rape and assault years earlier, who by VSP’s own confirmation, possesses the navigational prowess of an individual who was comfortable traversing an area of the farm unreachable by vehicle as much as 1000 feet away, in the dark. He is local, period.
Is the paradox of Morgan’s recovery in the hollows of a historic slave plantation while her legacy enriches the lives of African children that will gain educational opportunities previously not possible, in her honor, be enough to stimulate the concscious of someone who has the answers?
To be continued: Morgan Harrington Murder Part II: Two Years Cold- Two Women, Two Locations, Too Long.
*Investigative Analysis of Morgan’s last known activity in the lot of JPJ and Copely Bridge
*Independent investigation of adherence to UVA/JPJ background policy for employees and contractors
*Investigative Analysis of new evidence
Contributing Editors: Jason Mateos, Jacqueline Beaufort, Madeline Tanner, Klaasend
Image Credits: Harrington Family, As Credited.
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I still think of Morgan alot and want justice for her. I have always thought that maybe someone who worked the venue had something to do with her going outside in the first place. If they were working they could not have left to pursue her so maybe they called someone and told them about her being alone outside. The idea of someone working the concessions is a good one. I don’t believe she ever got in a car while hitchhiking. Her purse was found in the overflow parking area as if she were running from her attacker. The events that led up to her death cannot be that coincidental.
I really feel this case can be solved. Why don’t they circulate the sketch again and again if need be. Can they do an age progression on a sketch?
We have Gerri, and with and without the facial hair, is on here somewhere.
B
Here is the page link to age progression
http://blinkoncrime.com/2010/07/01/morgan-harrington-murder-update-dna-links-wanted-suspect/
I still think of Morgan all of the time too, and her family….
The fact that this case is still unsolved frustrates the hell out of me. They have solved cases with much less to go on then this before.
I cannot shake the feeling the something is just rotten somwehere here.
We are all here because we are victims advocates who were all fortunate enough to find this unbelievably devoted, driven, smart gal who goes by the name of Blink, who has this huge heart of gold that has helped so many victims and their families. To Blink and all of you, I wish you very, very blessed Thanksgiving.
As we give thanks for our blessings, my heart breaks for Morgan’s family and my prayers go out them.
Blink, did you miss my post that’s still in moderation or did I say something that you didn’t want in print?
Questioner says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
November 17, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Blink – I’m watching this Penn State scandle so very closely right now because it so reminds me of the greed and protect oneself at any cost, just like UVA is doing and has done in Morgan’s case. Huge things are going to happen in the case of these young men being sexually abused by an authoriy figure and in Morgan’s case what it really boils down to is authority figures were all around her on Oct 17th, it’s difficult not to believe that it was one of them who she felt confortable enough to catch a ride from.
If where my mind seems to be wanting to go, what security figure could have picked Morgan up that has so much backing and had spent so much time at AF also with ties to Fairfax, that if it broke open, would involve some really high people and places at UVA? If found out would or could involve major money loss?
Can you see where I’m heading or am I just whistleing Dixy? LOL
I apologize Q, I held it because I wanted to respond to it personally and it got away from me, I appreciate you bringing it back.
I think that at the basic level of the University’s not wanting to have such an incident on their “grounds” and the fact that imo, as I have been stating for a long time, and still believe, the person ultimately responsible for Morgan’s death will have specific ties to UVA/JPJ as an employee or contractor, yes, they can be considered similar.
It is sort of a much bigger question about accountability in general of course.
But in this PSU mess, it is a whole different animal because it appears that Sandusky set up a multi-million dollar foundation to harvest young boys for sexual gratification, and anyone that benefitted financially seemingly looked the other way.
Predators on both campuses, yes.
B
Hello all.
Hummingbird has been a bit quiet but is still reading every post …
Great post by the way Questioner. Good to see you here again.
I am with you and where your mind keeps going.
Morgans case is going to blow wide open one day. I am certain of it. When it does heads will roll.
It will not bring Morgan back, but hopefully justice will be done.
The Harringtons, an exemplary, individual family, whose daughter became a victim. They have fearlessly and tirelessly worked in the midst of their loss and grief to give a face to all victims everywhere, joined by a communty effort to curb the tide of violence towards women and children,
I must quote you Judy when it comes to Blink, as I could not say it any better than you…. Quote:
We are all here because we are victims advocates who were all fortunate enough to find this unbelievably devoted, driven, smart gal who goes by the name of Blink, who has this huge heart of gold that has helped so many victims and their families. To Blink and all of you, I wish you very, very blessed Thanksgiving.
As we give thanks for our blessings, my heart breaks for Morgan’s family and my prayers go out them.
Hummingbird said:”Morgans case is going to blow wide open one day. I am certain of it. When it does heads will roll.”
I have a suspicion you are correct…as well as Judi, that something is very “rotten” here and that Q is not just “whistling Dixie”.
When it does blow there will be many wishing they were not here in the land of Wahoos.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Harringtons_Push_for_Legislation_at_Virginia_Crime_Commission_133963858.html
Excellent post by Questioner on the Penn State mess. One report now has it that Joe Paterno followed up TWICE after making his report to his superiors; the first time he was told that they did not have any news and the second time he was told there wasn’t enough info to prosecute. Paterno then tried to have Sandusky barred from campus and when that was shot down by his superiors he was able finally to have Sandusky barred from the football facilities.
For this JoPa gets thrown under the bus while his the two superiors are put on leave and their legal bills paid by Penn State? It is beyond obvious that the chinless (and spineless) head of the Board of Trustees was in a rush to judgement to save his own hide and that of the rest of the Board. The Board’s own investigation is being looked on with derision by the Penn State students and faculty.
Parallels with Morgan’s case? I am beginning to think that if Morgan’s assailant was a bumpkin county sheriff’s deputy or a gomer firefighter working part-time for UVa they would have been nabbed already and the case closed.
George- Jopa deserved to be fired. You cannot imagine how difficult it is for me to say that, but I am telling you, you need to avail yourself of all the information available in this case.
1. Sandusky was barred from nothing, he was on campus and the field 3x the week he was arrested.
2. He was ACTIVELY recruiting players for Paterno and the Nittany Lions, including the current recruits.
3. Both Sandusky and Jopa continued efforts to raise funds for Second Mile, more to follow on that one.
Looking the other way lacks integrity, and that is just the parts we know about.
I loved the guy. It is his program, period.
B
Nope. JoPa is being set up as a scapegoat but it’s not going to work. There is a lot of interaction between the Second Mile charity and the Penn State board. I think JoPa was finished with Sandusky back in 1999. Think he did as much as he could under the circumstances, which is way more than his superiors or the Penn State board did. if you are going to assign proportional blame there are a lot of folks that should be run out of State College before Paterno.
I am not that big a fan of the guy; thought JoePa should have retired ten years ago, but this is a travesty. I think the entire board should go and very possibly the Pennsylvania governor. I vote with the faculty and students in thinking the BOT’s investigation is solely public relations.
George- you are not reading the factual coverage of this case. There is no way you could be and have such an opinion if you had.
Fall guy? He is the one not charged with anything.
Sorry, in my book, there is no such thing as “proportional blame” when we are discussing knowledge that a man raped a ten year old kid, and that person continued to inhabit every area of PSU, and continued to adopt and to victimize children. In my view, anyone that knew and went about their business needs to get the boot. Use the freaking moral clauses if one has to, but out they go.
B
B
Actually I have followed the case quite closely. By rushing to judgement the BOT did not save a single child. Not one. In addition, in their haste they have put themselves in a position of paying the legal fees of the two administrators that Joe Pa informed of the situation while firing Jo Pa and leaving him to fend for himself. How does that make any sense?
A sane approach would have been to put everyone involved on a paid leave of absence and sort things out. What is happening is a throwback to the Salem witch trials. If Jo Pa sinks and drowns he was innocent (oh, well); if he floats then he is guilty and can be hung.
The one thing the BOT is not going to do is fire themselves.
Hey y’all – I asked Blink to let me change my user name from “mary” to “tango” and she agreed. I want to be able to post on other threads and not have to explain who I am every time lol.
lol
Mary=tango, approved. Thanks for telling everyone.
B
Who provided security for the basketball practice?
George
I always enjoy readin your posts. In the exchage with Blink regarding the mess at PSU Joe Paterno had a moral choice to make. That was if he knew factually that Sandusky was involved in the rape of young boys and the administration would do nothing, he should have immediately contacted the local sheriff and the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office. Instead he chose to go along with protecting Sandusky. IMO the entire board of directors, Joe and most of his coaches and the administration should be fired or put on leave until the mess is cleared.
eloise
Thanks for the link about the proposed legislation the Harrington’s are pushing. After reading the article, I am sad for them.
This is nothing more than a sop to real enforcement. Unfortunately, the power of the UVA administration is being felt. They may as well write a joint resoulution that henceforth the UVAPD and local LE will more fully co-operate with each other in the matters of crime. Nothing will change.
tango says:
November 21, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Who provided security for the basketball practice?
_______________________________________________________
I doubt anyone did. The door into the facility will have been locked.
As always, my thoughts and prayers are with the Harrington family this Holiday season. May they find peace and comfort as they face another Thanksgiving without their precious and beautiful girl child.
I still read here everyday and never stop hoping for new information on Morgan’s case. I still believe justice will come. May it be soon.
Thanksgiving wishes to everyone!
Thanks redly. Who was at the basketball practice? Besides the players of course. Coaches, trainers, reporters, possibly high school recruits, family? Where would they park during an event at JPJA? Would there have been any “meet and greet” beforehand with reporters, etc, possibly catered? You don’t think possibly at least one member of the UVaPD was there? Maybe the concert is the wrong event to be focused on. What time did the practice end?
Tango,
A while back in the previous thread, I posted several youtube videos of closed practices, including a couple very close in time to 10/17. It’s a pretty small area — not much bigger than the court. There aren’t many people there — perhaps about 20 or so. I spotted the team, including walkons, the coaches and some trainers. I am sure folks in the AD’s office could watch if they wanted. No reporters. It was not a contact period so not much recruiting would be going on, but it is conceivable that a recruit could visit — I really doubt it for the first practice though, no I don’t think they would have any cops. It really is not a big deal event — just a basketball practice. No meet and greet beforehand. It will have ended sometime shortly before nine judging from when the players left for the parking lot. I assume they showered after practice before leaving, but that is just a guess of course.
Thanks redly. You’re a gentleman and a scholar as my dad used to say. Did I read there’s a possibility UVa and Clemson may play for the ACC championship? We (SC Gamecocks) host Clemson this Saturday so hope to rough them up a bit. Georgia took our spot at the SEC championship game – I believe because I chose to wear all black the Friday before we played them and called myself “in mourning for the Georgia football program”. We did beat them but they ended up winning the SEC East.
Anyway, I’m just trying to stir the pot. Hopefully we’ll have some new info soon.
Blink, thanks for letting me know where you are at in looking at the research. I must admit I am stuck there until you move me…..
I wanted to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to you and to everyone-
I Hope the day is filled with Peace and Happiness
To the Harrington Family, my continued prayers.
TG,
Thanks for your comment. In the Penn State mess I think the campus police would have jurisdiction for the assault that occurred on campus. The problem is that in past problems with football players getting into trouble JoPa has influenced and even usurped the campus police on many occasions. I don’t think the campus police would act independently in any major situation like this absent direction from JoPa or the two administrators or the president of the university
Good reason to fold the campus police into the regular community police force and let the chips fall where they may. To their credit the Charlottesville police did not mess around with George Hugeley. Who knows what the response would have been with the local UVa campus police?
In this case I just see the Board of Trustees trying to save their own necks by throwing JoPa off the sleigh to the wolves.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. The Harrington’s are in our thoughts.
I pray this case is solved and the person(s) responsible are put away for good. Not to ever hurt the next girl. How can this go unsolved for so long? What is going on VSP? Come on! Who did this horrible thing?
George
Your response about the campus police is exactly why IMO there should be only qualified sheriff’s deputies responsible for policing a college or university campus. This takes the college or university administration out of the LE equation and should eleminate any type of pressure to look the other way regarding a students behavior.
In George Hugeley’s case, he lived off campus as did Yeardley Love. Therefore the local police had jurisdiction which they exercised.
I know you like JoPa and do support him. However, he learned of this situation as early as 1998 and did not follow through when the campus authorities failed to do their job. This is a moral failure of JoPa IMO and because of it, he should loose his job.
First, A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving To All-
I pride myself at being at least open to other opinions and even “try them on”.
If I could have found a way to defend Jopa in this, trust me, I would have.
Imo, a coach can be like an additional caregiver to a kid- anyone who has been involved in sports or has children that are- you know what I mean. They have a level of influence in their development as athletes, and that spills over in other areas of life. For that reason, they need to be prepared to, and actually embrace the fact that they will be held to such a standard when dealing with kids or young adults, period.
Our children must come first. He knew Sandusky was back on grounds, and he knew what happened in that shower- Getting Sandusky to retire was one thing- but again, what about the child? Who made the efforts to find out who he was, and if at a very basic level, he was ok physically?
This is not the kind of individuals I would ever want having any kind of influence over a developing person.
B
On this Thanksgiving my thoughts are with the Harrington’s and Morgan. I have not forgotten them, and the Sleeping Giant, the Elephant in the middle of the room needs to be wakened, and we as a collective who have been there since the beginning, need to be the ones to awaken it. Are we up to the task?
LE has gone silent and if it hadn’t been for the Harrington’s bringing a possible law suit to fruition, we wouldn’t be hearing anything at all, we would just be left with this ache in the pit of our stomachs on the next October 17th. I for one am not satisfied with doing that. Strategy needs to change, and if LE still feels that silence is the best they can do for Morgan and that works for them, that’s fine, but it shouldn’t be enough for us.
Those who still care and want some information and some sort of justice delivered to whomever perpetuated this crime aren’t interested in money, or that it’s possible that this snow ball will roll down the hill and might take big money down.
We need to use any tool available to us to find the smoking gun, because it just might be that one piece of evidence necessary for LE to be able to close this case. Then I ask myself, what IS the smoking gun since it doesn’t seem to be a “sketch” look alike, nor is it DNA familial or otherwise. What evidence other than the fore mentioned can be used in a court of law to make certain we find the answers? I would like some feedback on this if possible.
And since I haven’t always worried about being popular and just going with the flow, the BBPlayers need to be brought back to the front of the line. How could all 14 players just turn their backs and walk away from a beautiful young woman and gone to an “event”, and not given her a second thought? I don’t believe that they all did, I believe that someone decided to turn around and go back to the JPJ arena, then needed help once things didn’t go as planned to hide what was done.
Sorry this was so long: XOXO
JMHO
Mom3.0 says:
November 23, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Blink, thanks for letting me know where you are at in looking at the research. I must admit I am stuck there until you move me…..
Is there any possibility we all could be brought into the loop?
Correction: Whoops, I think Virginia Tech is projected to play against Clemson for the ACC championship. My bad.
Blink,
I agree with you mostly. All I am saying is that everyone suspected of having a part of this should be put on a leave of absence until all the facts are known. It does not make any sense to me that the two officials JoPa reported the offense to should be put on a leave of absence and have their legal bills paid by the University while JoPa twists in the wind.
There is obviously a rush to judgement here; first to limit the damage to the school’s reputation, and second to cover-up, frankly. For the BOT to bring in ex-FBI head Freeh to run their investigation is possibly the saddest joke I have ever heard.
It has come out the that high school officials, including the coach, where the kid in the 2008 incident was enrolled, tried to get the mother not to press charges.
Also the Pennsylvania governor, while he was the state’s AG, decided to not prosecute Sandusky on a similar charge yet only a few years later (this year) when he was governor authorized the payment of millions of dollars of state funds to the Second Mile charity.
I would not be at all surprised if Sandusky himself turns up missing (like an AG who investigated this mess – and was only recently declared dead. His body has never been found).
Questioner
I agree with your post. It is way past time to get the public involved in this case again. Public pressure is the only way to get things changed in LE methods and proceedures.
I am hopeful that the lawsuite against the event management company will bring it to the public again.
Then again I have believed for two years that UVA is doing a CYA regarding this case because it will lead back to an employee either a direct hire or qualified contractor, or as you suggest the baskeball players.
There needs to be a new team put on this case with some fresh ideas about what direction to take.
The BB practice was over at 9pm. How many cars on the lot left between 9pm and 9:30? I’ll bet there were many. The BB practice was a closed session and it was the first practice of the new season. How many people attended other than the team members and the coaches? It was parent’s week-end October 17, 2009. What was the other affair the team went to after practice? I’m sure not everyone attending the BB practice went to the other affair. Just team members? Whoever did this to Morgan, was there, on campus. IMO Not just a happen to drive by and pick her up situation. IMO
Thanks Texas Grandfather I’m hoping that the lawsuite with being the case back to the light of day again also.
I would really just like to know what the smoking gun would be, since it doesn’t seem to be a “sketch” look alike, nor is it DNA familial or otherwise. What evidence other than the fore mentioned can be used in a court of law to make certain we find the answers?
I think that we are already aware what the opportunity was, Morgan out alone and vulnerable, what the means was, whoever did this had a vehicle and felt fairly safe picking Morgan up, but what about the motive?
Was it her necklace, did they think it was valuable, and if so, why not take her gold signant ring? Was it robbery? Was it just a rape situation? Or, was it all of the above?
I personally believe the necklace was either not worn that evening, broken during the attack and simply kept as a trophy or thrown away.
It was the one piece of jewelry that was considered costume she was wearing.
This individual was not after her jewelry, and imo, he wanted everyone to be sure of that.
B
Hi Questioner. It’s good to see you posting again. IMO Sketch’s motive was to rape and murder, considering the Fairfax case, which I believe had he not been interupted that young lady would have been murdered also. I’ve always thought that the necklace was probably lost during the struggle of the attack on Morgan. To my knowledge, it’s never been stated though that any witness saw Morgan wearing the necklace. But then again, we never got a good description of anything else Morgan was wearing either. Maybe Blink’s suggestion that she wasn’t wearing it that night is correct.
Oh, and Questioner, I meant to say too, that I’m not sure there is a smoking gun, other than the sketch. Do we really believe that no one has any idea who Sketch is? I believe there’s somebody out there who knows.
Alexandra, I think that the one who did this to Morgan, was there in that parking lot and knew Morgan’s predicament. I think he waited until everyone else left and either took her right there where her purse was found or picked her up on or near the bridge and then brought her belongings back to the lot and deposited them there where she was last seen interacting with people. I don’t understand the shirt find at all. Why there? I’ve often wondered if Sketch could be a regular visitor and stay right there in that part of town.
Blink says:
…This individual was not after her jewelry, and imo, he wanted everyone to be sure of that.
B
_______________________________________
not sure i’m catching the whole waft of your cheese here blink. i am with you that this was not a robbery motivated crime, but are you also saying you think it was also important to the perp to somehow make a statement that this was instead clearly a brutal, sadistic sex crime?
i guess it would makes sense that this scuzzball is getting some of his jollies from fear, so if that is what you were getting it, just give me a wink or a nod please.
wink from blink
B
Blink,
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Suspect_in_East_Coast_Rapes_Challenges_Extradition_to_Virginia_134608128.html
Any clue to who this guy is tied to?
I do, price William County assaults, no ties to Morgan and different MO
B
Josie I believe you are correct in that he had watched her and possibly interacted with her prior too “this is common” and then waited for a clean opertunity.
A typical preditor.
The shirt ? … A arrogant message to all.
“I got away with it”
A typical Psychopath.
jmho
A opportunity even … GeeWiz lol
It now appears that former FBI director Louis Freeh is going to investigate the financial implosion of MF Global, the John Corzine firm that commingled clients and customer money against every rule in the book, and managed lose several hundred million dollars before going bankrupt.
Louie, Louie is also investigating the Penn State pedophile scandal that may be an organized ring that reaches to the very highest offices in the Pennsylvania state government.
He obviously does not have enough to do so how about hiring him for Morgan’s case, so he can go 0 for 3?
Louie, Louie was on the tube the other night, defending a corrupt Saudi Prince in one of the worst defense kick-back scams in our lifetime. It involved BAe Systems kicking back vast sums of money to the Prince in exchange for the Saudis buying BAe antique fighter jets for the Saudi Air Force.
And so it goes…
George, Louie back channeled & was close to Saudis for his own reasons while FBI Director. In State Dept eyes, that was a Louie negative.
IMO that criticized deal deal was no doubt arranged by our govt then covered.
My claim to Saudi fame was going with el ed class mothers to Bandar’s manse for a social with wife (probably more important than Bandar in Saudi lineage), a meeting skipped by class mother Cheney. But knowing the relationships–Bush, Powell, etc, imo BAE systems & the Prince were all part of an elaborate friendship/kinship dance, and Freeh’s whatever was just a cover.
I see the case you refer to George, tho this reply should be on Sandusky thread; but, I’ll respond to your posting here. Info you cite re Freeh is at: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/07/nation/na-freeh7
Bandar was BFF with both Bushes, & whatever his govt purchased was imo at their request.
His son & a Cheney grandchild were in my daughter’s el ed class, also many Repub and a few Dem leaders there.
Unfortunately my kid couldnt test into Sidwell.
Whether Sidwell, or my “Republican” school, I used to think all big political deals got made at school
playground or auctions.
Rose,
Thanks for your insight on Prince Bandar and Saudi corruption. Freeh’s involvement with Waco and Ruby Ridge while he was FBI director defies description. Why would anyone even think there is any integrity there? The Penn State BOT is just doing PR spin to try and save their own reputation….and digging a bigger hole in the process.
let’s not forget that Louie Freeh was FBI director during the 9/11 attacks. FBI headquarters ignored several field agents’ reports from Minnesota and Arizona that something fishy was going on – middle eastern men looking for flight simulator training (and receiving it) on simulators for the big jets. The agents reported that they learned from instructors that the “students” were only interested in learning how to fly the big jets straight and level. They did not want to learn how to land or take off.
There are many more failures of the FBI in its failure to connect the dots prior to 9/11. For Louie’s efforts (or lack thereof) he was awarded “the medal of freedom” whatever thatever such nonsense that is.
I’m a PA resident so I’m sort of keeping a jaundiced eye on the PSU debacle. I don’t think Louie Freeh could find his bottom with two hands. I have a hard time believing that he will get to the bottom of the PSU cesspool scandal. BTW I think that the board of trustees should not have fired JoePa as they did.
I have been wondering where the haybail you have been- Have you seen the posts on Corbett connections to Wantz?
B
Now that we have all read of some of the cover-ups at PSU regarding the administration and LE, could we have something similar at UVA? If so, it has been successful regarding criminal activities of in-house and contractor personnell.
Makes one wonder why there was never any real closure to the rape/murders along the hwy.29 corridor and the lack of a solution to this case.
Mike
I agree with your assesment of Louie Freeh. He was strictly a political appointment with almost no skills. He probably makes a fairly good lobyist. Full of smooth language without substance.
I admit I was hell bent on the basketball players in the beginning. I mean look, the basketball players 1) were the last persons known to have spoken with Morgan Harrington, 2) did not come forward on their own but were identified and subsequently interviewed, 3) had two players suspended almost immediately following the Morgan Harrington “limited interaction”, with one rumored to have been a suspect and to have failed a lie detector test and then was abruptly dismissed from the team. But…the conversation veered in other directions and much time was spent on discerning the identity of the mysterious “boys in black”, only to find out that the “BIB” were actually….basketball players. Then you have the timeline in which the BBP say they left the RV lot around 9:20 and that Morgan was still in the lot, alone…and the father/daughter duo have provided strong evidence that Morgan was on the bridge hitchhiking at 9:20….
I figure that BOC and its readers and contributors have perused the UVA Basketball Program/Roster for the school year 2009-2010 and run down any possible connections to players from the Fairfax area of Virginia, or to coaches who may have been coaching in the Washington DC (which I think includes Fairfax) area in 2005 during the time of the Fairfax rape. Y’all have done that right?
Is it a coinkidink that a coach and a father of one of the BBP are former UVA players…not at the same time I don’t think…but…can anyone blame me for questioning?
But if y’all say it’s security, then I have to believe you’ve checked out the other stuff and found it noncredible and so…I’m with ya!
Tango, I am aware of a coach who was a former UVA player. I was not aware of A 2009 player whose father also played at UVA. Unless you are thinking of a player with initials J.J….There used to be a player by the same name but is not father to this J.J.
Blink, do you have an opinion about the below. I have never heard this name before, and this case has seen its share of psychics.
“According to the report, Almaguer, a school security officer, accurately predicted the site where Morgan Harrington was found – the Virginia Tech student who vanished in Oct. 2009 outside a Metallica concert. Her body was discovered on a rural farm in early 2010.
http://www.examiner.com/crime-in-national/baby-lisa-irwin-case-psychic-believes-missing-infant-s-body-near-casino
Yes, I commented on this previously, she most certainly did not predict Morgan’s location and it is ridiculous for her to say so, imo.
B
Hey J.me,
No I’m speaking of TK, whose father’s initials are the same. TK Sr is a UVa grad – but I need to recheck my notes to see if he played basketball too. In looking at the roster, I see TK Jr is not playing at Virginia now. Don’t know where he might be – he was a freshman on the 09 team so he should still be in school…I want to be clear also that I am not making any accusations. I just have never seen any of this addressed….that’s why I figure it’s nothing.
Good to see so many posting. Lots of interesting thoughts and opinions…
Tango- hello, you are not out of the loop- there is no loop.
I just shared some research with Blink and asked her thoughts- thats all-
It is most likely a case of me being so far out into left field as not to be in the game anymore LOL- it wouldnt be the first time.
AJMO
Tango, If I’m looking at the same TK, I believe I can say positively, his father is not Sketch. Now, as to whether or not his father is a UVA graduate, I have no idea. I’m attaching a link that has the 2009-2010 player roster. This list of players does not have pictures. There is only one player listed with the initials TK. I think if you Google this young man and click on his bio, you will see what I mean when I say his father is not Sketch. Also, so there will be no confusion, the player with the same name as a former coach is not that coach’s son.
http://hooreview.com/virginia-basketball/roster/2009-2010
I’m also linking a Hook article. This article was written at the one year anniversary of Morgan’s discovery, after a walk through of the crime scene at Anchorage Farm. The story contains some new information that had not been released before the walk through and includes LE’s comments about the men’s basketball team and their actions that night.
http://www.readthehook.com/88650/hes-still-here-and-other-revelations-harrington-case
Also, you spoke of a “rumor” that a player was interviewed and failed a lie detector test. Where did you read that rumor, and do you have anything said by LE that backs up that rumor? At the beginning of the season, 2 players were placed on suspension. One for violation of team rules. That player rejoined the team after 3 games or so, and if I’m not mistaken, is still with the team. The other much discussed player was suspended from play and subsequently removed from the team in December. I’ve read that he had academic problems carried over from the year before, and his academic performance did not improve. While not bad enough to get him kicked out of school, his academic performance did not meet the University’s standards for being allowed to compete on a sports team. The last I read, he hoped to remain in school through the end of the academic year and get his degree. Don’t know whether or not he was successful. One other player was suspended near the end of the season, also for academic reasons. He was recruited as a future big star, but that star status did not save him when it became known that he had blown off most of his classes during the first session. Another highly touted player chose to leave the team and UVA at the end of the school year, not for academic or sinister reasons, but because his style of play did not match the vision the new coach had for the basketball team. Now, I admit, I would feel much better about the team as responsible adults, first had the called for help if they realized Morgan was in distress. Even if they did have a deadline for making another event, help could have been summoned. I would certainly have felt more kindly toward them had they come forward immediately as soon as they learned she was missing. This is my own personal opinion, but I am guessing they didn’t know what to do. It’s a sad commentary on our society as a whole today, but so many of us just do not want to “become involved.” Perhaps like her friends who left her and traveled for hours back home, they thought everything was okay. After all, she wanted a ride somewhere that LE won’t identify. I think that destination has some significance to the investigation. It doesn’t seem that it would have been as simple as Morgan asking for a ride back to Harrisonburg or Tech. Again, the players certainly could have behaved better and been more responsible, but believing they were not connected to her death, I can only imagine that none of what we think about them is worse than their own private thoughts about what they could have or should have done, knowing what we know now.
If I don’t post within the next couple of weeks, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all, and wishing some sense of peace and joy of the season to the Harrington family.
MsL,
I never said TK’s father was Sketch. I think it is interesting that there are some connections between the 2009 UVa basketball team and the Fairfax, VA area that I have not seen dissected to the same extent we studied other connections in this case. That’s all I’m saying. Merry Christmas to you too.
Mom3.0,
Thank you. Feeling out of the loop has been a lifelong problem for me. It has to do with my inferiority complex I’m sure and I didn’t mean to sound petty. I hold you in highest regard.