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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George, lets stick with either apples or oranges here. A top flight rock concert and a craft show are not in the same orchard. You are only paying an entry fee to access a craft show where you may or may not purchase products at the venue. You are merely paying a service fee to attain access to the vendors.
http://www.noisecreep.com/2009/11/16/missing-metallica-fan-morgan-harrington-was-upset-bloody-outs/
New details emerged over the weekend in the missing persons case of Metallica fan Morgan Harrington, who was last seen a month ago at the band’s Oct. 17 concert. According to police, the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student was spotted by eyewitnesses hitchhiking moments before she vanished, and now, others are coming forward claiming Harrington created something of a commotion outside the venue the night she disappeared.
Harrington, who attended the concert with friends before getting separated from them — and then somehow ended up outside the venue which has a no re-entry policy — was last seen in a black Pantera shirt, black boots and a black mini-skirt. According to conflicting eyewitness accounts, Harrington was seen hitchhiking outside the venue before she went missing, while other say she emerged from the venue distraught, with blood on her chin.
One person says he thinks he met Harrington that night. She seemed “upset,” and had blood on her chin. She declined the man’s offer for help. Another concert-goer claims he was outside the building, waiting for late-arriving friends to meet him around 9 PM when he heard a “commotion” outside one of the venue’s entrances.
“It was some shouting,” the man, who asked not to be identified, says. Moments later, the young woman, who matched Harrington’s description, approached him, and put her arm out, bent, as though to invite him to link his arm with her. She said to him, “‘Let’s go.’ It seemed somewhat aggressive.” The eyewitness says Harrington’s behavior seemed “unusual” and when he told her he had to stay and wait for his friends, he claims the woman cursed at him and kicked him.
“It wasn’t that hard,” he says of the kick, but it was disturbing enough that he immediately called his girlfriend to relate the encounter. “She told me I should call the police and report her. Now I wish I had.” He reported the matter to police as soon as he learned of the disappearance.
Another witness claims seeing a woman resembling Harrington walking across the street with several companions, and that she was “wobbly.” She was allegedly walking with four white men away from the venue. The men, according to the witness, were allegedly laughing. “I thought, ‘That girl should have no business going off with those guys, walking into an empty parking lot when the concert is getting ready to start,’” the witness said. The girl did not seem distressed and was even joking with the men, the witness added.
She was later spotted by eyewitnesses in an overflow parking lot, with the men, the same place Harrington’s purse and cell phone were found. Sources claims members of University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team were among the last to see Harrington in the parking area before she was seen thumbing for a ride on the bridge.
Other witnesses claim to have seen her at 3:45 AM later that night, walking with three men but not wearing the tights she was last seen in. “I thought, ‘What’s she doing out here dressed like that,’” the witness told reporters. She called immediately after learning of Harrington’s disappearance and has no doubt it was Morgan. That tip, police claim, has been ruled out.
One lead police haven’t been able to rule out? One possible sighting puts Harrington at a nearby gas station the next morning.
Reports suggest that Harrington was last seen hitchhiking on a bridge next to the venue. But Morgan’s mother, Gil, says that doesn’t sound like her daughter. The mother says she’s never known daughter to catch rides with stranger, but police say witnesses saw a woman fitting Harrington’s description trying to get a ride that same night.
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She may have been, I agree, but the orange bracelets were given to patrons with floor seats in the front, Morgan did not have floor ticks.
B
Ok. I know for a fact that no one without a bracelet would have access to floor seating. IF she was on that floor, someone gave her access (against better judgement). IF that was her, it could explain her erractic behaviour (offered a spiked beverage with or without knowledge). Her friends need to divulge this information. IF that was her on the stage, it could be after she left her friends. Did her friends she her on the floor….or have any knowledge of this happening?????? When Morgan was seen climbing the stairs, was it near th bottom, midway, near the top?
BIG IF to solve. I used to usher at the stadium the Edmonton Oilers play at. I worked concerts….I worked the floor. No way I or my fellow ushers, would let someone set foot on the floor (and we’ve heard all kinds of excuses for people to access the floor). IF that was Morgan, someone gave her a pass. WHO?????? We had a lot of volunteer security work the floors (guys from rugby teams, in our sitch, who wore bright blue tshirts….security written across the back). Concessions were always manned by employees hired by the stadium or venue. My mind is spinning at the possibilities, but they mean nothing if that wasn’t Morgan near the stage, on the floor.
I meant…if that was Morgan near the stage, not ‘on’.
I also meant….no way would a bracelet be issued to ANYONE w/o a floor ticket. I mean…NO. WAY.
-snipped- from me
I worked the floor. No way I or my fellow ushers, would let someone set foot on the floor (and we’ve heard all kinds of excuses for people to access the floor).
Should read…no way anyone is allowed on the floor without a floor ticket. By excuses, I mean….oh, my friend is on the floor I just wanted to say hi…or, I left my ticket on my seat…..or….I’m the Pope.
May I add….volunteer security were notorious for being all macho, thinking they were the shat working security at concerts. These weren’t guys who knew each other personally. Anyone, imo, could walk in with them, throw on a shirt and pose as security. These are things to think about IF IF IF Morgan was seen on the floor. Again, if she got on there, someone thought her pretty enough to make an exception. Does this person even exist?
The event (craft show as referred to by George) at the arena this weekend is a charity bazaar benefiting women’s health issues at Martha Jefferson Hospital, thus it’s name, “Martha’s Market.” To even begin to equate it to a sports event or concert requiring some degree of crowd control is like comparing apples to oranges. Having read about Mrs. Harringtons’ charity work, I would hazard a guess that in prior years, she would have thoroughly enjoyed the market and even with the tragedy of Morgan’s death, would fully support use of the arena for such a good cause.
http://www.mjhfoundation.org/site/c.fjJVJgMQIqE/b.1851675/k.8BD4/Marthas_Market.htm
The comments about floor passes posted after my comment to George. Because of tweenie children, we never buy floor tickets. For the less sedate concerts, if there’s going to be any type of problem it seems to occur on the floor, and the view is not as good IMO. From my one and only experience trying to go onto the floor at the arena to speak to a friend, I found out quickly, it was not going to happen. The RMC staff person was very polite, but she made it quite clear to me, no floor ticket, no floor access, even for just a visit. Maybe the situation was different at the Metallica concert, but I would doubt it if floor tickets were more expensive than the upper seating.
George
If you assesment of the interior video is correct, this represents obstruction of justice. Someone would have consficated the tapes to keep them out of the hands of VSP or modified them to reduce clarity.
Would UVAPD take a chance that they could get away with this, or RMC?
Even worse, this falls back on the University. If university attorneys participated in such behavior, they could wind up in prison. I rather doubt that they would take such a chance.
Amy
Storage for video is cheap. The same system that carries the game tapes could be used to capture video images and put them on a series of fast hard disk drives and later move it to DVD for permanent storage. A 500 Gigabyte hard disk turning at 10,000 RPM can be purchased for about 600 dollars.
This is all about did they really have a security video system in place and fully operational. I don’t think they did. They may have made some additions in the two years since Morgans abduction.
“Al says:
October 22, 2011 at 7:45 pm
…You are merely paying a service fee to attain access to the vendors.”
Well, That’s all Morgan was doing, accessing the music vendors.
I guess you can’t get back in if its Metallica but you can if it’s a craft show? How about a Vienna Boys Choir Christmas concert, yes or no? A James Taylor concert? A Taylor Swift concert? Who gets to play God with the policy?
All this so they won’t have to police the parking lots? And the policy is totally worthless anyway if the patron just buys another ticket? Don’t drug dealers usually have a wad of cash anyhow?
I don t know TXGF from the beginning just following my feelings steered/corrected by the facts. If tommorow we read ‘ Morgan never seen on Copeley bridge’ that would make more sense to me. Same for the tshirt find or the lack of camera footage. Or the behavior of the friends. Or leaving a concert you d been waiting 6 months for. And then people ask why this case generates so much interest?
Playing advocate of the Devil for a minute (as I did with the HH in the beginning). I know this is opposite of what we all want to believe but here it goes:
I deleted most of what I wrote still lets put it like this ‘ was Morgan similar in behavior to her friends or would she not have partied when her friend was missing? In other words did she share the same humor etc. If she did the kicking, shouting etc would make more sense.
Somehow… I always felt she was not really a part of the group altho she wanted to.
What I am trying to say is : was she a ‘ misfit’ in that particular group.
Everyday we can see what people do with others who do not fit the herd.
Even being too gentle can be dangerous, just as being simply a beautiful soul or a talented artist. On the other hand I don t think this has anything to do with the crime but maybe some information was never given to LE.
George I think with RMC security Morgan would have been refused re entry for the Vienna Boys Choir. Sadly there is no scale of tolerance when it comes to policy. In legal terms its all black and white.
Really its all not any of our business.. unless its connected to evil which concerns everyone if it runs free.
lol sorry for the ramblin just call me batshit crazy
keep up the good work! No one can deny Blink s site made a huge difference keeping Morgan s case under close scrutiny and investigation it must lead somewhere
Excellent article Blink!!!
Any signs of anyone else taking over this case in the near future?
Ain’t going to get solved as long as VSP is the lead.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY NO ONE (EXCEPT US) SEEMS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS PREDATOR STILL ROAMING THE STREETS???? WHERE IS THE FEAR AND SENSE OR URGENCY TO CATCH THIS REPEATED, VIOLENT, DANGEROUS OFFENDER???
Several months ago I downloaded a photo of the concert that had been taken with a cellphone camera. The band was dark and the crowd behind the band very dark. I opened the photo with ACDSee program, changed the contrast, and saved it to a thumb drive and put the drive in a LCD flat screen TV/monitor. You could easily identify the faces of most of the concert-goers, read the names and fraternity symbols on the sweatshirts, and even tell the beer levels in the clear plastic glasses held by many. And that was without cropping the photo and blowing up portions of the photos which gave even more details.
I would suggest that the VSP should have been doing this as well rather than giving travelogue spiels about Charlottesville or planning their retirements.
While I have some thoughts about Lt. Rader retiring during the highest profile case of his career, I concede there may be no connection to Morgan’s case, he has served his position, and is likely a good career move for him. With respect, I am in agreement that I do not believe enough diligence has been brought forth to isolate potential images of Morgan through enhanced resources, but again, I am confident we HAVE seen her, and they try to deal in “absolutes”.
I guess I am really just re-itterating my long stance that mp cases in certain jurisdictions should be immediately picked up by a task force trained to handle them accordingly.
B
I cannot wait to hear that Morgan Harrington’s killer has been arrested. I am not going to rest until that day comes. And even then I am going to stick around to spit on him/them.
I cannot believe this POS is still free. Somebody(s) did this and somebody(s) know or suspect who.
Justice for Morgan
241 Morgan!
Amy
You could be partially correct in your assesment of those that attended the concert with Morgan. Morgan’s father is responsible for all the tickets purchased. The friends took a free ride on Dr. Harrington’s money. One would think that the father would not want his baby girl to be alone in such a venue. I know I would not.
However, that is obviously not how it worked out. Because none chose to watch out for Morgan, she was essentially alone. The thing that makes me as angry as anything is the father and daughter that saw her fall and the father took no action to see that see was ok or to take her to get aid.
George
You just proved how easy it is to use known technology to clean up poor photos on a phone camera. I don’t know if this was taken as video or still. Videos can be broken down frame by frame. You may have actual experience doing it.
The real problem is did LE have the knowledge and skills to do it. We don’t know. I would suspect that they did not. Unless one has an opportunity to work with LE from small agencies, you cannot appreciate the lack of skills generally found. They are mostly good people, but they do not have the skills to get the job done on missing persons and murder cases.
I will second Blink’s assesment that every state needs to create several task forces with special skills to specifically address missing persons and finding the perps in murder cases. We do this with the SWAT teams, why not for other purposes as well.
i only have a sec.With new television screen, looked at security firm photo ,mr. ***president*** = mixed race ,indian ,spanish , african,.red skin.
@ George says:
October 22, 2011 at 10:39 pm
That might be the way they used to identify ‘rioters’ in Vancouver during the Stanley Cup finals.
I’ve seen the pic and thought it looked photoshopped. If I find a link to the pic, I’ll post.
@ MsL says:
October 22, 2011 at 8:57 pm
-snipped-
Maybe the situation was different at the Metallica concert, but I would doubt it if floor tickets were more expensive than the upper seating.
It’s not uncommon for floor and floor level seats to be more expensive than seats farther from the stage. There’s usually a price range and that price range determines best seats (close to stage usually) to seats situated on higher levels.
For the heck of it, go to ticketmaster.com. Select a concert in your area. You’ll see you can select tickets by price range, best seats available or select your own seats. JUST DON’T PURCHASE THEM!!!! LOL
Blink, this is somewhat different than other things being discussed right now. But, I have a question. I know this hasn’t been released and I don’t expect you to disclose the answer. I know the cause of death hasn’t been and can’t be stated, but was the medical examiner able to determine Morgan’s cause of death?
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since you released this piece. I believe that Morgan’s body was placed where it was because he thought it would never be found. Two – three months more and I don’t believe it would have been. After the hay grew and was cultivated any bone fragments left or if even noticed would have most likely been thought to be animal remains after being scattered around in the process of hay cutting, raking and bailing. The chance of her body being found where it was, is probably one chance out of thousands. This is one of the things that assures me that Sketch knew that land like the back of his hand and also Mr. Bass’ farming habits. Like where did he graze the cattle in the winter and which fields were used for growing the hay? He knows those things. If I try to put myself in the place of a stranger killer, I know that the likelihood of picking a place that far out to dispose of the body, just doesn’t make sense. I think I’d be thinking, there’s a dead body in my vehicle and I need to get rid of it quick. I would n’t be riding through the countryside thinking, hmmm, I wonder if that would be a good place? And then drive through people’s property and drive in like I owned the place to dispose of a body. Come on. He knew where he was, he’d been there before, many times I would say. There was a reason why he picked the spot and that’s because he knew all about it. Now, who would know that area that well? Certainly not a stranger passing down Rt. 29. I’m like Alexandra. Somebody knows who did this and they know who the Sketch is. They really need to spit it out and stop aiding a killer. This brute idiot will abduct, rape and murder again!
Blink and all who’ve supported Morgan and her family all these two years and stayed even when the going got tough or somebody said something we disagreed with, I think all of you are the most wonderful caring people ever. It was never about any of us anyway, it’s about justice for Morgan Harrington, a 20 year old daughter, sister, friend who was cruelly taken out of her life and robbed of the chance to live. That’s what it’s about. I’m overwhelmed more each day that this case goes unsolved.
Enough said. Blink thanks for all you do. Keep up the great work!
Ragdoll, my point exactly. What I don’t like to do is pretend any knowledge of what happened the night of the concert so I can’t absolutely say the floor seats were more expensive but I don’t see why that show would have been any different than other shows we have attended both at the arena and all around the state. IF, the same control of access was in place that night, I don’t think Morgan or anyone else was able to stroll onto the floor. Now I can’t say that Morgan wasn’t able to sweet talk a young event staff person into letting her get a closer look, but her friends and surrounding ticket holders would be LE’s best source as to whether or not she remained in her seating area until she left for the last time.
I know this is a matter of terminology, but I don’t believe the ticket takers and ushers are referred to as security (someone raised the issue up thread a bit.) I think they are referred to as ” RMC event staff.” These are the individuals I refer to when I say most of them appear to be older than me and many at retirement age. I am guessing, and this is purely a guess on my part, if a unruly fan or concert goer is causing a problem or breaking a policy, the situation escalates from the “event staff” level to RMC security personnel and/or LE if the person refuses to cooperate. Several years ago, before the beginning of a concert, two women with floor seats started pushing and slapping each other. Security (unarmed individuals )and LE (armed officers from one of our local PDs) moved in quickly and escorted them off the floor and I would assume out of the building because they never returned.
A Texas Grandfather says:
October 23, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Your thoughts and experience are on target.. From ALL people who encountered Morgan on that night to LE investigations nation wide.
lizzy, i was just curious if it was taboo in slave culture, i dont see how it was avoidable in tribal people and that applies to all races, back to the bible, like you pointed out,its in our genes as a people, a cross we all bear.i grew up in the south,and heard kissin cousins joke teasing, but not until a family reunion few years ago,where a discussion about how lucky we were to avoid mental issues thru a couple of third cousin marriages in our tree, did i realize the gravity of the situation, at certain times in history ,and started remebering plato talking of massive feeble minded populations,and put 2&2 together ,i asked a buch of guestions no one really knew the answer to,i recently researched and it appears the subject has not been explored on a mainstream access level ,i stumbled upon king tut research , who had physical deformations,i also watched caligula the other night on national geographic and his madness was not attributed to inbreeding. liberty university has a connection with eugenics in recent american history.(they also disbanned the democratic campus club,hot topic around time of cassandra’s disappearence). j fawell jr’s statement to the press, imo is defensive, he states that cassandra morton’s body,has “nothing to do with lu or its students” ,”woods are where these things are brought from other places”, —well it was 1 mile away from campus ,and she disappeared in town.and oct 7,2009 it was announced in the press that lynchburg had zero homocides. if sketch is multi racial,he could be a multi racial hater.is this a serial?i really dont know, le does. wow , i could spin a plot (pun intended)for grisham, give me liberty or , give me death,morgan as white america’s lady liberty ,a great great great black/indian/white slave grandson of a president,and the dna to prove it,yet the society would rather let a murderer roam then expose the familial dna that proves the spawn of a slave kid has a right to historic white property,maybe grishams property itself, is connective-itis a third cousin affliction,i looked up “abilty to see connections” and read its a gift,i’m going with that,lol.but i am well aware that probably the only connection is a violent murderer who hasnt been arrested ,yet.
Thanks George. I have worked with LE in the early and middle 1990′s regarding computers and networks. This is nearly 20 years later so one would think that some improvement has been made. However, LE is subject to the same thing that other government agencies regarding money. Most of LE ,in small agencies in Texas, is made up of people with only a high school education and quite a few of the large agencies have many people with that level of education.
That does not mean they are stupid. Just ingnorant of technology and perhaps the necessary foundations in math, science and critical thinking to self educate. I used to tell my new hire engineers that they had a good tool bag and the next step was to learn how to use the tools.
@ MsL says:
October 24, 2011 at 8:05 am
10-4 good buddy!
…but if she did find her way onto the floor, someone gave her a pass. I know dudes who work security at concerts do it often enough for a pretty girl (floor pass). Whether or not it’s relevant to Morgan’s disappearance, we may never know. In my mind, it’s possible he got her on the floor, watched her, was able to slip away from his post (not being missed by anyone)….he really could have pulled it off. It would be beneficial to know if security for this event were volunteers and if they had names for that night.
If security for concerts was anything like it is here, they’re just a bunch of people who volunteer, not necessarily knowing each other. Maybe someone brought a friend to help out that night. Was there a sign in sheet for security? It’s NOT impossible.
I’m having a hard time keeping up with all the great minds going right now. I’m late saying thank you to Lizzy for her beautiful post of October 20, 2011 @8:44 pm. I feel deeply for your mentor, Lizzy. Mental illness is bad enough but the stigma attached is horrendous.
Susanm, your last post caused a gasp. Eugenics and Liberty University? Gotta google that for sure. Thanks for bringing Cassandra back to mind. Her murder obviously was not just a random street-type crime. I wish there was more information on her case.
Feel free to delete if posted by a million folks. Gil’s comments about filing the lawsuit.
http://www.readthehook.com/101637/why-she-filed-morgan-harringtons-mom-explains-suit
Thanks for posting Redly, I hope everyone takes the time to read this. I am beyond tired of hearing this family get slammed for what is entirely appropriate on their part.
B
Yes, when I read these type of remarks about the mother of a murdered girl, and even against the victim herself, I want to point LE in their direction. IMO, either they are guilty of similar abuse, or have guilty knowledge of this case. IMO, no normal, thinking, kind, and empathetic human being would be capable of such remarks. At the very least, it stems from extreme anger and bitterness about life in general, and to me that is a dangerous place to be. Will go read Gil’s remarks now.
Yep, people like that use cases like this to exhibit hate; it is apparently the only way they know to be relevant, in what they believe is an anonymous way.
B
Could this be Sketch? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/24/serial-rapist-sorority-delta-sigma-theta_n_1028658.html
Is the DNA data local, state, or national?
No relation to this case whatsoever, but still trying to nail down the database query.
Thanks
B
-snipped-
Thanks for posting Redly, I hope everyone takes the time to read this. I am beyond tired of hearing this family get slammed for what is entirely appropriate on their part.
B
Unfortunately, victims and their families will become targets, regardless of how they seek justice. God forbid, anyone who ‘slams’ the Harringtons will ever have to walk the same mile. It becomes a totally different journey; one they’d relate to.
IMO, I’d rather ignore the noise makers and focus on the cause itself. This lawsuit will go on to set a precedence, dimishing the potential to be a victim of violence/homicide at a public facility. It’s not just about the money.
Morgan’s basic human rights to be safe were horrificly violated.
Another article with some comments from Gil about the suit. Without addressing the legal merits of the claim, I would note that it is not usually the best idea for plaintiffs to start talking about how they will spend the money they expect to win this early, even if they claim it will be used to help others.
http://www.c-ville.com/Blog/This_Just_In/Morgan_Harringtons_mom_on_lawsuit_We_did_not_do_this_lightly/?act=post
sigh.
B
Redly
Please cut Gil some slack, and let her get on with doing things the way she thinks best. Please. Will that hurt anyone?
I am so glad they are going forward with the lawsuit. I only wish it were for billions.
Thanks for posting, Redly. So there was DNA on Morgan’s body!
Stay strong Gil.
You’re on the right track. I would like to see all of Charlottesville feel the urgency to find and arrest whoever did this to Morgan, the lady in FF and whoever else we don’t know about. Spit him out.
I wish VSP would just be a little more agressive in investigating this. I would like to know how much time they spend on this investigation.
Sara, where did you hear that? DNA on Morgan? I can’t find it.
See the story below. This is near where Morgan’s t-shirt was found and near the fraternities/sororities. As LE investigates these latest cases, remember that it is not that difficult to identify residents near this area who have ties in North Garden. Talk to the longtime area residents at Reid’s Supermarket, and while you’re at it, post Sketch’s picture and the reward offer there. I’m not sure it’s ever been there, and maybe with these latest investigations someone will try to deal. What could it hurt?
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/UVa_Police_Notify_Students_About_Intruders_132579613.html
UVa Police: Notify Students About Intruders
The University of Virginia Police Department sent an email to students notifying them about an unidentified male or males entering two separate residences on 17th street NW.
Email Address: news@newsplex.com
October 25, 2011
The University of Virginia Police Department sent an email to students notifying them about an unidentified male or males entering two separate residences on 17th street NW.
According to the email, the Charlottesville Police Department is investigating the two incidents.
The first incident happened on October 15, around 4:30 a.m. A victim reported an unidentified male learning over him. The victim struck the suspect in the face and the suspect then fled. The suspect is described as a black male and approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall.
The second incident occurred on October 22, around 3:40 a.m. The victim reported awakening to a unidentified male in her bedroom. The suspect fled on foot.
If you have any information about the two incidents, you are asked to contact the Charlottesville Police at 434-970-3280 or Crime Stoppers at 434-977-4000.
acho- as usual, I am SOOOO on your page. Thank you for your advocacy for Morgan my friend.
B
B-
Think my post got Zapped into space
Is there a policy at JPJ that requires incidences to be documented? Like written documentation?
Like when the ticket taker (supposing a JPJ employee) tells M she cant come back in- I’d imagine they’d radio security to come back them up.
Like if a store clerk catches someone shoplifting. They’d say- “hey you cant take that…” “security!l”
Security would come over & enforce the rule. Then they have to fill out a written report and sign it.
I’m guessing that’s not part of the policy at JPJ or
It is policy and there was just no paperwork filed for her.
–
You’ve got a DNA sample of her killer
But either no video of her or worthless video of her.
No probable cause to get a DNA sample of anyone working there that night.
/–placement of shirt–
Could be a message to another perp/accomplice not LE.
RMC hires off duty LE to work events. Not saying it HH guy.
But my thoughts go around the world but always lead back to security.
I believe that we now have proof at the very least, that the Harrington’s are also convinced the start to answers in this case, is with security. I support that 100%.
For me, and this piece took well over a year to research, and to CONFIRM that research and investigative analysis on the ground, I am of the firm opinion that the land connection is the closest distance between two points here.
B
http://www.c-ville.com/Blog/This_Just_In/Morgan_Harringtons_mom_on_lawsuit_We_did_not_do_this_lightly/?act=post
Morning! Here you are, Alexandra. In the article that Redly linked. Thoughts?
Thanks for the link above, acho.
I
Thanks Sara. Specifically, the article says “Gil Harrington says police also have taken a familial DNA sample from Morgan’s body.” It sounds to me that the reporter mixed up two concepts — where the DNA was found and then the process of testing for familial DNA. Just guessing, but seems reasonable to think that Gil said they found DNA on Morgan’s body and it is being tested for familial DNA and the reporter just jumbled them together.
Acho — too many years ago to admit, when I was a student there, I lived on the edge of the student area where it meets the largely african american neighborhood on 10th street for two years. We were on the 3rd floor so not at street level, and had three separate times when “unidentified males” entered. They would test doors to see if any were unlocked and then pop in to see if there was something to steal. They would always run if someone was awake. I don’t think we ever reported it as it seemed pointless, but our neighbors did a couple of times and nothing ever came of it.
Redly- I agree that was reported incorrectly.
B
I support the Harringtons in their lawsuit. The investigation into Morgan Harrington’s murder has been very slow and maybe this will bring the needed information forward.
Several comments posted on the article
http://www.c-ville.com/Blog/This_Just_In/Morgan_Harringtons_mom_on_lawsuit_We_did_not_do_this_lightly/?act=post
Comments
UVA is lying. RMC has not changed its policy or retrained staff to assist intoxicated, vulnerable patrons. They are thrown out like trash and not allowed to call family, reenter, or get medical assistance. Other venues in C’ville allow reentry. UVA could if it wanted. It will only be a matter of time before the Next Girl Locked Out will be murdered. The trial will be a game-changer for UVA & RMC for their callous handling of their patrons.
Anonymous Ex-RMCer October 25th 04:47pm
I applaude the Harringtons’. I’ve been following this since the first months. I always said the security was guilty of manslaughter. They failed to produce any video tape, because they were covering up from the beginning. Unfortunately, they could have helped her, but she did wear provocative clothing, was intoxicated, but she didn’t deserve it in anyway. I always thought it was someone from the campus.
tcaros October 25th 10:20pm
I do not know how to post links to stories, however Fox News is reporting that a man posing as a police officer has been arrested for luring and sexually assaulting victims. He is a suspect in seven cases and is being held in Fairfax County. I wonder if it might be related to Morgan..
He is Asian Starsky so no, but thank God he is off the street.
B
Here is the link about the arrest. There is a picture of the perp.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/26/man-arrested-for-allegedly-posing-as-police-officer-and-sexually-assaulting/
Redly & Blink: WELL, hmmm. I see what you mean about the reporter possibly mixing up facts. This is irresponsible journalism if this is the case. I definitely don’t believe every thing that I read, but I have to admit that in this case I did believe what was written. Could be my own bias because I, along with so many peeps, are desperate for information and justice. Should I assume that the two of you know more than I do?
I may e-mail the reporter for clarification.
Thanks for commenting.
Ok, I did E-mail the reporter of the above linked article. We’ll see what he says. Thank you, again.
Good for you, I understand Brendan is a fine reporter, let us know.
B
After re-reading all the posts on this thread, and thinking about the events regarding Morgan’s disappearance, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps the only path to find the perp(s) is to begin with security at JPJA.
Blink covers a great deal of history and genealogy regarding the land at AF.
We have one person associated with security that has some questionalble credentials and behaviors. It is a well known fact that beginning early in the history of the US, families often grouped together and traveled to new locations. Often they intermarry.
Perhaps through the lawsuit, Gil and her attorney can get access to the names of all those who worked the Metallica concert. From that information it may be possible to use genealogy to trace the possible links to the DNA and access to AF via North Gardens.
This may place a name on the perp at the Fairfax location as well.
Once the list of people is obtained, Gil could call for volunteers to aid in tracing the background of each person. LE may have much of this already done except for the genealogy.
Saramom says:
October 26, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Ok, I did E-mail the reporter of the above linked article. We’ll see what he says. Thank you, again.
Good for you, I understand Brendan is a fine reporter, let us know.
B
I received an auto-reply e-mail in return. He is out of the office until Tuesday, November 2, on which date he will start to return e-mails and phone calls! I will try to contact his boss.
I would like to see the Harrington’s attorneys set up their own telephone line for information. Certainly info like that provided by the former RMC employee quoted above would be devastating in the legal suit, if it is accurate.
I am certain they are handling that sort of task privately, and yes, with success.
B
I am just so glad to see us all still here, 2 years later. That speaks volumes of the HEART we Blinkers have
I am so happy to hear of the lawsuit. I believe, as everyone else does, that no matter how many times we go over everything, we always end up back in the same place – security.
And, I have always believed that unless further action was taken, VSP alone was never going to solve this case.
2-4-1
Praying for Morgan, Gil, Dan and Alex, always.
To this day, this whole thing just breaks my heart. Morgan and her lovely family have really grabbed my heart and has touched me down to my very core. After two years, still just as attached to this case as I was when it first happened.
Perhaps Morgan is filling a bigger role … throught her parents. I f this case documents inadequate methods and policies to protect the public and solve crime, I don’t know what would.
There are way too many unsolved murders and missing persons in such a small area.
May Morgan ‘show’ the way to justice. Then those that don’t want to change the LE at all levels, to earn their pay checks; perhaps, they should move over, step-down, and let someone else do it.
If there was sketch DNA on both Morgan and her Tshirt, that means differently than if only on her Tshirt.
I am positive he got that wrong- that is not even possible.
Nice work and follow up.
B
Are are the methods and procedures for accounting for the cash at JPJ Arena events as haphazard and non-functional as they would have us believe the video taping system is? Is there a connection between the two?
I have not run across that personally, interesting question- what prompted it?
B