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.
Related Posts
Related Posts:
784 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
George
Your question about accounting for cash at the arena is puzzeling. Are you perhaps suggesting that ticket takers could let someone in via a cash purchase and not record or issue a ticket?
Proceedures with money differ at a lot of venues. However, leaving a loophole regarding cash is usually not done. All acts at JPJA would have a guarantee from the event management company and perhaps some would have a percentage of the gate.
Most vendors have to account for all tickets, or if merchandise and drinks it is accomplished by an inventory count of some sort. Cash and inventory have to match.
A lot of small vendors that operate at municipal parks do have problems with cash. This is usually caused by untrained people working without a cash register who do not know the right way to count change to a customer. Our young people today are not taught the proper way to count money, so they make a lot of mistakes. Too much reliance on calculators and registers that tell them how much to give back in change.
I am always delighted when I have change properly counted back to me. It very seldom occurs.
TG,
Thanks for your comment. Seems like there should be HD video records of the ticket transactions as well as video of people coming in the main entrance and having their ticket validated. I realize that Morgan bought the tickets beforehand but surely there is some video of her group coming through the main entrance and having their tickets validated.
I am sure that with day-of-purchase ticket sales, beer sales, t-shirt sales, and everything else there is a lot of cash sloshing around these concerts. Maybe somebody has been skimming money from UVa for a long time and the disabling of the cameras is a part of it?
The other possibility is that no one ever checked the tapes after the concerts to look for scamming but after Morgan went missing someone realized the tapes would be examined. They panicked and erased the tapes?
Long shot, but the VSP answers about the video tapes are just not credible.
alexandra wrote:
If there was sketch DNA on both Morgan and her Tshirt, that means differently than if only on her Tshirt.
_____________________________________________
All the difference in the world. And if Sketch’s DNA is present on both, then it makes not releasing the sketch of Sketch in a timely fashion even stranger….and also makes the lack of warning/publicity about Sketch being at large really weird.
I feel sure this has already been posted somewhere back in time but I thought it was interesting…I came across this when I realized the common thread between Fairfax, Charlottesville and Lynchburg is US 29.
http://labyrinth13.com/mirror/VirginiaMurders/index.htm
Whoops, Fairfax, Charlottesville, Lynchburg AND Anchorage Farm.
Okay sorry last post…tonight. I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that there exists videographic and/or photographic evidence of Morgan Harrington at JPJA OR somewhere in Charlottesville on the night of October 17, 2009…or did at one time. The absolutely preposterous assertion that there is none, not only from JPJA, but from any of the friends, parking lot cameras, or video from other concert goers as well as surrounding businesses up to and including possibly the Sheetz in Orange is unbelievable just on the basis of too much protesting. Along those lines, it is no coincidence then that Morgan’s *camera* is missing.
dr pepper ,finally an investigative report on patricia guardado , http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980591216 http://www.cwarkansas.com/mostpopular/story/Criminal-profiler-gives-insight-on-Guardados/eEofyMaaO0q7LYYyV3rACQ.cspx http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980591216 , i was a bit un nerved with myself ,as i thought my last post was a little sensational,AND, when i said i could spin this into a crime novel worthy of grisham. i thought it kind read that i was claiming blinks and everyones heres work on theories. i meant that if there is a historic connection, i could take all our theories and take it even further,and could connect bill sparkman and , holly boob ,marijuana fields,the morgan dollar ,and presidents, who had shadow slave families(johnson).but this is probably fiction,and as as such i mentioned grisham .so mea culpa ,if i offended anyone,and even as i say that ,i am still perturbed that cassandra was or was not beheaded,and i read this:http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980668416 and it seems as to this reporter chealsea hoffman ,i am not alone in thinking these cases might be related.just the other day ,before i read this , i thought hmmm, wouldnt indiana figure into the plot, as one lineage of the historic virginia family went to indiania as well,probably just coincidence,or not.
http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980668416 corrected third link ,got mushed.
No images of Morgan at all that night. The entrance and exit, no images of Morgan. Did Metallica have their own security with them that night? Is Metallica’s policy, “no cameras?”
correction: carrina saunders wasthe oklahoma girl found beheaded in oklahoma,shaneice nicholson was found in a creek and lauren spierier is still missing from ,bloomington, indiana. http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980647695
Remember Skyler was asked not to take a picture outside in the RV lot when she came upon a …superstar, or a SS staff person. I always thought that encounter was weird. They don’t like cameras. Morgan’s camera is missing.
Ya know, even Skylers kid got his pic snaped outside JPJ. Why not Morgan?
Mary – Mary … you’ve connected the dots, I thinking!
( I am )
Good one Judge J,
Why does DB want to find the cell phones to make a call when they say they can’t make outgoing calls?
George
Thanks for your explanation of your concerns. If this scene is true, this tells me that there is a strong possibility of more than one person involved. In fact, there could be two different groups at work. One involved in skiming cash and destroying the video and another involved in Morgan’s abduction. Neither aware of the other.
We have so little real information regarding the activities of LE and the management of the arena that it is difficult to determine any pattern. This is where I am hopeful that the lawsuit by Morgan’s estate will make public some needed information.
There are several unsolved cases along the Hwy 29 corridor including Morgan’s case. It appears that LE has some major problems when it comes to working abductions, assault and murder cases. If it doesn’t fall into their laps such as the Yeardley case, they are unsuccessful.
Thanks to our friends
over at the Hook ‘s comment section I got to have some insight in a hunter s mind, sorry to say not very comforting. But there is a certain honesty in it. The person holding a weapon seeing a target not a living creature. We all go to the supermarket to get groceries I know its hypocrit to forget where its coming from but…
I know its a very beloved sport in VA but words like:
‘ Morgan s earrings, ,shiny in the dark, headshot, bow season, a religious experience etc’
with the same line of thought
The perps would dehumanize his target up to the point of an animal. Convienent for them there is also the blaming the victim.
This was familiar territory for him and I do remember the other quote ‘ at first i thought it was a deer’ . Which could mean that spot was used for the same purpose of hiding prey at other times?
Another issue is the illegal nature of using private property to make miles of residential land unsafe even at night.
Now the real question is was he out ‘ hunting’ for a random victim along the roads (bridge) or did this stalking start from inside JPJ? That for me was always the issue with questioning behavior from personell, witnesses, BBP etc looking for behavior that indicated bad intent.
I have actually interviewed hunters from the AF property, who asked their information not be revealed publicly, and have coordinated their contact with VSP. What I can say, is that Morgan’s ultimate placement on AF is not thought to be any sort of “hunter” message per se.
That said, I absolutely believe this freak (s) are opportunity offenders, and ultimately will be how they get caught.
Morgan’s abduction and murder was compulsive. Compulsive= how he gets caught.
B
Alexandra yes I remember that, he was jogging there? Is that close to the curtsy duo sighting? Could he just go to the athlete tracks or did he plan to do laps over the parking lot?
The risk of someone taking pictures of a superstar jogging over a parking lot a bigger i d think.
Here’s a quick look at some RMC Facts and History:
RMC Events was founded in April 1999
Events staffed in 1999 = 16
Events staffed in 2010 = Over 3600
RMC Staff total in 1999 = 8
RMC Staff total in 2010 = 1200
RMC Staff today (2011) = 1500
Many of the “original 8″ are STILL with RMC Events, some in Full Time roles
RMC’s 1st Event? : WWE at U-Hall at the University of Virginia (1999)
RMC’s Largest Single Event: U2 Concert at Scott Stadium (2009)
Highest Attended Event: 100k+ – Richmond NASCAR at RIR (Every Year!)
Craziest Stat?: 47 Graduations in 11 days….yes….that’s a lot
“just gotta be there” event?: CAA Championship Night!!
Best Motorola Call: “Does he have the proper credential?”……”No…he’s a goat”
Secret to RMC Success?: Good People First!
Our Formula is Simple and No Secret:
Quality Hiring
+ Thoughtful Training
+ Complete Preparation
+ “Guest 1st Focus”
+ Attention to Detail
= Enjoyable Guest Visits and Total Client Satisfaction
Links to our Partners
http://www.rmcevents.com/about-rmc-events/
Below, please find links to our business partners and friends. Please support these fine facilities and organizations whenever you can!
The Richmond Coliseum
Richmond Centerstage
Colonial Downs
Greater Richmond Convention Center
Innsbrook After Hours
JMU Athletics
John Paul Jones Arena at UVA
Kings Dominion
Martinsville Speedway
Richmond Flying Squirrels
University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond International Raceway (RIR)
Randolph Macon College Athletics
State Fair of Virginia
Meadow Event Park
The Landmark Theatre
Virginia Athletics (UVA)
VCU Athletics
Virginia Tech Athletics (VT)
William and Mary Athletics (WM)
Christopher Newport Athletics (CNU)
Norfolk State Athletics (NSU)
Venture Richmond (Friday Cheers/2nd St Festival, Folk Festival, Easter Parade, etc.)
Roanoke College
Virginia State Athletics (VSU)
http://www.rmcevents.com/links-to-our-partners/
http://www.rmcevents.com.php5-23.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/John-Paul-Jones-Arena.pdf
@ TG – The VSP is probably as successful as most other agencies at catching killers. According to the FBI about 35 – 40% of murders go unsolved. The worst case scenario for LE is a stranger abduction where there is no motive other than opportunity. Only dogged persistence and luck usually catches these people.
I agree with Blink. In Morgan’s case this is what we have.
They are actually pretty sure they know who did the 29 corridor murders but the culprit committed suicide or was killed I believe. It was never known 100% for sure about all of them.
There is also a strong suspicion that the Colonial Parkway murderer once lived in Charlottesville and owned an adult store here called The Treasure Chest. He also ultimately committed suicide.
The crux of the matter is that very even when LE has a very strong suspect, it can take years or even decades to get strong enough evidence to convict the person, IF he or she is ever charged.
Rose7, thanks but I’m not the first person to see 29 as a possible link in the Morgan Harrington – Colonial Pkwy – 29 stalker cases; if I remember right, one of the Harringtons’ first actions was to meet with the group of family members pushing VSP for years to solve those crimes. Unfortunately, it’s probably just a coincidence that those murders were all in the vicinity of 29. I thought it was interesting though when I saw on wikipedia that US29 runs past so many colleges and universities on its way from Maryland to Pensacola, Florida. Georgetown U in DC, UVa, GMU, Sweet Briar, Liberty, Lynchburg and Randolph in Virginia, Bob Jones University in South Carolina and UGA and GA Tech in Georgia. Maybe Sketch is a truckdriver or salesperson for a food services company doing business with colleges and universities. Or someone who must travel to different colleges on his job, either based in Albemarle or originally from there. We’ve already talked about concessions reps/workers, this just makes it that much more plausible to me.
Al
Thanks for your information referencing the Uniform Crime Report of the FBI. Having worked with LE agencies trying to figure out how to report crimes on that report in the correct catagory, I can tell you that I have little faith in the accuracy of that report.
There are agencies that do have a very good record in solving assaults, murders and other crimes aganist people. It all has to do with who is in charge and how much they care about a good record.
There was a case in the Texas panhandle where a perp murdered several women. He moved to the Houston area and assaulted a woman. The police caught him in twelve hours. He spent eight years in prison. When he was released he returned to the panhandle area. A local detective in the panhandle decided he was not going to let the perp get away with the unsolved crimes. It took him two years, but finally through DNA taken from a cigarret butt, he solved the case.
Your statement about persistence and determination is so true. Sometimes luck plays a part. I am not one who thinks luck is created by magic. Luck is the result of hard work.
Crimewriter
Thanks for the interesting list concerning RMC. The statement about the founders tells me that most of the personnel of RMC are part-time people.
The statement by the woman working the front area at JPJA who was trained by an airline sort of destroys the claim about training. I think they have been extremely lucky that other patrons have not been harmed in some way. We really don’t know if there have been others.
The lawsuit by Morgan’s estate may bring out some of this information.
That piece IMO is just a sales and PR piece targeted at future clients. That is an impressive list of events if in fact that they are the lead vendor of services.
Alexandra and Amy…
My best memory is that the jogging musician was a member of one of the opening groups — either Gojira or Lamb of God. Gojira is a French group, afaik. Lamb of God is US of A, I believe.
For the most part, openers aren’t “stars” but are hired to fill out the first part of the evening. Often they are brought in to help them break into a region/area. In Metallica’s world, Metallica is the draw and the openers are generally brought in as fillers and interesting acts to intro to their fans. My understanding is that both groups were probably somewhat known to Metallica’s fans but that this would be an opportunity for them. Metal fans have vast knowledge of the lesser known groups and are usually happy to see a group they’ve never seen before and to be able to buy their CDs. Sometimes an opening act is more accessible to signing CDs too.
Skyler encountered him at a chain link fence that led to the lot where the equipment (and the bands) were off-loaded, in the back of the arena.)
I remember that he asked Skyler which way he should jog if he wanted to “see something.” Was he the bass player? Anyone remember?
I can’t find that post to check, but I don’t think that Skyler knew his name.
Good to see you all. I read you all every day. I think of dear Morgan every day too. Glad that the lawsuit is filed. I too think that, as the discovery phase gets under way, more will be revealed.
Fwiw, I think that dear Morgan was indeed hunted. I remember clearly breaking into tears when I heard that farmer B first thought that he’d seen a deer. I’ve always thought that she was stalked and hunted, and also think she was given a substance. Some percentage of women (and young men!) are drugged at a refreshment stand at an event or show. It’s so easy to drop something in a drink as it’s being passed in a crowded arena refreshment area.
May the darling girl rest in peace. Stay strong everybody. Much love and soothing thoughts of peace to the Harrington family.
Blink, you rock, as always. Thank you for what you do.
diana h.
Amy
Your post about the hunters. Yes, hunting is done for tropheys as well as to put food on the table. Today, the cost of hunting deer or other animals for meat is more than one could buy beef or pork at a supermarket. People who own land of course can hunt for little expense. Not so for those who must pay rent for a deer or turkey lease and then provide their own equipment including an expensive blind.
Hunters who follow the rules do not hunt after dark.
Those that took Morgan are not hunters for food. They are hunters of humans. It is the ultimate hunt in their warped minds. Stalk and capture a human for a thrill. Then,destroy a life so they will not be caught.
Whoever the perp or perps are will strike again. Sometimes it is a period of years before it happens. When the thrill begins to overcome their ability to conceal the crime, they will make a mistake and be caught. In the meantime, any young woman who is alone beomes a possible target.
TXGF: I think most of them die or get sick with guilt thats why its important to get DNA on file to close seemingly open cases.
Some things I read brought me back to the painting, is it a hornet and a bee or all wasps? All these animals from a little yellow bird to a curious deer are they related to the crime?
The remorseful hunter theory is interesting but hardly possible, some evidence would be found. You can read about this in gruesome detail on the Hook. It does seem inline with previous events and bad luck (after HH, stepped out of car during argument etc near AF)
More poignant now then ever, especially in light of some consensus is the question:
If this person knew the area so well how did they know they themselves would not be spotted by another nightly stalker/poacher/killer, in fact a public forest would be safer. I mean they probably hate eachother a very risky business to venture into the sights of another poacher.
There is so much unfair advantage tru technology that a poacher would be able to spot an animal but also a ‘ collegue’ .
nightvision, deer cameras, 4WD, overkill bows and guns, traps etc etc etc
To me it sounds like the worst possible area to feel safe and travel to with a (I suppose) dead person in the car. Yet it happened. Ofcourse all this raises questions and suspicions unless you totally dont care or have a trust that things will work out without public scrutiny.
Thanks to everyone that is still here and still trying. I havent had alot to contribute lately…but
I have been thinking alot about Morgan lately, I guess because it is Halloween…
Morgans Mom said that Morgan had her costume picked out and ready that year….Ive always wondered what she was going to be… I remember Gil asking for Morgan to be home and safe in time for the celebration…so sad, I wish it could have been different.
Blink, do you know what Morgan wanted to be that Halloween? and if so can you share it with us?
AJMO
Ps Have a Happy and safe Halloween everyone- remember the Buddy System ALWAYS
pss it was a member of Gorgira- KIM LambofGod are local musicians from Richmond IIRC… – and Skyler did take a pic and from what I remember the roadies asked her not to…or maybe it was on of the parking lot attendees?…anyway someone shooed her away—and she could never retrieve any of the pics because she did not save them…..
Hope this helps.
AJmo
RE: A Texas Grandfather
I posted their website information in hopes that in light of the family’s lawsuit, hopefully there is better initial and renewal DCJS training being provided at the RMC Richmond Office, JPJ Arena, Blacksburg and Tidewater offices as it relates to they using tact. I would like to know how many of the contracted employees “travel” and “pick up their jobs” considering there is a venue almost every night somewhere. One could almost make it into a full time job. I’m just suggesting employees should be crossed referenced as it relates to this case. I’ve spent many hours trying to determine a common link between Charlottesville and Fairfax whether it be a traveling tent circus near town or something else in 2005 and 2009…
Remind me again please why we are so sure Morgan ended up at that location the night of the 17th/early morning the 18th? This is gruesome but if this guy drives a refrigerated truck, he could possibly have waited until more of an opportune time to place her on AF. From what I understand it would have been almost impossible for him to do it at night with it being a new moon and all, and I can’t imagine what vehicle would not raise suspicion in the area early on a Sunday morning.
susanm you have not offended me at all. you had me at trixie belden lol
Amy
If my memory serves me correctly, there was a weather event in the Charlottesville area the evening of the concert. It was raining in some areas, but not a general rain.
Animals will not be moving about during a rain. Hunters know this so they would not be out looking for game. This is not unknown to people who live in small cities and towns. A perp such as took Morgan would not expect to be confronted with a human presense in the area of AF.
I do not know if the clouds were scattered enough to allow moonlight through. If moonlight was available, getting through the little depression of the upper reaches of the Hardware river at AF would be simple.
All of the above depends on the assumption that Morgan was placed on AF the evening of the abduction. I have nothing that makes me believe that happened. Therefore, the weather conditions may not play a big part in the placement.
We are not looking for normal behavior from a hunter or even one who poaches from time to time. The person(s) responsible for Morgan’s death are a different type of hunter.
So far we know that the DNA or partial DNA has tied the person to another crime at Fairfax some five years earlier. Have there been other crimes he committed during that time against women? Probably, but these have not been identified.
Amy
I did not address your concerns about the life in the painting. There are bees that has some meaning regarding Morgan. The spider is a common garden spider who has spun a web between thistle plants. The leaves of the thistle have sharp little stickers. In olden times the Celtics believed that thistle represented nobility and good character. In addition, anyone who desecrated such a person would be punished. Is this the reason for the thistle and the spider? Very possible.
The deer feeds on leaves and is considered to be a gentle animal. The little yellow bird is an American Goldfinch that feeds on thistle seeds and has a beautiful song. The dove is the symbol of love and gentleness. It has a longer beak and could feed on the spider as it is not a seed eater.
This painting is designed to convey several messages. Artists who paint such scenes always have something in mind that directs the painting.
Oh wow… Just took a look at the ignorant comments on the article about the lawsuit and boy is my blood boiling. I just can’t resist pointing out that, OTHER than clearly being heartless, pathological, twisted human beings and making all KINDS of unfounded assumptions, the people writing those cruel comments 1) are too dumb to realize that lawsuits are VERY common in situations like this for the express purpose of uncovering new information that would otherwise not come to light (they’re not whining, they’re not pointing fingers, they’ just want answers!), and 2) they obviously haven’t been following the case because if they had, they would be aware of all the shady-as-heck details of that night that do not add up re: what happened inside and around the arena and how exactly Morgan ended up outside (not to mention the video and ticket questions, the injury, etc etc etc). It’s just so infuriating to have these mean-spirited bozos butting in and commenting on this complex case that they know nothing about. (Reminds me of all the idiots in the amanda knox case imsisting on her guilt when there wasn’t a modicum of evidence or even a remotely plausible motive… don’t even get me started.)
I have never seen such a group of BS posers in any case like I have in Morgan’s and if your reading that drivel you know who they are. Let’s be clear, if RMC and inevitably UVA provided correct and accountable information to the Harrington’s and perhaps even LE, this suit might have been unnecessary.
I do not know how to get small minded people to look at the big picture of safety and security for everyone, but I will keep trying.
B
Hello ATG,
I hope that you will listen to a tiny bit of a poem by Don McKay. It is called “A Barbed-Wire Fence Meditates Upon the Goldfinch” seemingly describing how the barbed wire fence perceives the beautiful Goldfinch.
I believe that it relates directly to the Harrington family’s grief.
Find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Barbed-Wire-Fence-Meditates-Upon-Goldfinch/dp/B001GUHLYG
peace,
diana h.
FWIW at the night of the concert the skies were overcast with intermittent rain throughout the night, so light from the moon would not be a factor. As to someone driving Morgan to where she was found it doesn’t seem possible with a standard car or even a four-wheel drive because of the rain and mud. How would someone explain to the landowner how his car got stuck in the middle of the landowner’s field in the middle of the night (even if he managed to hide the body in a tree line before being discovered)? Too much risk.
There are several wooded lots off of Red Hill Road with no houses built on them. One lot has a double farm gate opening onto Red Hill Road. If the assailant had prior permission to use the land for hunting Morgan could have been transported on the back of a ATV wrapped in a tarp and driven very close to the point where she was found.
Maybe this is a reach, but the VSP did ask for any bicyclists that were on Red Hill Road early Sunday morning to come forward if they saw anything unusual.
more about the goldfinch on the barbed wire …
Was able to transcribe the little bit of the spoken Don McKay poem sample that’s out on amazon.com. The goldfinch in the barbed wire also made me think of the Leonard Cohen song Bird on the Wire, but in this case the McKay poem seems to fit better.
This transcription is a sample that’s available to all, so I’m pretty sure this is fair use. I was unfamiliar with McKay’s work until now.
diana h.
A Barbed-Wire Fence Meditates Upon the Goldfinch — Don McKay
Between points we are the Stradivarius of work.
We make the meadow, “meadow.”
Make it mean, make it yours.
But ’til the last insurance policy is cashed in
We will never be immune to this exquisite cruelty.
That the knots in all our posts remember limbs
they nested and were busy in, and danced “per-chick-eree”
their loops between.
But the fury of their playfulness persists
In amputated roots . . .
Hi George… Oct. 17, 2009 was the night of a new moon, so the moon was entirely dark. Even if clouds cleared periodicallay there was no moonlight.
Also, “How would someone explain to the landowner how his car got stuck in the middle of the landowner’s field in the middle of the night”
Just a thought, but if it wasn’t unusual for him/them to be there, who would question their presence there at all?
all imho, obviously…
diana h.
Thank you diana h.
Thank you Diana h. for the poem. Perhaps Mr. McKay intended the fence posts to represent with their knots of limbs who were no longer there, the absence of Morgan in her family’s lives. Another artist and another message.
George
I have always believed that Morgan was not placed on AF the evening she was abducted. The spot chosen was one that would be hard to see from the homes and other buildings in the area. Whoever placed her there probably used a vehicle that could conceal the body. There is a trail under the trees adjacent to the big green barn on Red Hill road. This is accessable via a two wheel drive vehicle all the way to where the hill begins its descent to the river/creek bed. A carry of about 300 ft. maximum from the point of vehicle penetration to where the body was placed.
I am so happy to see the lawsuite bought in the name of Morgan’s estate. This keeps it out of a personal suit by the father and mother.
I find myself thinking over and over again how cruel the UVAPD and RMC people have been regarding information about Morgan where they have stonewalled the investigation. I find it very hard to be as kind with words as Blink was in her reply to Peace through Music.
I am counting on the lawsuit to expose some practices that have been chosen by the University and its contractors that leave students and patrons of events unprotected. When it gets exposed, the people will demand corrections. We cannot bring Morgan back, but society can and should demand improvements as a result of this case.
Hey Alexandra… No problem.
I found that skyler post here:
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=6318.msg1038741#msg1038741
Peace through music says;
(Reminds me of all the idiots in the amanda knox case imsisting on her guilt when there wasn’t a modicum of evidence or even a remotely plausible motive… don’t even get me started.)
thank you Peace through Music then i am such an idiot!!! I don’t believe in AK ‘s innocence and i think i have the right to a own opinion wich is based on the informations that i red until now. I don’t say you are an idiot because you think otherwise.
I think such statements reduce the level of this page because it is not about who is right and insulting each other it is about VICTIMS and about Searching the Truth
peace through music was referring to some clearly nefarious posters from another site that are using Morgan’s case, which they could care less about, to troll.
I agree with you that unless one was specifically aware of that activity, “peace’s” post could be offensive to anyone believing in AK innocence, and I am sorry that you were offended. I know you to be a conscientious poster and although we do not agree on the issue of AK, I do not want anyone to feel persecuted for a differing opinion.
B
mary thanks ,your sweet , my oldest sister said, “i would like to remind you. that you got your trixie belden books from me, i was the first sleuth,i said” really ?,it runs in the family?,come join the think tank”. i turned on the tv late night and heard “and the winner is : john grisham” applause ,he takes the podium(i couldnt believe the serendipty) and starts talking harper lee, atticus finch( ohh the finch,in the painting),the old south and race with a panel.it made me feel better anyway , http://www.booktv.org/Program/12832/Harper+Lee+Prize+for+Legal+Fiction+awarded+to+John+Grisham.aspx
diana h. says:
November 1, 2011 at 6:16 pm
“Just a thought, but if it wasn’t unusual for him/them to be there, who would question their presence there at all?”
Thanks for your question. Typically permission to hunt on another’s property would not entail driving their car (even a four-wheel drive) through the farm gates and through the fields, especially on wet grounds. A guest hunter would normally park safely on the shoulder of the road adjacent the land and walk in. Especially on land occupied by the owner. In this instance there is no way a “hunter” could walk in, even with a body wrapped up in a tarp, and not be suspicious. If he used an ATV then it would have been transported on a trailer pulled by his car or truck.
I am not wedded to the idea the assailant used the entrance on Red Hill Road. However, the double farm gate in the fence on Red Hill Road would allow a car and ATV trailer to be well off the road and pretty much out of sight before the ATV was offloaded.
Based on where Morgan was found and the elevations/gates/barb wire and other structures on AF, I believe he used an ATV and shot right down the powerlines off Red Hill.
B
Blink says: I agree with you that unless one was specifically aware of that activity, “peace’s” post could be offensive to anyone believing in AK innocence, and I am sorry that you were offended. I know you to be a conscientious poster and although we do not agree on the issue of AK, I do not want anyone to feel persecuted for a differing opinion.
B
Blink i am relieved to have got it wrong. Thank you Blink for the explanation. Best regards:-)
A large ATV is capable of pulling the trailer that is used to get it to a hunting site. I have seen an ATV pull a 16 ft. double axel trailer with a medium load.
The body could have been concealed in a tarp in an open truck bed or in a van until near the power line right-of-way while pulling a small single axel trailer with wide wheels. The ATV could have been off-loaded, the body transfered to the trailer and the trailer attached to the ATV to move it to its final resting place.
Take a look at some of the trailers used by lawn service companies. Many have a tailgate/ramp made from angle iron and wire mesh that let down to load and unload riding mowers.
Some hunters have a large metal basket attached to the rear of their ATV to transport equipment and game. Such an arrangement would remove the necessity for a trailer. All that would be needed is a pick-up truck with a six foot bed to transport the ATV and a set of folding ramps to load and unload the ATV.
Makes me question if LE ever considered these possibilities.
@Löni: When I said that about the Amanda Knox case I was referring specifically to the people posting judgmental comments on news sites trashing AK’s character, insulting her family and spreading misinformation about the case based on rumors and sloppy reporting. That’s who I meant by “idiots”–I guess I could have made that more clear. I didn’t mean to offend anyone (although I would encourage you to look more closely at the evidence in the AK case and especially at the head judge/prosecutor, who has a history of professional misconduct and false accusations). It’s just that the tone of those AK comments was so similar to the tone of recent comments on other sites regarding Morgan’s case.
(Thanks Blink for explaining, too.)
This may have already been covered, but what company is used for garbage/recycle pickup at AF (if anyone other than DB)? What company services their septic system? Who works within the Department of Historic Resources, State Historic Preservation Office, within or associated with Dalgliesh, Eichrnan, Gilpin & Paxton, P.C. who helped prepared the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM for DB in 2000 (and or helped with the survey), the AC Land and Estate offices and the Department of Interior? The missing link may very well be historic, in another sense.
My team has run down the property in every angle you mention, especially since a principal of the sanitation carrier was arrested and has a criminal background. I have even spent hours pouring over maps dating from 1760 to current aerials and in terms of topography of this property, it is nearly unchanged.
Obviously I am not referring to excavations for the newer home/pool, out-buildings, etc,
I have reviewed the latest surveys of the parcels with a geo spatial analyst as well, I have yet to encounter anyone who does not vehemently agree that the suspect had intimate and first hand knowledge of the land.
Excellent Questions crimewriter
B
“Based on where Morgan was found and the elevations/gates/barb wire and other structures on AF, I believe he used an ATV and shot right down the powerlines off Red Hill.”
B
———————————————————————
I have thought this too. This makes even more sense when you see it in person…
Right, under a new moon especially. No hunting cameras trained on that area, nobody to see under the cover of the thick woods on both sides. Straight shot.
B
was there supposed to be a Part II for this post?
Likely next week, unless anything major in a few current cases.
B
J.me and Blink – Where off Red Hill are those power-lines? I cna’t see them with Google Earth. I see them running south from Chopin through the fields, but not off red Hill.
2 4 1