Morgan Harrington Murder: FBI, Metallica and Virginia State Police Ask You To Help Them Find Her Killer
Morgan Harrington disappeared from the John Paul Jones arena on October 17, 2009. Morgan’s remains were located and recovered the morning of January 26, 2010 on the Anchorage Farm in Charlottesville, VA.
Reported exclusively on www.blinkoncrime.com, Morgan’s alleged attacker was tied via DNA to a sexual assault in Fairfax, VA in September 2005.
With the help of a multi media campaign, the FBI, Virginia State Police and Fairfax Police are asking for the publics help to catch her killer.
Revised Sketch of Harrington Suspect
Metallica offered this public service announcement:
Metallica Statement On Harrington Case
FBI Press Release:
Authorities Launch Multimedia Campaign in Morgan Harrington Murder Case
Murder Suspect Linked by DNA to Sexual Assault in Fairfax City, Virginia
| FBI Washington June 13, 2012 |
Today, federal, state, and local law enforcement launched a multimedia campaign that includes two enhanced composite sketches of a suspect in the 2009 murder of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington. The unknown murder suspect is also connected by DNA to a 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax City, Virginia.
Authorities recently enhanced the composite sketch created in 2005 from a description by the sexual assault victim. One of the composites shows the suspect with facial hair, as the suspect was described at the time of the attack. The second composite sketch features him without facial hair.
The two attacks were connected through DNA after a forensic profile was submitted by the Virginia Department of Forensic Science to the FBI’s national DNA database. The search found that the suspect in the Harrington murder investigation matched the DNA profile of the attacker in Fairfax City.
The multimedia campaign includes a public service announcement by Metallica lead guitarist James Hetfield appealing to the public to come forward with information concerning the Morgan Harrington investigation. The composite sketches of the suspect are being featured on bus shelters in Washington, D.C., as well as on digital billboards in Richmond, Virginia; Roanoke, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and in 23 other states along the East Coast. Social media outreach and alerts via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, along with a website dedicated to the Harrington case were also launched Wednesday. Podcasts are now available on iTunes, and radio spots are airing to further raise awareness of the ongoing investigation. The multi-pronged effort is designed to develop new leads and renew the public’s attention in the attacks. The campaign implements techniques similar to those that have led to the arrests of the East Coast Rapist as well as Ten Most Wanted fugitive James “Whitey” Bulger.
The Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Morgan Harrington’s murder. In addition, the band Metallica is adding $50,000 to the reward, for a total of $150,000.
Morgan Harrington Murder
On the evening of Saturday, October 17, 2009, Harrington attended a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena on the University of Virginia (UVA) campus in Charlottesville, Va. At approximately 8:30 p.m., she left the arena and was unable to re-enter the facility. She was last seen hitchhiking for a ride from passing traffic.
Harrington was dressed that night in a black T-shirt with the word “Pantera” spelled out in tan letters and was wearing a distinctive Swarovski crystal necklace made of large crystal chain links, which investigators have yet to recover. Harrington’s “Pantera” T-shirt was found on November 11, 2009, in front of a row of apartments along 15th Street, NW near Grady Avenue in Charlottesville. Harrington’s skeletal remains were later discovered on January 26, 2010, in a remote field on an Albemarle County, Virginia farm along Route 29. A camera that Harrington had in her possession that night has never been recovered.
Sexual Assault in Fairfax City, Virginia
On the evening of Saturday, September 24, 2005, a 26-year-old victim was walking home from the Giant Food Store located on the 3700 block of Jermantown Road in Fairfax City, Virginia. The suspect grabbed the victim from behind as she walked down Rock Garden Drive toward her residence. He then carried the victim to a grassy area behind a maintenance shed, where he sexually assaulted her. The suspect was last seen running from the area.
The suspect is described as an African-American male with black hair and facial hair at the time of the attack. He is approximately 6’0” tall and was believed to be between the ages of 25 and 35 years old at the time of the attack.
The public is asked to review this information and consider whether they know someone who generally fits this description, who lived or had ties to the area around the times of the assaults, or who may have been known to spend considerable amounts of time in those areas.
People who know the suspect may not believe that he is capable of committing these crimes. He may not necessarily have a violent criminal history. Because investigators are in possession of DNA evidence that can either positively link the suspect to his crimes or exclude innocent parties, citizens should not hesitate to provide information, even if it is just the name of a potential suspect.
The following agencies are cooperating in the investigation of these crimes: the Virginia State Police, City of Fairfax Police, University of Virginia Police, Charlottesville Police, Albemarle County Police, Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Virginia Tech Police Department, George Mason Police Department, and the FBI.
Law enforcement agencies are asking anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Virginia State Police Tip line at 434-352-3467.
Press Contacts:
Virginia State Police
(804) 263-5547
City of Fairfax Police Department
(703) 273-2889
FBI Richmond Field Office
(804) 261-1044
FBI Washington Field Office
(202) 278-3519
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Thank you Tango for bringing that story.
The statement about someone(s) may have been with Morgan before she encountered Sketch keeps surfacing.
Hopefully, familial DNA can help solve Morgan’s case , too (and a lot quicker than this one!):
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/11/19416080-dna-links-confessed-boston-strangler-to-final-victim-authorities-say?lite
Hey alexandra, you’re welcome! Hopefully soon we’ll all be posting links about an arrest.
Question:
There are those who think Morgan was with others, people who did not harm her, and they are afraid to come forward? Could they be thinking about Morgan possibly being on The Lawn at 3am?
If you are asking me, I do not believe that. I believe Morgan was abducted from the lot, as was Sketch’s MO. I believe Morgan was abducted at the time the power left the battery.
B
Been a long time since I posted…still visit and read
I still think about Morgan a lot. Still can’t believe her killer remains free. I pray there will be an break in this case some day, but sadly, I doubt it.
Been reading alot about the lityle girl found in a tarp on the street, Alanna Gallagher. Bless that angel’s soul. Under another topic, Blink stated that LE knows who did it. Hope this wasn’t another case of the parents being the ones who did it and hoping that LE actually catches this one…
God’s blessings to all
You’re probably right, Blink. Morgan wouldn’t have left without her cell phone.
Still reading, still hoping for justice.
-A
Is this case really dormant? Is the civil case the reason for nothing new being reported? Is LE out of options to this point? I really can’t believe that in 3 months it’s going to be 4 years since Morgan’s senseless murder and it seems that LE isn’t any closer to solving this case than they were in the beginning of 2010. Something to this point has to change on their part bc it’s evident that their point of attack isn’t working. If it wasn’t for the Harrington’s and the HSTNG campaign there would be no publicity on Morgan’s case anymore. I wonder why that is?
“I believe Morgan was abducted from the lot, as was Sketch’s MO…”
——
I agree, the “hunt” and “forceful suppression” is a lot of thrill for these types, so much so, they rarely escalate without these psychological catalysts. Morgan getting into HIS vehicle voluntarily, by happenstance, would eliminate these facilitators and would have deviated significantly (too much IMO) from his previous MO.
This has always made me wonder, though, how, if he was alone, would he have accomplished such a feat. He would have had to quickly subdue her, with some type of force to keep her relatively quiet, perhaps using some of the shady brush surrounding the lot as a cover. I assume she never knew what hit her and he had her under control before she could scream or put up any kind of resistance. Some type of concealed vehicle was used to remove her from the scene, or was used at that specific point to complete his act. Purse/phone either dropped at the time of contact, or thrown away when he left. A “trained” or “conditioned” individual can accomplish these tasks in a VERY short period of time, which is faily signifigant IMO.
Agreed, I would only add that I believe the purse/phone dropping and the purse being returned are 2 separate incidents- of that I am fairly certain. Additionally, this offender engaged the Fairfax victim outside of the grocery store, and imo, offered that victim a ride of some kind. It is my personal belief this offender interacted with Morgan to assess his risk, gain her trust and then ambushed her. That is absolutely a hallmark of a sexual sadist, among other characteristics as they relate to her assault and murder.
I believe that is the offender we are looking for and unfortunately as has already been proven, very, very difficult to apprehend.
B
I believe that is the offender we are looking for and unfortunately as has already been proven, very, very difficult to apprehend.
B
I think this is because he is hiding in plain sight.
I respectfully disagree that is the reason he is very difficult to apprehend, but I do agree with you that he is not “in hiding” in anyway in a traditional sense.
B
Still waiting for justice for Morgan. This is taking way too long.241
Happy belated birthday, Morgan. Not looking away, not giving up.
2 4 1
If Sketch ambushed her as in the previous attack in Fairfax, there’s a perfect spot to drag someone at either end of Copeley Bridge to/through a wooded area along a path to an isolated parking lot behind the Dragon Lady and Foods of All Nations. On a rainy night they would have been all but invisible, especially to people in the concert lots by JPJ arena and U Hall. He could have knocked her out immediately to keep her from screaming. He could have parked in those back lots and simply waited in the woods beside the bridge until a woman came by.
Here’s a link to the map. You can get a 3-D photo image of the area.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en
I thought some of you might be interested in Dr. James Fallon’s work on the neuroscience of violent behavior. Want to know what the brain of a serial killer looks like? This is really fascinating and a quick read.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127888976
http://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/175613089/what-does-the-mind-of-a-killer-look-like
Is it possible that search dogs could pick up on the perpetrator’s scent once it had been commingled with Morgan’s if they can even distinguish between scents? I keep thinking about that rumored scent that the dogs caught at the Amtrak station. The Northeast via DC/NOVA train to Cville arrives in Cville at 8:47 pm. If the perp had been on that train, he could have gotten off, into his vehicle, and in a position to abduct Morgan in plenty of time. If this guy has been a commuter, then this could be a possibility. Perhaps he was studying at a medical school in the DC area and was interning/ doing residency at UVa Hospital or vice versa.
I think that the Amtrak rumor was quashed but if it was his, then that’s another issue entirely.
unfortunately, no.
B
Thinking of you today dear Morgan and hoping your murderer will soon be apprehended.
As always, my thoughts and prayers to Dr. and Mrs. Harrington and Alex.
We’ll never, ever forget your special girl!!
We’re still here, even though some of us are quiet.
How could we not be……..
what’s the latest on the civil trial?
still struggling to understand why LE hasn’t been more aggressive with this case.
The charlottesville court does not seem to update the online court docket, so it is impossible to track the case electronically.
The case won’t be solved until they get a dna link to someone — whether familial or from him when he re-offends. It was a stranger abduction with no witnesses.
It is sad that this case has not been solved.
As for Sketch, we have generated a MO based on parts of two crimes.
In the Fairfax incident, we know how things started. The attack was apparently interrupted and we don’t know how it would have otherwise ended. Would he have killed his victim? Would he have left her where he attacked her? or would he have taken her somewhere else like an old farm?
In the Charlottesville case, we know how it ended, MH’s body dumped in a field, but we have little if any evidence or how it started.
If we assume his MO hasn’t varied, then if MH was forcibly abducted outside the arena, it is likely that she was attacked and killed near the arena also. Sketch seems to be motivated by rage/anger, and it is unlikely that he would attack, then calm down to drive her somewhere else, then attack again. It is possible, however, that he could trick MH into entering his car voluntarily, and launch his attack somewhere else.
Unfortunately, I believe there are other victims out there.
It is possible he offered a ride to the Fairfax victim also. Perhaps she declined and then he later assaulted her when she came to a more secluded spot. If she had accepted, he may have taken her somewhere to assault. What I am saying is, we don’t really know his MO beyond being a violent rapist from the limited info we have on the Fairfax case. I bet he has offended elsewhere also — but it easily could be oversees in the military. If he is military and was killed overseas, the case will probably never solve.
Agreed.
B
Doesn’t the military have everyone’s DNA? They have to. They are all given mandatory vaccines. right?
It does not interface with CODIS without a warrant attached to a specific suspect.
B
You would think if the military could know if he was one of theirs, they would look to see if he is in their banks. IDK, I’m naïve. I just can’t believe this guy is still out there, a danger to all.
Overwhelmingly- a sexual predator (NOS) that is on a military base will offend on base. I believe there is a recent article about removal of soldiers in all branches.
B
Missing girl/ young woman along 29 corridor:
http://www.blueridgelife.com/2013/08/05/breaking-nelson-search-underway-for-missing-17-year-old/
Per the above link (Alexis Murphy, Nelson Co.) I don’t know if it is protocol for the FBI to be called in for a missing persons case after two days or not, but I have to wonder if they linking this to Morgan’s case. This case is garnering a lot of attention early on and they seem to be using a lot of resources. They are also pretty tight-lipped about certain details.
Another family doesn’t deserve to go through what the Harringtons have. Godspeed to them and I hope that they locate this young woman safe and sound.
It is not unusual for them to be involved this early when the police don’t think it is a runaway. They would have no reason to link it to morgan at this point.
Respectfully disagree redly- unless there is evidence of interstate travel, the FBI must be requested. But in that jurisdiction, it is not unusual for the FBI to be requested.
B
Right, I didn’t mean to intimate that they would get involved without being requested by LE. But it is not unusual for VA police to involve the FBI quickly if they think they have an abduction. The FBI has resources beyond what the state police have and they have a large presence in Virginia.
I have worked with them in VA- they have a large presence in terms of anti-terrorism by proximity to DC, but limited dedication to mp cases.
B
Next question (and this may back up Blink’s assertions and experience): how long was it before FBI teams were called in for Morgan’s case? I know we aren’t talking apples and apples here because of the jurisdictional aspects of these cases, particularly since it was UVa’s jurisdiction in Morgan’s case at the MP stage.
Also, an update in the case indicated that Murphy’s cell phone is no longer operational or pinging and they are dedicating a lot of resources 30 miles north and south of the Liberty gas station, presumably somewhere in the southern Nelson/ northern Amherst county areas, where she was last picked up on security cameras.
Update:
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Missing-Girls-Car-Found-in-Charlottesville-218610961.html?device=phone
They found the car in Charlottesville!
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/nelson-county-sheriffs-office-to-hold-news-conference-about-missing-teen/-/20128466/21340392/-/7f2birz/-/index.html
Rumor is dozens of FBI agents involved in the search, dogs and helicopters. They must have very troubling info.
He FBI was involved almost immediately in morgan’s case. They were referrenced in the first press conference on the Sunday or Monday.
We are talking about different levels of involvement. The FBI was asked to consult on profile, and that was following Morgan’s recovery. Very little input outside of that until last announcement and campaign. They are strictly in assist mode as an asset on taskforce of area-based violent crime- non-specific to Morgan.
http://www.nbc29.com/story/23057973/update-missing-nelson-county-teens-car-found
Interesting comment after this article
Timbow
11 hours ago+5
Share | FlagI think that H&H security Services has security officers that works at Arden Place. Has anyone checked to see if they had someone working there. They most likely did not see anything but it is worth a try. Just saying. They seem to be in the news a lot.
thought i’d check the hook for the an update on Alexis Murphy’s mp case and stumbled on this:
http://www.readthehook.com/109910/exculpatory-evidence-not-admitted-abduction-trial
presuming that coverage is correct, it is past outrageous, and imo, in need of transcript review. If she truly did not hand it over to the defense as exculpatory, it is pure misconduct.
B
Apparently Alexis worked at the consignment store very close to where they found the car — less than half mile away. That can’t be a coincidence. Very strange.
Agreed.
B
Blink,
I wasn’t reading and following your site yet when Morgan went missing. I’ve been doing some catching up and noticed that there seems to be a commonality of the morgan, Alexis, and the 2005 attack in Fairfax. IMO they all seem to involve apartments, specifically club houses or maintenance buildings. Could our guy be maintenance man?
Her grandmother and uncle (Alexis that is) live in the apartments adjacent to the cinemas according to reports- WSET.com
No new information but they are asking for the public’s help. Heartbreaking. A beautiful young lady. I sure do hope they get a break soon.
http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/FBI-Holds-Press-Conference-on-Alexis-Murphy-Investigation-218732731.html
Here is the link to the story Centva referenced. It doesn’t sound similar to Morgan to me.
http://www.wset.com/story/23076250/murphys-family-gives-abc-13-exclusive-details-in-her-disappearance
Here is a link hope it is not a repeat.
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/nelson-county-sheriffs-office-to-hold-news-conference-about-missing-teen/-/20128466/21340392/-/7f2birz/-/index.html
Alexis had 11,000 Twitter followers, more than likely strangers who had, at the very least, a general idea of her routine and whereabouts. She had quite a few “Guy Fans” if you read down and there are some references to drugs, drinking etc. She also appears to have been bothered a lot, people asking for photos, Facebook, etc.
https://twitter.com/RealFolarin_
“I think I need to let these social networks go for awhile.”
“I swear if someone else asks for my Facebook, Ima step out of character”
“Insecure females baffle me. Nobody wants your man. Where’s the trust?”
“people should really hop off me, and mind their own shit.”
“it’s not that people get to me, it’s that I let them, and that has to stop.”
Just a few of the tweets she posted a few days before her disappearance.
Not sure if these will work but here are two twitter pictures the FBI released of her at the gas station. She doesn’t appear to be under duress then. I wish they knew which way she went on 29 after leaving there as the gas station (near the small town she was from) is basically halfway between Lynchburg (where she said she was going) and Cville, where she worked and her g-mother and uncle lived and where her car was found.
On the 11,000 followers — I wonder if the number went up a lot after she went missing or if it was that high before.
http://ow.ly/i/2PqjP
http://ow.ly/i/2Pqml
BTW — the twitter link from cat has some NSFW pictures in the photo section alexis tweeted so you may want to wait until not at work if you want to look at it.
My question is, was she in contact with anyone from work? Kid to Kid is also very near where her car was found. One of the reports I heard or read said that her co-workers were not commenting on whether they had seen or heard from her since Saturday.
I also noticed some of what Cat mentioned about her Tweeting habits and her large following. I hope that all teenagers are not tweeting so openly about their lives! Is this the new normal??
Apparently, her grandma and uncle live in the apartment complex next to the new (and fancier) apartment complex where the dog followed her trail to. The closest one to the Carmike Theater lot is the one her trail led to.
Needless to say, it’s disturbing because she was one the 29 corridor south to north. Morgan’s body was found just off 29 right between where Alexis disappeared and where her car was found.
Correction: ON the 29 corridor
Based on the tone of some of the latter Tweets that she made, I am sure that they are looking closely at her Twitter activity and those followers in addition to colleagues at her job in Cville, classmates, volleyball teammates, and friends/ family. A young, attractive girl with a job and who is very extroverted will stand out in Nelson County (maybe Cville to) and draw the ire of those who are “insecure” as she put it herself. If her disappearance is due to foul play, it appears that jealousy is a likely motive. I don’t rule out a predatory scenario, of course, but based on the location of the vehicle and its proximity to her family in Cville, it seems that her presumed abductors are connected to her if only by a couple of degrees of separation.
FBI searches home near Lovingston for Murphy’s cell phone:
http://www.wset.com/story/23085986/new-surveillance-pictures-of-alexis-murphy-fbi-searches-home-for-cellphone
Here is a link to a bunch of videos she put online. With her looks and social media exposure, you do have to consider she may have had a stalker.
http://seenive.com/u/939548985587286016
CentVA Native Away says:
August 8, 2013 at 9:29 pm
FBI searches home near Lovingston for Murphy’s cell phone:
http://www.wset.com/story/23085986/new-surveillance-pictures-of-alexis-murphy-fbi-searches-home-for-cellphone
————————-
I assume her final cell phone pings were located around that area and that is why they are checking that specific area. There seems to be some indication that she was no longer living with her mother, but her aunt, I wonder if there was a recent fallout with her mother, as she makes some references to it in her tweets. Also, it appears she had a recent “X” and that the relationship ended recently.
Interesting too, one of her last tweets was, “If you don’t like what you see, don’t look.” at 3:40 PM, is there any indication when the gas station pics were taken? Wonder if someone may have been giving her some unwanted attention…
The photos at Liberty gas station in Lovingston were taken around 7:15 p.m.
Yep Redly and it’s scary cause there’s a thousand or more just like her. I had to chuckle while looking at tweets and twitter profiles yesterday imagining Mom3.0 trying to decipher that! Many of the girls I saw (guys too) had tens of thousands of followers. I really had no idea — (I have 30 followers). They’re not kidding when they call it the “twitter verse”. Still, I feel like this is gonna turn out to be somebody she knows…she wouldn’t be the first teenager to say she’s going somewhere but really going somewhere else…might even be family related with the car being so close to her grandmother’s. I’m happy to see HSTNG taking an active role helping this girl”s family.