Found Deceased VA - Morgan Dana Harrington, 20, Charlottesville, 17 Oct 2009 - #13

[part time prof]

I'd like to ponder this notion of a blitz attack.

respectfully snipped, but thanks for this!

Would there have been a stop sign or two before they hit the open road on Rt. 29?

If he had a gun or knife that could have deterred her from jumping.

OR, was the attack not blitz-style after all, and she felt comfortable until they got out off town. (I'm kind of leaning towards this, as perp probably would not want to cause a scene in a populated area.)

From Copeley Road Bridge, someone picking up MH would in fact be heading the "wrong" way for a quick escape. That direction, Copeley would have a signal light at two intersections before getting onto 250 bypass going East, again the "wrong" direction, from Roanoke, Blacksburg, or AF, though one way to Harrisonburg, if going 29-N to 33-W. Or 3 signals lights (and passing in front of JPJ) to "circle the block" and get back to Ivy Road/250 going west.

That's why I think it was more likely that MH got (or was forced) into a car at Lannigan Field parking lot, where a right turn out would lead to a signal light at Copeley/Ivy intersection, and another right turn would head west out of town. There is definitely one more signal light at Old Ivy Road, and I believe one more at the actual 29-S interchange (which would lead to I-64 as well)...all of this would be a plausible starting route for going to Roanoke, Blacksburg, or one way to Harrisonburg, and also the way to AF.

Or, she was walking and made it to the Copeley/Ivy intersection before a car picked her up going west (but then, what of the purse found location?).

 

[Le Singe]

This link....same one I posted above, is actually quite interesting. It shows that there were numerous arrests at JPJ Arena that night DURING the exact time that Morgan was reportedly wandering around the area in a drunken state. These arrests are listed as DIP which I assume are for Drunk in Public?????? Why, then, were there LE at the arena arresting people for this and none of them had contact with Morgan?

http://www.ucrime.com/va/university+of+virginia

jmoo

just my opinion based on my experience of my wilder younger days you are only going to get arrested for DIP if you are causing other problems chiefly fighting...or possible making a ruckus in a more residential area of campus.

or

Where i live in certain places you are not allowed to be out in the streets with an open container of acohol, the bars won't let you leave with a drink. So maybe it stands for Drinking in public.

 

[Walker]

Sorry..that is not supported again because they could NOT call her, she could apparently not call them....the phone was not working...she made ONE call to her friends and then tried to get back in, she did not/could not call them so there was NO way they could "bring money out to her" for a scalper's ticket

there is again NO way they could "meet her at the gate and give her the keys"...they would need to know which gate, where, and she did NOT call them back

Once I realized from various posts on her family forum that the PHONE BATTERY WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM I was able to grasp that many of the scenarios that people are putting out were just not possible...none of this "meet the friends" stuff would be possible

I was out shopping and saw a woman drop her phone and the battery popped out and skidded across the floor, of course she retrieved it, but that night was crowded , noisy, Morgan was apparently in some "altered" state..and the battery was gone. I don't think the "perp" removed the battery, I think the battery came out when phone dropped...and sadly this may have been one of many factors leading to this tragedy

as far as the "meeting someone">>?> unless it was a drug dealer I don't buy that idea either...Morgan wanted to see Metallica, wanted to see the concert...there is no way she would miss it to meet some mysterious guy...why would she have to do that anyhow?? She was not a child, she lived on HER OWN IN AN APARTMENT>...while close to her family she was not under their thumb, she could meet this "mystery man" that people speak of anytime, anywhere, why would she miss a concert for him?? I don't buy it sorry

While the friends have been close lipped with the media, they have no doubt given LE all they know..which is not much..dragging them in further only complicates their futures (my guess is that the girls were drinking underage and maybe doing some drugs party party)

IF they felt there was some "mystery man" she was meeting they would surely have said by now...and really why would she have to meet someone out there?? She was on her own, had a car, an apartment, she was not some 13 year old dating an older guy or whatever, that just makes no sense to me

Kissing her friends?? Check out any photos on myspace and facebook and photobucket and you tube...kids are demonstrative...especially when "partying"

I think that her going outside was a mistake, went out to smoke mistake, or went to look for more booze or drugs etc....she called the friends....they suggested places for her to try to get in...she tried but SHE DROPPED PHONE LOST BATTERY>...COULD NOT CALL THEM BACK>...
THEY COULD NOT "MEET HER"...COULD NOT"THROW HER THE KEYS"...COULD NOT "GIVE HER MONEY FOR THE SCALPERS"...

and..again....her debit card was overdrawn..so she probably did not have money to buy a scalpers ticket (*if any out there...remember the startup bands were already playing)....the ticket office was closed..and again she HAD NO PHONE

There have been some reports that she went to the pay phone at the convenience store..more proof to me that the phone was NOT working, the battery was dropped....today if one finds a rare antique pay phone it may not be working or may be complicated...plus who even knows many phone numbers anymore?? they are all stored in our cell phones

If one looks at what DH has listed....adds in that her cell phone was defective and prone to losing the battery, add in that she was "impaired", put together the fact she called friends, texted and then no more calls, didn't answer calls, add in that she likely did not have a lot of money, had an overdrawn debit card....

didn't NEED to meet anyone outside and would not have missed the concert willingly...

tried to use a payphone...was angry and frustrated and seemed to be "impaired"....

then I think that she was approached and offered a ride and with the combined situation she made a fatal mistake and accepted that ride...
I would bet the guy was pretty nice looking, seemed harmless, may have known mutual friends, or talked a good game ...

I feel that he may be abuser, rapist/date rapist ....but this night it escalated to murder. I think he felt she was an easy mark, but she fought back and here we are.

I could be wrong about some of this, especially the guy...but I feel that the phone/debit card etc is a logical and valid scenario

Some aspects of this case suggest a crime of passion; others seems to suggest a professional hit.

Since LE has ruled out an accidental death; then something about the body must have suggested that deliberate harm was done to MH. We don't know what this factor was, but (for example) her hands may have been tied.

The body itself suggested that she had died very quickly, according to GH's statement.

http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=1991704080566501&act=post&pid=12032601101785213

Gil Harrington said: "We are happy to have resolution. We are very happy to know that Morgan very likely, as Dan has said, did not live through the time of the concert. She was a long time in that field. I am happy that she was not alive long, enduring unspeakable things." No further details were given to clarify Gil Harrington's statements.

Clothes & jewelry left on body; handbag with valuables apparently tossed away.

Sounds almost like an execution. However, what possible motive could there be?

Could MH have been killed by some unknown Charlie Manson-style cult of crazed eco-terrorists? At least this possibility would explain why there was an ugly hate-Morgan page (not sure, but I think it was on FaceBook). That sort of behavior would be typical of their tactics.

Or perhaps even some other sort of crazy group?

But why would they pick on MH? Could some associate of hers have criticized some of their more violent and ill-considered actions?

Retaliation of some type?

 

[Nouveau]

http://www.nbc29.com/global/story.asp?s=11973045


Not the most in-depth story or anything, but it was just posted.

 

[carbuff]

Thanks for the info! Also i really respect that you take this code so seriously the world would be better if more people took these type of thing more seriously. But reality is, at least from my experience, is that this is saddly not the case. As far as getting explelled etc. people never think they will get caught or that it won't happen to me.

Look that the military acadimies people are regularly caught breaking the honor code and there is even more at stake there than for a UVA student.

Wouldn't people who take that code seriously feel an obligation to turn a lost handbag in to the proper authorities?

 

[rickh]

Some aspects of this case suggest a crime of passion; others seems to suggest a professional hit.

Since LE has ruled out an accidental death; then something about the body must have suggested that deliberate harm was done to MH. We don't know what this factor was, but (for example) her hands may have been tied.

The body itself suggested that she had died very quickly, according to GH's statement.

http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=1991704080566501&act=post&pid=12032601101785213



Clothes & jewelry left on body; handbag with valuables apparently tossed away.

Sounds almost like an execution. However, what possible motive could there be?

Could MH have been killed by some unknown Charlie Manson-style cult of crazed eco-terrorists? At least this possibility would explain why there was an ugly hate-Morgan page (not sure, but I think it was on FaceBook). That sort of behavior would be typical of their tactics.

Or perhaps even some other sort of crazy group?

But why would they pick on MH? Could some associate of hers have criticized some of their more violent and ill-considered actions?

Retaliation of some type?

im with you walker i believe a crime of passion or leaning more toward drug deal gone bad.i am looking for link to annoucement of lawyering up.in my opinion they would be smart to retain council.with high profile of case and likelyhood if LE CATCHES perp or perps.im sure they will be in court.not saying they are guilty of anything but they definetly will weigh heavy in prosecution case.

 

[Nouveau]

Wouldn't people who take that code seriously feel an obligation to turn a lost handbag in to the proper authorities?

Around UVA it's pretty common for girls to leave their purses in their seats, tables, etc without worrying. Most students here just leave the items alone, no questions ask. If there were a lot of cars/people in the lot at the time, I doubt any students would have moved it, just figuring it was the usual UVA student.
I'm sure once the lot was cleared and someone realized no one claimed it, they turned it in.

 

[carbuff]

Around UVA it's pretty common for girls to leave their purses in their seats, tables, etc without worrying. Most students here just leave the items alone, no questions ask. If there were a lot of cars/people in the lot at the time, I doubt any students would have moved it, just figuring it was the usual UVA student.
I'm sure once the lot was cleared and someone realized no one claimed it, they turned it in.

Ah, thanks, that's quite different from around here. People are fairly honest, but they'd turn it in rather than leaving it for someone who's not so honest.

 

[Roselvr]

http://www.nbc29.com/global/story.asp?s=11973045


Not the most in-depth story or anything, but it was just posted.

Grasping at straws?


,

 

[nostoneunturned]

Hopefully they have some leads

 

[LogicalMinds]

I don't think Morgan was targeted...who knew she would be outside there?? apparently her phone/computer show no evidence that she planned to "meet someone"

I don't think this was a "hit"....no one knew that she would be there outside the gate

In the beginning I did think "maybe a married lover?" but...technology would have found traces of him I am certain...emails, texts, phone calls....and again she lived in an apartment, why would she meet him in a parking lot?

I think it is much more likely that she accepted a ride from a "nice" looking , nice talking guy...maybe someone who had a UVA shirt or hat on....who mentioned places she might know "Oh yeah I go there, I am going there tonight etc"..

I really don't think there is some mysterious "ex" or boyfriend (and I have listed detailed reasons for this conclusion)

It is very scary but I really think there is some guy out there who is a murderer, and he might strike again...this may have been his first...it may have been an "escalation" type thing...but he is out there. While "domestic" (related) murders are sad they are not usually as dangerous to the public...those "close" to them are in danger
but here?? I think that the young women in Virginia should be taking extra precautions, super precautions

 

[Walker]

im with you walker i believe a crime of passion or leaning more toward drug deal gone bad.i am looking for link to annoucement of lawyering up.in my opinion they would be smart to retain council.with high profile of case and likelyhood if LE CATCHES perp or perps.im sure they will be in court.not saying they are guilty of anything but they definetly will weigh heavy in prosecution case.

Could have something to do with drugs.

 

[dr dona]

I agree with Logical mind. I think she was offered a ride by a super hot guy that she thought was a student. She thought she would be safe. Offer to go to a party- don't worry I can find you a way home. Than something went horribly wrong. I personally feel the guy in question wanted sex and Morgan refused. I think he struck her and strangled her.
I don't feel Morgan was seriously into drugs but she might take a toke of
pot. She just took a ride with a seriously bad guy. she was an innocent who got taken in by what she thought was a nice guy.
I could have done the same thing in college. I was naive and trusting. Life has since hardened me.
Dr Dona

 

[ThePhantom]

I totally agree with you. I think this was a crime of oppoprtunity. Criminals understand that this type of venue is perfect to find a potential victim - someone who is young, naive and trusting -- possibly a bit high, who needs a ride. This was an ugly, evil deed committed by a wicked, predatory soul. I agree with whoever said the young women of Virginia need to be vigilent. There are too many unsolved murders of young people in the southern/central part of the state.

 

[nostoneunturned]

Being a local, and a UVA student, I can clear a few things up, or at least try to.

First off, if her purse was left in the RV lot by her or the perp:
-UVA has a strict Honor Code of no lying, cheating or stealing
If the lot as being used by students for overflow parking, which it is during events at the JPJ, no student would have taken it. At UVA you will go on trial and possibly get expelled from school, which no one here is willing to do. So a student wouldn't have taken the purse if it was just sitting there. With this being said, I don't find it hard to believe that it could have been left there all night without being touched.

Second, the police situation that night at JPJ
-I pointed out in a much earlier thread about an officer coming to my business (which I work within eyesight of the bridge) asking for any tapes we might have. (even though it was 2 weeks after she was missing).
Being so close to the JPJ, I can confirm that before and after events there are plenty of UVA officers around the arena - directing traffic, making sure everyone is safe, etc. Now DURING the event, there are usually only a few officers around, mostly patrolling parking lots. I even asked the officer that came by my business if this was still the case during this particular event, and he confirmed that there were only about 2 officers on duty DURING the event outside of the arena.
I can say though, from experience, UVA officers are very alert when it comes to events at the JPJ. I feel if someone appeared intoxicated, stumbling, or in danger, they would have noticed if they were around her.

I hope this all helps.

What code of honor would allow someone's purse "to just stay there all night"
what about a sense of responsibility...up holding a code means doing the right thing....the above seems to give the impression that if her purse was laying there other students would just pass it by ..because they wouldn't bother it because it might be considered stealing or something...I hope that isn't what you were saying because if it is the point of having a code is being missed!

 

[wadahoot]

I remember a few times I went and had tickets to concerts (Molly Hatchet,Billy Squire,The police) that I never went inside. Drinking.

OK, I'll give you Molly Hatchet and Billy Squire .... but you MISSED The Police?!?!

:slap:

 

[wadahoot]

Either a nice looking man; older guy that did not look to be a problem or a woman.

I feel Roselvr brought up a good point. It COULD have been a woman that picked her up. I have, numerous times, found a high school or even middle school girl locked out of a school or library and had them get in the car with me. They are afraid, but also realize that a mom-looking person is 99% more likely to be safe than someone else coming along.

I would think this is not as likely, based on Jaycee and Eliz. Smart's situations where a woman help kidnap/hide the girls for their husbands for a long period of time. It seems like a quick grab is less likely, but then look at Karla Homolka.

I do believe we would be remiss to not consider the possibility at all.

 

[Calliope]

<snip>
then I think that she was approached and offered a ride and with the combined situation she made a fatal mistake and accepted that ride...
I would bet the guy was pretty nice looking, seemed harmless, may have known mutual friends, or talked a good game ...

I feel that he may be abuser, rapist/date rapist ....but this night it escalated to murder. I think he felt she was an easy mark, but she fought back and here we are.

I could be wrong about some of this, especially the guy...but I feel that the phone/debit card etc is a logical and valid scenario

Offered a ride where?

Was the battery to the phone ever found?

 

[Calliope]

I feel Roselvr brought up a good point. It COULD have been a woman that picked her up. I have, numerous times, found a high school or even middle school girl locked out of a school or library and had them get in the car with me. They are afraid, but also realize that a mom-looking person is 99% more likely to be safe than someone else coming along.

I would think this is not as likely, based on Jaycee and Eliz. Smart's situations where a woman help kidnap/hide the girls for their husbands for a long period of time. It seems like a quick grab is less likely, but then look at Karla Homolka.

I do believe we would be remiss to not consider the possibility at all.

Man and woman?

 

[clarabelle]

Sorry..that is not supported again because they could NOT call her, she could apparently not call them....the phone was not working...she made ONE call to her friends and then tried to get back in, she did not/could not call them so there was NO way they could "bring money out to her" for a scalper's ticket

there is again NO way they could "meet her at the gate and give her the keys"...they would need to know which gate, where, and she did NOT call them back

Once I realized from various posts on her family forum that the PHONE BATTERY WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM I was able to grasp that many of the scenarios that people are putting out were just not possible...none of this "meet the friends" stuff would be possible

I was out shopping and saw a woman drop her phone and the battery popped out and skidded across the floor, of course she retrieved it, but that night was crowded , noisy, Morgan was apparently in some "altered" state..and the battery was gone. I don't think the "perp" removed the battery, I think the battery came out when phone dropped...and sadly this may have been one of many factors leading to this tragedy

as far as the "meeting someone">>?> unless it was a drug dealer I don't buy that idea either...Morgan wanted to see Metallica, wanted to see the concert...there is no way she would miss it to meet some mysterious guy...why would she have to do that anyhow?? She was not a child, she lived on HER OWN IN AN APARTMENT>...while close to her family she was not under their thumb, she could meet this "mystery man" that people speak of anytime, anywhere, why would she miss a concert for him?? I don't buy it sorry

While the friends have been close lipped with the media, they have no doubt given LE all they know..which is not much..dragging them in further only complicates their futures (my guess is that the girls were drinking underage and maybe doing some drugs party party)

IF they felt there was some "mystery man" she was meeting they would surely have said by now...and really why would she have to meet someone out there?? She was on her own, had a car, an apartment, she was not some 13 year old dating an older guy or whatever, that just makes no sense to me

Kissing her friends?? Check out any photos on myspace and facebook and photobucket and you tube...kids are demonstrative...especially when "partying"

I think that her going outside was a mistake, went out to smoke mistake, or went to look for more booze or drugs etc....she called the friends....they suggested places for her to try to get in...she tried but SHE DROPPED PHONE LOST BATTERY>...COULD NOT CALL THEM BACK>...
THEY COULD NOT "MEET HER"...COULD NOT"THROW HER THE KEYS"...COULD NOT "GIVE HER MONEY FOR THE SCALPERS"...

and..again....her debit card was overdrawn..so she probably did not have money to buy a scalpers ticket (*if any out there...remember the startup bands were already playing)....the ticket office was closed..and again she HAD NO PHONE

There have been some reports that she went to the pay phone at the convenience store..more proof to me that the phone was NOT working, the battery was dropped....today if one finds a rare antique pay phone it may not be working or may be complicated...plus who even knows many phone numbers anymore?? they are all stored in our cell phones

If one looks at what DH has listed....adds in that her cell phone was defective and prone to losing the battery, add in that she was "impaired", put together the fact she called friends, texted and then no more calls, didn't answer calls, add in that she likely did not have a lot of money, had an overdrawn debit card....

didn't NEED to meet anyone outside and would not have missed the concert willingly...

tried to use a payphone...was angry and frustrated and seemed to be "impaired"....

then I think that she was approached and offered a ride and with the combined situation she made a fatal mistake and accepted that ride...
I would bet the guy was pretty nice looking, seemed harmless, may have known mutual friends, or talked a good game ...

I feel that he may be abuser, rapist/date rapist ....but this night it escalated to murder. I think he felt she was an easy mark, but she fought back and here we are.

I could be wrong about some of this, especially the guy...but I feel that the phone/debit card etc is a logical and valid scenario

I agree with you on the phone battery. If it had a history of falling out and Morgan kept dropping her purse then she may have lost the battery without realizing it. Makes much more sense than trying to figure out why someone would remove it from a phone.

I do believe it was Morgan's intention to meet up with someone that night. And at least for the entire night. That's why she didn't take the keys to her car. I think her date was late and that's why she tried to get back inside. I think she called her friend inside to let her know that her plans weren't falling into place. If this were a relationship she chose to keep secret then she wouldn't bring them to her apartment (neighbors talk and possibly to her parents). Her parents kept close tabs on her and paid the rent and she lived with a roommate. Plus there's that mysterious 6 month improvement with her relationship with her parents. Something important made her leave the arena and miss Metallica. JPJ has bathrooms and smoking areas and its pretty hard to get lost and end up outside. Perhaps her friends knew where she was heading locally and the "getting a ride home" meant the next day.

I do think Morgan and her friends were partying that night with drinks and drugs. Cant believe she was slipped a date rape drug. She never could have wandered around the parking areas for that long. She would have passed out.

Since her friends didn't seem overly concerned when she didn't show up to meet her dad the next day I am thinking it is more likely because they knew who she was supposed to be with and she had taken off before. (maybe 6 months ago?) If she felt she needed their help that night she could have borrowed a phone from someone. I am going along with those who commented earlier who replenish and then discuss their kids overdrawn bank accounts. Apparently her card was used that night after she left the arena tho it has not been clarified as to who used it.

I think she left the arena with someone she knew and may have ended up partying with them near Anchorage Farm. Although if she was on ecstacy then everyone would be her best friend. I do not believe it was possible for her body to be left on the farm that night with the difficult terrain and total darkness. I am still unsure about when she might have died or why things suddenly turned bad. Drugs can cause crazy things to happen.

The Harrington's always seemed to be speaking out to someone specific to return Morgan. They must have a strong feeling about someone and maybe LE are trying to connect them to the farm.