Why I don't think the murderer was a student
Honestly, it comes down to where the body was located. When I was a student, I was familiar with the Grounds of course; the Corner which is where most of the shops and bars frequented by students were; the various neighborhoods immediately around campus where students rented apartments/houses; Rugby Road (where the fraternities were.) To a lesser extent, Downtown (which is a long walk) and 29 North, which is where most of the shopping and restaurants are.
There's not much south of town. Even the dorms on the south end of Campus were kind of looked down upon, because it was a long way to main campus and there wasn't much there. I don't see much reason for most students to be heading on 29 S unless they are heading somewhere (like Lynchburg, or VA Tech.)
The police think that the killer knew the area well, and I tend to agree with their reasoning. So I don't think it was a student.
Now, it could have been a townie who later became a student, but most college kids I know want to get away from their parents. I think I knew a few students whose parents lived in town, but not many. Most students came from Northern Virginia, near DC, about 2+ hours away on 29 N.
Why the Killer Might Be a Student
The bracelet which MH was wearing was quite distinctive. Her mother said that it had been hers when she was young. That piece of jewelry must have had great sentimental value to MH. Also, the necklace (described by LE) was a gift from her brother & very expensive. The boots have been described as "distinctive" as well. Seems as if she was trying to impress someone whom she expected to meet up with that night.
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/ind...fore-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/
Quote from above:
With the blonde were four young, white men a conspicuous group, says the witness, because of the direction they were headed: away from the Arena.
In addition to a black miniskirt, tights, and a black shirt, the young blonde was wearing distinctive high-heeled boots, says the witness, a mother of two who spoke on condition of anonymity over concern for getting pulled into the fray.
If she were with these four White guys, then did she separate from them to talk to the BB players, or were they the BB players?
Same link:
According to several sources, members of UVAs mens basketball team were among the last to see Harrington in the grassy, tree-shrouded parking area before she was seen with her thumb out, hitching a ride on the bridge.
It wasnt the last time the Richmond woman saw the young blonde. After she, her husband, and friend parked near U-Hall, she says, she saw the same group of five gathered around a vehicle in the RV Lot, or Lannigan Field overflow parking lot the spot where Morgans purse and phone were found and one of the last places police have officially placed her.
I figured, Theyre going to party before they go into JPJ, says the woman, who estimates the RV Lot sighting as 9:15pm. When she learned about the disappearance on Monday, October 19, she says, she immediately relayed her information to police, who have interviewed her as many as five times in the past three weeks.