Found Deceased VA - Morgan Dana Harrington, 20, Charlottesville, 17 Oct 2009 - #8

[MeoW333]

We think there was a camera bc a poster said LE told them to search for one. So that is hearsay and may not have happened. The person said they gave them the model and he or she looked for it online and found out it was red. Also, the people who saw her before the fall said she was taking pics but could not say if it a camera or phone that was used.

The bathroom info where she was seen crying was again someone posting that info. so Morgan might not have been seen on a security camera and this might only be hearsay. But this person said she looked like someone had hit her and she was crying and up to that point LE had not released that she had gotten hurt from her fall so it makes me believe this sighting was true.

BBM ..this is my opinion:
I would say yes there was a camera; Morgan supposedly cut her chin while taking pics of the band and having a fall. (common enough, especially if your trying to get the angle in the viewfinder and looking through that so your not focused on where your feet are)..
If they were told to look for a red camera, then that is one of Morgan's missing or "lost" items from that night, imo. Same as the battery of the phone seems to be missing..LE releasing she got her from a fall (while taking pics later on)
As for the bathroom sighting, you never know.
If someone had hit her, who would have done that? You'd think she would report a stranger, unless it was one of her friends.. forgive me for making assumptions here..
If the person hadn't seen her get hit, then maybe she didn't get hit, yet the person assumed she did as she was crying and upset as well..? I'm not sure how easy it is to tell the cause of injuries, especially if one got hit, unless they had a black eye..even then.
What we could gather though is since she was crying, she was upset about something. If she was that upset and crying, why didn't her friends accompany her to the bathroom? Why did she leave the arena if she was so upset? Girls that age are going to go to their friends for comfort and support, especially if they are in an arena admidst all strangers. Morgan seems to be doing the opposite, going to the bathroom upset and crying, away from her friends. If that is the case, i would question even more why her friends chose to not accompany her to the bathroom..

 

[secret_agent_mom]

It seems like it would be far from where the purse and sighting #5 were to where the BLP phone is even if it worked.. There seems to be less BLP phones clustered in the area of the arena than other areas..

I think it would be about a tenth of a mile away from where the purse was found. :twocents:

We walked the entire area and it didn't seem far to me and I am old. LOL

 

[mark00]

This picture was taken on October 25th.

I edited the pic with the location of where the purse was found to show you where the box is located. Orange arrow indcates where the box is. P - represents the purse.

The map is here:http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f200/tracynb/For%20Morgan/2009-11-22202000.png

Since we are talking about this area again. I would like to mention that when we were there - there was lots of construction going on. There were big dumpsters and piles of dirt. We even saw a shovel out near one of the smaller piles of dirt.

When a street sign or traffic light is out of service for any reason, the dept. of transportation places a non-transparent covering on it to prevent people from being misled by the thing. That phone should have been completely covered if it was not working. In the picture, the blue light was not covered, and the phone was covered with a clear plastic bag. I wonder if the blue light is illuminated after dark? Do you know? Maybe someone should go over there and take a snapshot during nighttime hours to verify.

 

[secret_agent_mom]

When a street sign or traffic light is out of service for any reason, the dept. of transportation places a non-transparent covering on it to prevent people from being misled by the thing. That phone should have been completely covered if it was not working. In the picture, the blue light was not covered, and the phone was covered with a clear plastic bag. I wonder if the blue light is illuminated after dark? Do you know? Maybe someone should go over there and take a snapshot during nighttime hours to verify.

We were over there at night and took pictures, too. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I got one of that exact area. I can tell you that the blue light was not working. That entire area was VERY dark.

This is a link to the album with all the pics from that night: http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f200/tracynb/Night%20at%20UVA/

Let me know if you have questions about any of the areas. I don't have descriptions for all the pics.

Edited to add: These pics were taken a week after Morgan went missing between 9 and 9:30 at night. We were trying to be there at the same time she would have been. It was about 50 degrees and raining (as you see) and we were freezing! I can't imagine how cold she must have been!

 

[Ghostmaster]

To help with the discussion on Morgan being seen in the bathroom and possible being assaulted or hit by someone; here is a link where the police state that it was nothing more than a minor injury and not an assault.

http://www.readthehook.com/blog/ind...tips-flood-in-but-still-no-morgan-harrington/

 

[mark00]

We were over there at night and took pictures, too. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I got one of that exact area. I can tell you that the blue light was not working. That entire area was VERY dark.

This is a link to the album with all the pics from that night: http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f200/tracynb/Night%20at%20UVA/

Let me know if you have questions about any of the areas. I don't have descriptions for all the pics.

Good sleuthing. It would be good to know for sure whether that blue light works. I am not completely sure, but I don't think those blue lights serve to actually illuminate the area around their locations -- they just serve as a beacon to indicate the position of the phone. By that I mean that the light may be functional even if, as you observed, the area is still very dark.

You know, if the blue light in your pic indeed DOES work, and the phone does not, it is as good as a trap for anyone seeking help. Absolutely incredible. Downright scary.

One question -- are you at all puzzled by the police report indicating that the purse was found on the other side of the bridge, or are you fairly certain that it was, in fact, found near the location on your map?

 

[MeoW333]

We were over there at night and took pictures, too. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I got one of that exact area. I can tell you that the blue light was not working. That entire area was VERY dark.

This is a link to the album with all the pics from that night: http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f200/tracynb/Night at UVA/

Let me know if you have questions about any of the areas. I don't have descriptions for all the pics.

Edited to add: These pics were taken a week after Morgan went missing between 9 and 9:30 at night. We were trying to be there at the same time she would have been. It was about 50 degrees and raining (as you see) and we were freezing! I can't imagine how cold she must have been!

Secret Agent Mom, do you know if they bring in more lighting when they have special events such as concerts to that area? For safety precautions?

For some reason i thought the location from where Morgans purse was found to the broken BLP phone was farther than it really is; looking at a map everything appears farther, it is good to have someone to see firsthand, thank you

 

[secret_agent_mom]

Good sleuthing. It would be good to know for sure whether that blue light works. I am not completely sure, but I don't think those blue lights serve to actually illuminate the area around their locations -- they just serve as a beacon to indicate the position of the phone. By that I mean that the light may be functional even if, as you observed, the area is still very dark.

You know, if the blue light in your pic indeed DOES work, and the phone does not, it is as good as a trap for anyone seeking help. Absolutely incredible. Downright scary.

One question -- are you at all puzzled by the police report indicating that the purse was found on the other side of the bridge, or are you fairly certain that it was, in fact, found near the location on your map?

Thanks for the compliment. I think I am just nosey by nature and needed to see it all for myself. :blushing:

I am very puzzzled by the location of the purse. I found it odd in the beginning when they said it was in the RV lot because I couldn't figure out why anyone would be over there. That was when I decided it must have been either a plant or the abductor forced her over into that area because it was dark and most likely deserted. Now, that there are reports that the purse was found across the street - it makes more sense because I could see her walking that way...maybe.

But - what concerns me more is all the misinformation that seems to come out. Her car was at home, at JMU and at UVA. There were 3, 4 or 5 people in the car. The purse was found here...no wait a minute, it was there. She was smoking, had an injury, no - she went to the restroom...but she kissed her friend good-bye first. She was with one guy, no, 4 guys, no, 3 basketball players, no, she was hitch hiking alone.

It is all so crazy to me. I feel like I know what was going on and then suddenly I have no clue again.

 

[Cardinal47]

Hi all. I am in Blacksburg for the next week. Today I went to the VT/NC State game. At least twice during the game they put up Morgan's pic and info on the scoreboard video screen. Both times it got real quiet in the stadium, I know people noticed.

Sitting directly behind me was a pair of men who began discussing the case. One said he is LE from Roanoke. The other man wasn't all that familiar with the case and the LE guy was telling him about it. He didn't really say anything that we don't already know... except one weird thing twice he referred to her found belongings as "wallet and cellphone" rather than "purse" or "pocketbook". I just chalked this up to being a man and mispeaking. The other thing that was interesting is he said that LE has found NO video footage showing her in, around, outside etc the venue or anyplace else... all they have is eyewitness accounts. According to him, she never shows up on any camera anyplace that LE has looked.

I know at various points we've speculated that there could be video footage of Morgan that has not been released. He said he has a mutual friend with the Harrington family so he's been following it but there's just not much there for LE to go on. He said its "like she just disappeared".

That kind of validates those that say she never even was at the concert. I always suspected her journey ended when she made that phone call to her father to say she had arrived safely in town. I think the friends traveled on alone. Perhaps in her car.

 

[MeoW333]

Contradictory info has been presented about Morgan's party; how many people, how many cars, and how many tickets that her father paid for. However, at this point in time, we have reports that at least two female companions, and at least one male companion were present that night.

Link: http://www.readthehook.com/blog/ind...fore-hitching-morgan-harrington-caused-worry/

Quote: "A male who traveled to the concert with the three women from Harrisonburg has never been publicly identified, and while police and the Harrington family have declined to name him, he is not considered a suspect, says Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller, who said on November 13 that Morgan had her thumb out to hitch a ride."

However, one of the girls offered a seemingly contradictory statement.

Link: http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state...ch_effort_for_morgan_harrington_begins/60473/

Quote: "From Scott Leamon, in the field
WSLS Reporter
[email protected]

...

I also spoke with current JMU student, Northside High School graduate, and close friend of Morgan Harrington, Sarah Snead. Snead told me she was one of the three people in Morgan’s car on the way to the Metallica concert, and one of the two people in the car on the way back from the concert to JMU."

However, earlier the possibility that Morgan's party arrived in two cars at the concert was mentioned. Two cars could account for this discrepancy.

If this reporter really did speak with Snead, she appears to have lied to him for some reason..

"Another discrepancy between what police and the family seem to know revolves around the vehicle that transported the young woman and three other concert-goers to Charlottesville."
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/ind...tips-flood-in-but-still-no-morgan-harrington/

What would be reasons that Snead might lie about the number of people being 3, when it was really 4? :waitasec:

 

[secret_agent_mom]

Secret Agent Mom, do you know if they bring in more lighting when they have special events such as concerts to that area? For safety precautions?

For some reason i thought the location from where Morgans purse was found to the broken BLP phone was farther than it really is; looking at a map everything appears farther, it is good to have someone to see firsthand, thank you

Lights are not brought in for special events, but I was told by a concert goer that the lights were on in the Soccer Stadium (which would be between the RV lot and the arena). I still don't think that would have lit up the bridge or RV lot very much though.

I am terrible with maps and that is exactly why I went myself to drive and walk the area. I am such a visual person. I needed to see it.

 

[MeoW333]

What reinforces my belief that Morgan wasn’t taken against her will are several things. Of course it just my opinion but I see nothing in what little we know to change my way of thinking. And you have to remember we only know for certain what I covered above. But here it is;

At the first press conference LE said they were not certain that there was a crime and asked for the public’s help in coming forward. Predators like to hunt on familiar ground. If someone had been stalking Morgan at VA TECH they would have grabbed her there, not three hours away. OK, you say, so maybe someone grabbed her locally. This is a ridiculous argument. UVA is a college town. There are people everywhere and more so on a week-end with a concert. I have friends that went to see Jimmy Buffet last week-end at JPJ. They said the entire parking lot and lots across the street were lit up like the mid day sun. That the parking lot was full of vendors selling t-shirts and everything else. Before they went in and after they came out to a lesser degree but still plenty of action. Friends joined them late and commented on the fact that it was a party in the parking lot and Buffet was just taking the stage, so a lot of folks never went in. So if people were everywhere last week-end, no doubt at the show Morgan saw it was the same way. I remember reading in an article early on that the college had put large lights like those used for football games in the lot where she supposed lost her purse. It was very well lit. All of this plus the fact that UVA has over 200 “blue light phones” across the campus and the area make me think that a perp was not going to risk grabbing someone, especially on a concert night. A blue phone is a phone attached to a pole that flashes a blue light when activated and links to the college’s police department. I think there is one on the bridge where she was seen. Morgan would have known what blue phones are because VT has them as well. Add to that the fact there was no worries about a serial killer or rapist in C’ville because there had been no incidents. It’s crazy to think someone would grab a girl on that night of all nights with all the activity. It’s this kind of rational that makes me think she was comfortable with what went down in the beginning and later turned bad.
My friend who went to JPJ last week-end said there were cameras everywhere. Many hidden from public view. Inside and out. That there was no way they couldn’t have shots of Morgan. He is former FBI, so I know his slant on that is solid. Also, I think LE took the camera and the friends cameras as well. There is something on film, either what she had on or someone in the background that LE wants not to get out.
http://www.strikeind.com/images/codeblue1.jpg

Ghost and SecretAgentMom, can you guys help explain to me which parking areas are lit up well where Morgan was, and which ones weren't?
There seems to be a lot of different parking areas.. Ghost, do you know for sure or have a link that they brought in the huge lights to a specific area for extra lighting?
Sorry to add confusion, i am trying to unconfuse myself as to the parking lots.
Does the arena always use the same parking lot for venders, and which parking lot do they use?
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help with these questions..

 

[secret_agent_mom]

Ghost and SecretAgentMom, can you guys help explain to me which parking areas are lit up well where Morgan was, and which ones weren't?
There seems to be a lot of different parking areas.. Ghost, do you know for sure or have a link that they brought in the huge lights to a specific area for extra lighting?
Sorry to add confusion, i am trying to unconfuse myself as to the parking lots.
Does the arena always use the same parking lot for venders, and which parking lot do they use?
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help with these questions..

The only events I have personally been to at the arena at night are basketball games. I never felt that the parking lots were lit up like daylight. I would say that they were as well-lit as most mall parking lots as an example of the lighting. I did not see additional lighting as these events.

In the pic below you can see the soccer field to the right of the track - if those lights were on it would have lit up the parking lot where the purse was found some more - but not a great deal. IMO

I am not sure about where the vendors park. They are usually just wandering around on foot selling their wares. I have never seen their vehicles.

 

[mark00]

Thanks for the compliment. I think I am just nosey by nature and needed to see it all for myself. :blushing:

I am very puzzzled by the location of the purse. I found it odd in the beginning when they said it was in the RV lot because I couldn't figure out why anyone would be over there. That was when I decided it must have been either a plant or the abductor forced her over into that area because it was dark and most likely deserted. Now, that there are reports that the purse was found across the street - it makes more sense because I could see her walking that way...maybe.

But - what concerns me more is all the misinformation that seems to come out. Her car was at home, at JMU and at UVA. There were 3, 4 or 5 people in the car. The purse was found here...no wait a minute, it was there. She was smoking, had an injury, no - she went to the restroom...but she kissed her friend good-bye first. She was with one guy, no, 4 guys, no, 3 basketball players, no, she was hitch hiking alone.

It is all so crazy to me. I feel like I know what was going on and then suddenly I have no clue again.

There is so much confusing information. We've all just been stymied and we're pretty much going around in circles. I think those who have pointed out that some things need to be put to the public in a certain way, are right. How else could LE verify the accuracy of people's statements. But I also think that there is probably also equal amounts of CYA on the part of the university, and utter incompetence on the part of LE. JMHO.

 

[KAE]

Ghost and SecretAgentMom, can you guys help explain to me which parking areas are lit up well where Morgan was, and which ones weren't?
There seems to be a lot of different parking areas.. Ghost, do you know for sure or have a link that they brought in the huge lights to a specific area for extra lighting?
Sorry to add confusion, i am trying to unconfuse myself as to the parking lots.
Does the arena always use the same parking lot for venders, and which parking lot do they use?
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help with these questions..

This is a streetview from Google Maps. The RV lot is on the left and you can see one of the moble light units on the right.

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=...y5m2TiPwSKUXhuEmFuELoA&cbp=12,257.24,,0,-3.82

 

[secret_agent_mom]

There is so much confusing information. We've all just been stymied and we're pretty much going around in circles. I think those who have pointed out that some things need to be put to the public in a certain way, are right. How else could LE verify the accuracy of people's statements. But I also think that there is probably also equal amounts of CYA on the part of the university, and utter incompetence on the part of LE. JMHO.

Don't even get me started on the CYA!!!! I will climb up on my giant soapbox and rant and rave for days! I have witnessed this before when the serial rapist was attacking young women and I believe the CYA is happening all over again. It infuriates me!! When were on campus a week after Morgan went missing it was dark and we saw many many young women all over the campus walking alone in desolate areas. I was shocked to say the least. My fear is that the CYA is causing this not to be investigated as it should be and that Morgan will never be found.

 

[Ghostmaster]

Here is one of the links regarding the lights in the parking lot. I’m sure I read somewhere that VSP spokesperson Geller confirmed there were lights there that night but can’t find that link right now. You could probably find this clip on line to confirm this. The quote below is from another forum called “In Session”. It is post number 607 by a user called n/t. My friends said last week-ends Jimmy Buffet concert was lit up everywhere.

FWIW....a reporter on HLN with Mike Galanos said that the RV parking lot had lighting. One of those special lights they usually place during events like concerts. I'm guessing like (what I call) spot lights that we see at football or baseball games at night. She said it wouldn't have been dark. Not sure what information can be gathered from that but she said it was confirmed by LE.

And here is the link;
http://boards.insessiontrials.com/showthread.php?t=359660&page=16

 

[secret_agent_mom]

This is a streetview from Google Maps. The RV lot is on the left and you can see one of the moble light units on the right.

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=...y5m2TiPwSKUXhuEmFuELoA&cbp=12,257.24,,0,-3.82

I am not sure when this picture was taken, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that there were not any mobile light units anywhere in that area on October 24th or 25th when we were there.

 

[secret_agent_mom]

Here is one of the links regarding the lights in the parking lot. I’m sure I read somewhere that VSP spokesperson Geller confirmed there were lights there that night but can’t find that link right now. You could probably find this clip on line to confirm this. The quote below is from another forum called “In Session”. It is post number 607 by a user called n/t. My friends said last week-ends Jimmy Buffet concert was lit up everywhere.

FWIW....a reporter on HLN with Mike Galanos said that the RV parking lot had lighting. One of those special lights they usually place during events like concerts. I'm guessing like (what I call) spot lights that we see at football or baseball games at night. She said it wouldn't have been dark. Not sure what information can be gathered from that but she said it was confirmed by LE.

And here is the link;
http://boards.insessiontrials.com/showthread.php?t=359660&page=16

My friend was at the Buffet concert and said it wasn't lit up afterwards. Funny how different people see different things. We are going to the next show (on the 5th) to take pics of what it is like at a show. We might also drive down Friday night - there is a smaller event that night.

 

[Chili Fries]

That kind of validates those that say she never even was at the concert. I always suspected her journey ended when she made that phone call to her father to say she had arrived safely in town. I think the friends traveled on alone. Perhaps in her car.

I disagree. LE is very confident she was at the concert so that's good enough for me. I think the reason she didn't call her parents when she got to the concert was because she was intoxicated. I've been in that situation when I was young. Probably the same reason she didn't drive her car.