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

[kikid]

Two-Car Theory:

Amy (Morgan's roommate at Blacksburg) and Morgan drove up to JMU in Harrisonburg. There, they met up with her old friend, Sarah, and the Guy. Let's say that the Guy drove his own car.

Car #1 (Morgan's Honda) has Sarah, Amy & Morgan; Car #2 has the guy. Or Morgan may have preferred to ride in the Guy's car; in this case, someone else was the third person in Car #1. We can call this person Companion #5. Additionally, we cannot yet rule out other companions in Car #2.

Plus, we only know that Sarah was in Car #1; Amy might have been Car #2. Sarah left later on that evening in Car #1, with one of the companions.

Say the Guy was Morgan's BF. If he were to leave for some reason, she would be motivated to leave early, too. Maybe she had locked her stuff in the trunk of his car, only to come out and find both him and the car missing.

She borrows a cell to call the other girls, and the BF. He says that he will pick her up on the bridge.

This theory is simpler than the Borrowed Car theory, but still has major flaws.

This theory is a good one, If there were more than 5 people going. The need to take the 2nd car would have been either because a) too many people were going to fit into MH's car b) At least one of the people going to the concert had different plans AFTER the concert or c) Someone was late arriving and they were going to MEETUP at JPJ arena.

The need to lie about a 2nd car could be because of possible evidence in the 2nd car??? or to protect someone??

 

[newshound6]

My theory is the one nobody likes:MH and her friends got wasted on something or a combination of things MH went to the bathroom alone for no real reason maybe she fell, maybe she asked that guy in the beer line to buy her beer -who knows -through some confusion she ended up outside bounced around out there trying to get back in etc..was clearly out of it and somewhat hostile and then I don't know what happened .Maybe became a victim of a predatory opportunistic villain or partied too hard some more with some fellow young people and accidentally died. I really don't believe any of the things we have been trying to figure out about the friends,the car,the 6 months ago,the stalker any of that is a factor.The simplest explanation is that a "impaired" young woman got herself into a deadly situation and alot of it just isn't going to make sense.The only bright spot is that if the basketball players or some other group of young people are involved somebody will crack and reveal what they know.If it's a real predator we may never find out anything sadly.

 

[MeoW333]

Sorry for the confusion. I was responding to UVA covering thier a$$*$.

The rapist was caught in 2008 after a decade of attacks on and near the campus. (Article: http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/15955547.html

I know that LE says that there were DNA links to the rapes and everyone seemed to believe that this man wa sguilty of all the attacks, but lots of things never set right with me. Early reports said that his DNA was only linked to two cases, but then suddenly it was being reported that the DNA was linked to seven cases. That seemed odd to me. And...the description of the rapist was that he had very large eyes with lots of white. All of the victims spoke about his eyes. I don't find this man's eyes to be unusual as I would have expected them to be.

To my knowledge - there haven't been anymore rapes since this man was convicted so maybe it was him. Of course, I have also heard stories of the university hiding (not reporting) assaults and rapes that happen on campus.

Sorry for the long post and to be OT. This topic really frustrates me.

Thank you for the link, SecretAgentMom, i agree that his eyes look normal in his mugshot, than "unusual". It may be possible that at night in the dark if one opens their eyes wide, then the whites around the eyes would show very much so.
He got 4 life sentences and as part of his plea deal, he must admit to any other rapes he committed without facing additional charges (already has life anyway)..
It probably won't be uncommon if the University was hiding some reports of assaults on campus. Hopefully they aren't; it seems to be a common practice of most colleges..
(the CYA mentality) Thank you for defining, Wadahoot =)

If the territory was home to a predator before, it can happen again..

 

[MeoW333]

This theory is a good one, If there were more than 5 people going. The need to take the 2nd car would have been either because a) too many people were going to fit into MH's car b) At least one of the people going to the concert had different plans AFTER the concert or c) Someone was late arriving and they were going to MEETUP at JPJ arena.

The need to lie about a 2nd car could be because of possible evidence in the 2nd car??? or to protect someone??

Wasn't Morgan's friend Dee (the one who supposedly looks like her) at the concert as well, with others?
I ask as i'm not sure and just want confirmation that another "group" of her friends was there, they'd probably have taken a different vehicle than Morgan and her 3 friends..

 

[x_files]

I need some help from the female members that post here please. Maybe you can help me with this line of thinking. I have seen many posts by females here and elsewhere about Morgan always looking great when it comes to her hair, makeup and clothing. Even in a casual situation when others are dressed down, she’s dressed up. We all know what Morgan was wearing that night, but does anyone know what the other girls were wearing the night of the concert? Was Morgan “dressed to kill” compared to them? If so, it might mean she had plans to be elsewhere that night. Also in the same line of thinking, several women have commented on how important it was to her to always look great in any situation, hence the makeup, cloths, etc. Could a 20 year old girl be so worried or so vain about a cut on her face as to leave the JPJ arena and not want to return because she didn’t want to be seen? There is no reason for my asking other than curiosity, especially when it comes to how the others were dressed that night. It may be I’m just thinking like a guy here and way off base that those things might be important.

A cut on the chin at a metal concert would not be reason enough to leave. It's a metal concert with chicks with tattoos. A cut would be bad-. No metal guy would think less of her but would ask id she is ok.
But it depends how she was. If she very shy or extremely vain.
I think it could have caused an injury and clouded her thinking more like it.

 

[MBLover]

Wasn't Morgan's friend Dee (the one who supposedly looks like her) at the concert as well, with others?
I ask as i'm not sure and just want confirmation that another "group" of her friends was there, they'd probably have taken a different vehicle than Morgan and her 3 friends..

I don't believe that MH and Dee were exactly friends - I believe they had mutual friends in common.

 

[future criminologist]

Morgans purse was discussed in great detail on the Dr. Phil show. I found it on youtube and you might enjoy watching it. Very interesting what Gil had to say about that purse.
YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

question: was the purse found empty? if not, what was found in the purse?

 

[secret_agent_mom]

question: was the purse found empty? if not, what was found in the purse?

When we were searching we were asked to look for items that could have been in the purse - that led me to believe that some items were missing. There has never been a clear report on exactly what was found in the purse - other than a wallet and cell phone (either in the purse or close by, I guess).

Looking for the items in the purse made my friend laugh because as a mom I keep EVERYTHING in my purse. She couldn't believe they didn't give us specifics - in my case it could be anything that we were looking for.

 

[Sue May]

Maybe the guy who thought he spoke to Morgan outside the arena when their cars pulled up together actually spoke to Dee and not Morgan. It does seem that Dee looked very much like Morgan. If so, then as far as we know, there is still no solid evidence of Morgan being there at the concert. Therefore it is possible that something happened to her before the concert.

When I was young I used to go to concerts practically every week or so, heavy metal and rock concerts, and my overall appearance was similar to Morgan's, and there were a lot of girls there who looked identical to me. It was like a uniform. I bet it is the same now. So we can't be sure that any of these sightings was her. I'm sure that LE has more info than us though and does know how reliable these sightings were.

 

[MeoW333]

From what her mom says on the Dr Phil show, it looks like Morgan was looking forward to the concert.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7wOEaTkbC4&NR=1"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]
(Dr Phil link with Morgan's parents above)
For a girl who was looking forward to a concert for 6 months, and so excited to go, it's strange to think someone was able to get her outside somehow, let alone for Morgan to leave the concert by choice, is odd, imo.
I would think that her leaving the concert, something was wrong, she wasn't having a good time, why would a girl who was really looking forward to a concert, leave that concert?!
The purse/pocketbook? was the type like a little bookbag, she could wear it on her back without worrying about having to set it down to dance.. It seems like a lot of planning went into what she was going to wear to the concert, another thing that says that the concert was very important to her, imo.
Did she have a fight with her friends? The only reason i can see for her to leave a concert is that the "company" there with her was not being good company in some way.. even if someone she didn't know was making Morgan nervous, you would think she would feel comfortable enough with her friends to mention it to them, and that if she did want to leave, they would accompany her..

On the Dr Phil show, her mom says that Morgan is the one who called her girlfriends, not the other way around.. i'm not sure which way is true, did her friends call her? Or did she call her friends? After that call there was some texts according to her mom, some texts sounds plural.. an in more than one text, yet we only hear about the call Morgan made to friends, and a text to a young man..

If Morgan called her friends, her friends didn't call her, in the call where Morgan supposedly said that she'd find a way home herself.
They had her car and keys.. it's very unthoughtful that they wouldn't even bring her the keys.

Does anyone have the video link with Sarah Snead speaking in context to Morgan being missing? I'm trying to find that one..

 

[secret_agent_mom]

From what her mom says on the Dr Phil show, it looks like Morgan was looking forward to the concert.
YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.
(Dr Phil link with Morgan's parents above)
For a girl who was looking forward to a concert for 6 months, and so excited to go, it's strange to think someone was able to get her outside somehow, let alone for Morgan to leave the concert by choice, is odd, imo.
I would think that her leaving the concert, something was wrong, she wasn't having a good time, why would a girl who was really looking forward to a concert, leave that concert?!
The purse/pocketbook? was the type like a little bookbag, she could wear it on her back without worrying about having to set it down to dance.. It seems like a lot of planning went into what she was going to wear to the concert, another thing that says that the concert was very important to her, imo.
Did she have a fight with her friends? The only reason i can see for her to leave a concert is that the "company" there with her was not being good company in some way.. even if someone she didn't know was making Morgan nervous, you would think she would feel comfortable enough with her friends to mention it to them, and that if she did want to leave, they would accompany her..

On the Dr Phil show, her mom says that Morgan is the one who called her girlfriends, not the other way around.. i'm not sure which way is true, did her friends call her? Or did she call her friends? After that call there was some texts according to her mom, some texts sounds plural.. an in more than one text, yet we only hear about the call Morgan made to friends, and a text to a young man..

If Morgan called her friends, her friends didn't call her, in the call where Morgan supposedly said that she'd find a way home herself.
They had her car and keys.. it's very unthoughtful that they wouldn't even bring her the keys.

Does anyone have the video link with Sarah Snead speaking in context to Morgan being missing? I'm trying to find that one..

Here's the link: http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/article/new_search_effort_for_morgan_harrington_begins/60473/

I agree with you on all your points. I think the real key in this case lies in why she left the building and what she said to her friends once she was outside. I will NEVER believe that she was one to two hours from home and said "I'll get a ride" and her friends were like "Ok, cool." As you said she was excited about the concert. Since her dad bought the tickets it looks like she even intiated the idea of going...she planned her outfit...had posters of them in her room...listened to their music. I just don't see her leaving before the band came on...not without a really good reason. The fight seems possible to me, too, because girls always do things in groups at that age. I don't understand why she was wandering around alone to the bathroom, to take pics, whatever. Girls always go together...we just do...it's in our nature. Then I come back to the kiss on the cheek before she left...and I get confused again. Why kiss her friend goodbye?

I rambling...sorry. :blushing:

 

[Ghostmaster]

Walker started a good thread that has made us all think regarding Morgan's car and who rode with whom etc. Here is a quote from the Roanoke Times right after this all started by Amy Melvin stating her car was still in the lot after the concert. Along with the link;

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/223121

Amanda Melvin said Harrington's purse and cell phone were found outside the stadium and her car was still in the parking lot. She said Harrington wouldn't abandon her friends there.



And here is the VSP stating that her car was never at the concert.

Her car was still in the lot but there was no trace of Morgan. (UPDATE: Previous news reports of her car being in the parking lot are false. Police corrected the record stating that she road with friends)

Here’s the link;

http://crimesearchersonline.com/ind...w=Morgan-Harrington-is-Missing.html&Itemid=60

If I’m reading your posts correctly Walker, you are going on the assumption that Morgan’s car was in C’ville. But VSP issued a correction pretty early on that it was not. Am I wrong about your thinking her car was driven to JPJ? Also, you mentioned her giving the keys to her 2005 Volvo, but Morgan’s car was Honda.

Link here;

http://crimesearchersonline.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=31&func=view&catid=52&id=36192

Dr. Harrington has maintained, however, that his daughter’s 2006 Honda Civic, along with its keys, remained in Harrisonburg until retrieved Sunday by his daughter’s roommate who drove it back to the family home in Roanoke.

 

[Wes]

If Morgan called her friends, her friends didn't call her, in the call where Morgan supposedly said that she'd find a way home herself.
They had her car and keys.. it's very unthoughtful that they wouldn't even bring her the keys.
.

Like has been said before, they likely wouldn't have brought her the keys if she was in no condition to drive. She didn't drive to UVA in her own car for a reason. Also, they all came to see the concert, so I'm sure they didn't want to miss the concert too, or give up the keys and risk being stranded at the arena.

In hindsight, I'm sure they wish they could go back in time and left with Morgan, but at the time they obviously didn't think anything like this would happen. And I'd be interested in knowing if Morgan even asked for her keys when she talked to the friends after she got stuck outside.

 

[secret_agent_mom]

Walker started a good thread that has made us all think regarding Morgan's car and who rode with whom etc. Here is a quote from the Roanoke Times right after this all started by Amy Melvin stating her car was still in the lot after the concert. Along with the link;

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/223121

Amanda Melvin said Harrington's purse and cell phone were found outside the stadium and her car was still in the parking lot. She said Harrington wouldn't abandon her friends there.

Now here is a quote from Blink on Crime stating that Dr. Harrington was told by one of Morgan’s friends that her car was not driven to JPJ and pointing out that Amy and Sarah, two of her friends, had disappeared from the social networks. Again, with the link;

http://************.com/2009/11/10/morgan-harrington-case-lack-of-leads-frustrates-search-efforts/
And here is the VSP stating that her car was never at the concert.

Her car was still in the lot but there was no trace of Morgan. (UPDATE: Previous news reports of her car being in the parking lot are false. Police corrected the record stating that she road with friends)

Here’s the link;

http://crimesearchersonline.com/ind...w=Morgan-Harrington-is-Missing.html&Itemid=60

If I’m reading your posts correctly Walker, you are going on the assumption that Morgan’s car was in C’ville. But VSP issued a correction pretty early on that it was not. Am I wrong about your thinking her car was driven to JPJ? Also, you mentioned her giving the keys to her 2005 Volvo, but Morgan’s car was Honda.

Link here;

http://crimesearchersonline.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=31&func=view&catid=52&id=36192

Dr. Harrington has maintained, however, that his daughter’s 2006 Honda Civic, along with its keys, remained in Harrisonburg until retrieved Sunday by his daughter’s roommate who drove it back to the family home in Roanoke.

I really can't believe that we are still discussing if her car was in Charlottesville. This just proves how much misinformation there is in this case.

Source: http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2009/10/29/cover-findMorgan-E.aspx

This is a link to the Hook article which states that: "Morgan and Melvin, who share an off-campus apartment in Blacksburg, drove to Harrisonburg, where they picked up Snead and, according to her father, the boyfriend of a friend. According to State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller, the four rode from Harrisonburg to Charlottesville in Morgan's car. Morgan, Geller says, allowed a friend to drive, so she didn't have her car keys with her during the show."

And the comment below the article:
"Hawes Spencer, Hook Editor10/29/2009 10:54:51 AM
@J Hey, this is the Hook editor here. Morgan's dad originally told us that Morgan's car and keys stayed in Harrisonburg. In preparing this cover story, State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller-- asserting a change in info-- told us the contrary scenario we put in this story above. So we spoke again this morning to Dr. Harrington, and he stands by his statement: that Morgan's car was never in Charlottesville. Messages left this morning with Ms. Geller have not been immediately returned, but we'll update as soon as she clarifies...."

 

[Sue May]

When I was young and going to concerts regularly, those ones that I was looking forward to in particular - Simon & Garfunkel, Rush, The Stones, Led Zeppelin etc - I moved hell and high water to get the tickets and once I was there not even wild horses would have dragged me out.

When I saw the Stones at Wembley I had too much to drink before we got there and by the time they came on I was hurling into a sink at the side (it was Wembley football stadium and there were sinks at the side of the playing field). I was about 20, fully made up, the latest gear on, thought I looked the bees knees, but even after I had thrown up (and my make-up smudged) I went straight back to my friends and saw all of the concert. There was no way I would have missed that even though I felt so bad and had 'shamed' myself. In fact, to this day, my friends still very kindly remind me of it.

What I'm trying to say is that if you're so keen on an event that you have waited 6 months for, and you're with your best friends, then there's nothing (much) that would make you run outside before the band came on. Maybe half way through, and you think - 'well, at least I've seen some of them', - but not before they came on.

I agree with newshound6 that probably all the things from her past have nothing to do with what happened that night. It was either a very measured and probably pre-planned decision by her or a very tragic coming together of fate.

Whatever it was, good or bad, I hope she is soon found.

I pray for her every day.

 

[secret_agent_mom]

Like has been said before, they likely wouldn't have brought her the keys if she was in no condition to drive. She didn't drive to UVA in her own car for a reason. Also, they all came to see the concert, so I'm sure they didn't want to miss the concert too, or give up the keys and risk being stranded at the arena.

In hindsight, I'm sure they wish they could go back in time and left with Morgan, but at the time they obviously didn't think anything like this would happen. And I'd be interested in knowing if Morgan even asked for her keys when she talked to the friends after she got stuck outside.

I was outside last night in short sleeves and sweats and it was 40 degrees. I know I would have asked for the keys even if I wasn't in a condition to drive just to try and stay warmer. I can't imagine how cold Morgan must have been!

 

[x_files]

Here's the link: http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/article/new_search_effort_for_morgan_harrington_begins/60473/

I agree with you on all your points. I think the real key in this case lies in why she left the building and what she said to her friends once she was outside. I will NEVER believe that she was one to two hours from home and said "I'll get a ride" and her friends were like "Ok, cool." As you said she was excited about the concert. Since her dad bought the tickets it looks like she even intiated the idea of going...she planned her outfit...had posters of them in her room...listened to their music. I just don't see her leaving before the band came on...not without a really good reason. The fight seems possible to me, too, because girls always do things in groups at that age. I don't understand why she was wandering around alone to the bathroom, to take pics, whatever. Girls always go together...we just do...it's in our nature. Then I come back to the kiss on the cheek before she left...and I get confused again. Why kiss her friend goodbye?

I rambling...sorry. :blushing:

Girls do go in groups esp. close friends, maybe they weren't close friends at all.
People are self-centered in their 20's and probably couldn't imagine anything bad happening but were too self-absorbed no one thought to call her and check on her via text or walk to the doors.
Alcohol must have played a part causes cloudy thinking and bad judgment.
I still am curious why public plea from her friends? or a blog post? nothing? really? no twitter?
I find it rather cold and uncaring.

 

[x_files]

When I was young and going to concerts regularly, those ones that I was looking forward to in particular - Simon & Garfunkel, Rush, The Stones, Led Zeppelin etc - I moved hell and high water to get the tickets and once I was there not even wild horses would have dragged me out.

When I saw the Stones at Wembley I had too much to drink before we got there and by the time they came on I was hurling into a sink at the side (it was Wembley football stadium and there were sinks at the side of the playing field). I was about 20, fully made up, the latest gear on, thought I looked the bees knees, but even after I had thrown up (and my make-up smudged) I went straight back to my friends and saw all of the concert. There was no way I would have missed that even though I felt so bad and had 'shamed' myself. In fact, to this day, my friends still very kindly remind me of it.

What I'm trying to say is that if you're so keen on an event that you have waited 6 months for, and you're with your best friends, then there's nothing (much) that would make you run outside before the band came on. Maybe half way through, and you think - 'well, at least I've seen some of them', - but not before they came on.

I agree with newshound6 that probably all the things from her past have nothing to do with what happened that night. It was either a very measured and probably pre-planned decision by her or a very tragic coming together of fate.

Whatever it was, good or bad, I hope she is soon found.

I pray for her every day.

I agree with your statement.
If you want to see a show you'd go fix your makeup or chin and go back and see the show no matter what!
Who'd willing go sit outside in cold weather with no car or place to go and be all alone?! That's simply nuts.
At 20 we traveled in groups and stayed in groups and we weren't uptight or nerd either. If she was exceptionally wild or on drugs her judgment could be very radically different than common sense though. But, it would have been a pattern.
If it was new behaviour I still think OD, too much drugs or someone dosed her is a strong possibility.

 

[Mountain Mama]

I've gone to the restroom at concerts by myself tons of times. That doesn't really seem odd, imo.

At this point I'm leaning towards maybe she was asked to leave the venue. It would explain why she could not get back in, even though tickets were presumably still available at the box office.

Then she is freezing and has to come up with Plan B. (For me that would mean getting the keys and sitting in the warm car. Then I would lock myself in there.) I was daring as a 20-something. Even hitchhiked a few times. But I think that even I would have been freaked out being alone in that parking lot. Too bad there weren't a cool scene in the lot, like we used to have at the GD shows.

 

[Cardinal47]

question: was the purse found empty? if not, what was found in the purse?

At the very first press conference the detective stressed that Morgan would have no identification. So everything must have been in her purse. Weather it was emptied or intact I have no idea. This first press conference is interesting. Morgans mother talks about Morgan being home for a test on Tuesday. I have always thought that maybe at that time they were still thinking she was with a friend and just hadn't returned for some reason.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM1bUC35iNc"]YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]