Found Deceased VA - Morgan Dana Harrington, 20, Charlottesville, 17 Oct 2009 - #9

[MBLover]

Can someone who knows the area comment as to whether this possible sighting in Orange would have been "on her way home", or possibly "on the way" from the arena to another destination (airport, big city, train station, etc?)

I'm not from that area but I can tell you that Orange Co is a lot further away from Roanoke than C'ville.

 

[part time prof]

Can someone who knows the area comment as to whether this possible sighting in Orange would have been "on her way home", or possibly "on the way" from the arena to another destination (airport, big city, train station, etc?)

Orange, VA is north and east from Charlottesville, in the opposite direction from Roanoke (parents) or Blacksburg (VA tech) and only on the way to Harrisonburg (JMU) if one is starting from the east edge of Charlottesville (near where 250 and 64 cross, about 5 plus miles from JPJ Arena).

The train tracks do lead right there, but again, would be in the "wrong" direction, so unless MH was wandering/hitchhiking in a very out of it way, it doesn't seem likely.

The next stop for Metallica et al was south, in Charlotte, so probably not that.

Culpeper, Manassas, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston are north from there.

There was a report of an unofficial (non LE) scent dog picking up a trace at the restaurant at the Amtrak station, so I keep thinking if the Orange sighting is real, that she may have been dropped at Charlottesville Amtrak unharmed then wandered through the night or somehow made it to Orange hoping to catch the next train (not knowing Amtrak doesn't stop there anymore). Would suggest running away, though, or head injury/amnesia, I think, that she was seen alone and apparently not in distress...if seen at all!

 

[Mountain Mama]

Orange, Va is in an out-of-the-way area. But it is not too far from Route 29 which is the main throughfare between Charlottesville and Northern VA/Washington DC. Route 29 has numerous attempted abductions, disappearances and murders occur along the stretch near the Culpeper/Orange area. Most women from VA. are aware of this fact.

On a previous subject: IMO it does matter what occured in the concert. Its possible that there are connections that she made inside the venue that caused her big trouble later on outside. Particularly since she was walking around alone inside.

She could have quickly made friends with guys in the hall near the entrances to the floor, & was lent a ticket for as long as it took to sneak onto the floor. In that photo during LOG, I think it looks like it *could* be her from the back. And she would be quite a sitting duck down there without any friends. Its a long shot though....

I'm just glad that FBI & detectives are still on the case.

For the record, I too think it was a chance encounter with a stranger outside.

 

[Javabean]

Arah... apparently no POI yet!

http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/79008717.html

State Police updated the Newsplex on the Morgan Harrington investigation, saying they're still getting tips, have detectives constantly working on the case but have yet to develop any P.O.I. or "person of interest". They are particularly interested in knowing about a Morgan "sighting" in the Culpeper/Orange County area.


December 10, 2009

A Virginia State Police spokeswoman compares the Morgan Harrington investigation to a jig-saw puzzle. She says they have certain pieces of information but the evidence does not add up yet to a complete picture.

Morgan Harrington was last seen on the Copeley Road bridge near University Hall. If you have any information that could help police, or recall seeing something strange in that area that night, there is a Virginia State Police tip line to call, and you can leave an anonymous tip.

The number is 434-352-3467.

Corinne Geller says the VSP are constantly reviewing and analyzing the 600 tips they have received in the last two months.

Police are working closely with the family. According to the FindMorgan website, State Police collected DNA from both Dan and Gil Harrington shortly after Thanksgiving. Before Thanksgiving, the Harringtons delivered their missing daughter's dental records to police.

Geller says the same agencies remain involved in the investigation, such as the Virginia State Police, the University of Virginia Police, the Charlottesville Police Department, the Albemarle County Police Department, the Blacksburg Police Department, Virginia Tech Police Department and the FBI. Geller says they are pulling resources as they need them.

"It's kind of fluid," said Geller. "There is not a set number of people assigned to this case."

Geller says they do have leads. But, there is still a large gap of information missing from the night Morgan disappeared.

The Virginia Tech student was attending a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena at the University of Virginia.

"We have these gaps," said Geller. "But, we have a sighting the next morning up in the Culpeper, Orange area that could be very viable. But, unfortunately, we don't have surveillance video. Nobody at the gas station recalls seeing her there."

The possible Culpeper/Orange sighting is one of many leads investigators are following up on. But, the key information remains at the Copeley Road bridge in Charlottesville where police say several people last saw Harrington trying to hitchhike.

"They may not have seen an actual young woman getting into a car," Geller explained about people who may not realize what they saw. "But, if they just remember seeing a car stopped in the roadway on the bridge and thought, 'Well, this is strange. Why is this vehicle stopped?'"

Geller says they do have information. But, that lead might be the missing piece they're searching for.

Geller also says there are no persons of interest at this point and they still don't know if Harrington fell victim to foul play.

********************************

My concern is reinforced: if they "don't know if Harrington fell victim" then there is pressure off the University ("no safety concerns here!") and pressure off of the police to find the person responsible....

Not good, imo... not good....

 

[Javabean]

If the above information is correct, it does not sound like LE has asked the friends to remain quiet.

If any lawyers had told me not to talk, I guarantee you'd have to tie me down to keep me quiet.

Just sayin'

 

[Javabean]

***55
"I saw Morgan on Sunday morning following the concert at a Sheetz's in Orange,Va. I distinctly remember her outfit she was wearing as I thought it was an odd outfit to be wearing on a Sunday morning. When I left the store I remember seeing the letters on her shirt PENT and it caught my attention as my daughter has been wanting a Pantech Matrix phone, so I looked to see if the word was Pantech, but it was Pantera! I didn't know what Pantera was, so thought no more about it until I read it in the news that she was wearing a shirt that had Pantera written on it! I immediately called the police and informed them. I was at the search today and told the investigators that I thought they should broaden their search to encompass Orange and surrounding areas. I continue to pray for her safe return."

I remember reading on findmorgan.com (and I can't find the link right now, so take it for what it is worth) that one of the people involved in the search for Morgan stated that this lady showed up as well on the search day, and kept changing her story. He stated she did not seem credible.

Sorry I don't have the link, but I remember reading that because it definitely stood out in my mind.

 

[Chili Fries]

That's a big screwup if they didn't get a copy of the possible surveillance footage from Sheetz before it was overwritten, or if they went to the wrong Sheetz initially.

 

[part time prof]

I remember reading on findmorgan.com (and I can't find the link right now, so take it for what it is worth) that one of the people involved in the search for Morgan stated that this lady showed up as well on the search day, and kept changing her story. He stated she did not seem credible.

Sorry I don't have the link, but I remember reading that because it definitely stood out in my mind.

Thanks, I remember reading that too, but had conveniently blocked it from mind in hopes that somehow it was a viable sighting...

 

[Chili Fries]

I remember reading on findmorgan.com (and I can't find the link right now, so take it for what it is worth) that one of the people involved in the search for Morgan stated that this lady showed up as well on the search day, and kept changing her story. He stated she did not seem credible.

Sorry I don't have the link, but I remember reading that because it definitely stood out in my mind.

It was on Facebook not findmorgan.com:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=162224546575&ref=search&sid=666482915.1685764065..1#/topic.php?uid=162224546575&topic=10740

A guy says he talked to Karen at the search and that she changed the time she possibly saw Morgan a few times during their short conversation. Still, I think it's very interesting that LE is still taking the Sheetz sighting seriously.

 

[winterrose]

Orange, Va is in an out-of-the-way area. But it is not too far from Route 29 which is the main throughfare between Charlottesville and Northern VA/Washington DC. Route 29 has numerous attempted abductions, disappearances and murders occur along the stretch near the Culpeper/Orange area. Most women from VA. are aware of this fact.

On a previous subject: IMO it does matter what occured in the concert. Its possible that there are connections that she made inside the venue that caused her big trouble later on outside. Particularly since she was walking around alone inside.

She could have quickly made friends with guys in the hall near the entrances to the floor, & was lent a ticket for as long as it took to sneak onto the floor. In that photo during LOG, I think it looks like it *could* be her from the back. And she would be quite a sitting duck down there without any friends. Its a long shot though....

I'm just glad that FBI & detectives are still on the case.

For the record, I too think it was a chance encounter with a stranger outside.

Yep,she could have went 20 to Rt 3 and hit 95 and went any direction.If it was the morning,she could just as well have stopped to grab coffee and something to eat for breakfast before further traveling on.I wonder if she has any past school friends from that area her parents don't know about.It could just as well be an old gf she used to hang out with.We really don't know if she had any issues and parents were either told not to talk about it publicly or don't want to,so it doesn't take away from people being on the look out for MH.It's just bothering me,because of the whole area we're talking about with another missing woman.

 

[evelyn24]

I don't believe the sighting, because it's not like she said she saw Morgan somewhere remote. There should have been more than one witness especially the cashier inside the store etc. She claims she saw MH at a gas station/convenience store in broad daylight?

And LE are probably looking into it because they have nothing else.

 

[Cardinal47]

Sorry to say but with no new information and Christmas on everybodys minds..this case is going cold, very cold.

 

[MeoW333]

So UVa issues a press release stating the LE has talked to players about Morgan's disappearance. I'm still looking for the statement that says any player has been cleared.

The player on leave has returned to campus, is practicing with the team but not on the bench for games. While his situation may have nothing to do with Morgan, certainly the silence around his "situation" raises some questions for me, especially if he is on campus, not injured, and not playing. If there have been no statements from U Va or LE clearing people, it may be that LE is still checking out these sightings of Morgan after she left the parking lot and that explains why everything else is in limbo for the moment. But please, anyone with a link to a statement about anyone being cleared--please post.

I'm just going to use this as an example here:
Suppose he was having some mental health problems, say depression or something, then it wouldn't be broadcast due to the HIPPA law.

It could also be he had family problems back home he had to take care of that wouldn't be necessary to air to the public.

IMO, i don't think the BB players have anything to do with Morgan's going missing.

 

[MeoW333]

If the above information is correct, it does not sound like LE has asked the friends to remain quiet.

If any lawyers had told me not to talk, I guarantee you'd have to tie me down to keep me quiet.

Just sayin'

IMO, it's odd of the friends to stay so quiet and to not partake in any pleas, vigils, for their friend Morgan.
I really believe that they have lawyered up. Maybe they aren't helping police at all if LE is still not clear on a segment of time from that night.
LE pleaded to them to help them during the first and only press conference. While i don't think her friends killed her or anything like that, i do wonder if they have something to hide from that night.

They don't act like caring friends or best friends. They act like estranged sisters who could care less.
If they are such good friends, they'd be helping LE all they could, they would be right next to Morgan's parents pleaing to the public for Morgan's safe return.
Could be they drifted apart during college and are more acquaitances than friends.
Yet Amy and Morgan shared a flat.. even so though, they still could have drifted apart. Which is no excuse not to plea for the return of their "friend" who went missing while with them.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

There could be a lot of reasons for a player to not be dressing. One would be academic problems.

If a player has academic problems, that is usually public knowledge, although the university can't release it because of federal privacy rules. He was dressed and practicing prior to the leave, so he must have been eligible at the start of fall term. Grades for fall would just now be coming out. And given the rumors of involvement in a woman's disappearance, it would be likely that, if it were just academic issues, someone would have leaked that to stop the rumors.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

I'm just going to use this as an example here:
Suppose he was having some mental health problems, say depression or something, then it wouldn't be broadcast due to the HIPPA law.

It could also be he had family problems back home he had to take care of that wouldn't be necessary to air to the public.

IMO, i don't think the BB players have anything to do with Morgan's going missing.

Those are real possibilities. But he's back on campus. You may well be right that none of them were involved; I have no idea if any of them were involved, since I have yet to see an official statement that they are cleared.

 

[MeoW333]

Correct, all of the girls' tickets were for seats in the 300 section. I really don't think Morgan tried to make it down to the floor area right in front of the stage. The person in these new videos who people are saying might be Morgan looks like Greg Allman to me, at least from the back. At the very least it looks like a guy with stringy long really blonde hair wearing a whitish/yellowish shirt. Anyway, again, I don't think Morgan was even interested in getting closer to the stage. It sounds like not long after she made it into the arena, she left for whatever reason. The question continues to be not where she was exactly inside the arena anyway but what happened to her after she left.

I agree, I wish LE would release more information or some viable lead would come up or a good tip called in. I'm really starting to lean toward the lone perp theory, someone Morgan didn't know and had never met before, who somehow got her into his car and proceeded to abduct her for nefarious purposes. If her friends were involved or anyone she knew was involved, LE would have found some evidence by now. The reason LE has nothing is because the perp has no connection to her life whatsoever before that night, and apparently he's a real loner or good at keeping secrets, because it doesn't seem like he's talked. I also think this is sadly turning into a cold case, and will continue to be one unless some hiker or hunter happens to stumble across her remains.

I wasn't implying that the "sighting" of Morgans on videos near the stage was the reason she may have tried to get down there. I think the video sightings are all crocks.

I like your mysterious stranger theory, someone not known before that night to Morgan. If she was wandering around the concert taking pics, etc, maybe she met a young man who was appealing to her and then made plans to meet up with him outside. She kissed her friend on the cheek before going to the bathroom and then going outside. I have a friend who always kisses us hello and goodbye on the cheek, maybe thats what Morgan was doing.. just thinking aloud here.
Morgan goes outside to meet up with (theory here) the appealing young man she met inside the concert earlier and he's not out there at first. So she calls her friends, walks around, then later on she either meets up with him (who in return provides an excuse for the delay) or she meets up with someone completely different and something happens to her and she goes missing.
I would think it would have to be someone who made her comfortable at first (think Natalie Holloway scenario) as otherwise Morgan would likely have screamed for help, got help in some way. We'd be hearing about sightings of her in distress needing help, and we've not heard any of those.

The thing that gets me is her where her purse was found. I don't think she would purposely drop her purse, yet there's no signs of a struggle. Maybe the struggle happen in a car, i don't know. The purse there is confusing to me. It'd be stupid of a perp to come back to toss it, however depending on how quick a crime happened, i guess it's a possibility. If the struggle took place in a car, maybe the perp subdued her and threw the purse out right there. That would cut her off from a means of communication via her cell phone anyway.

Such a baffling case..

 

[part time prof]

respectfully snipped

The thing that gets me is her where her purse was found. I don't think she would purposely drop her purse, yet there's no signs of a struggle. Maybe the struggle happen in a car, i don't know. The purse there is confusing to me. It'd be stupid of a perp to come back to toss it, however depending on how quick a crime happened, i guess it's a possibility. If the struggle took place in a car, maybe the perp subdued her and threw the purse out right there. That would cut her off from a means of communication via her cell phone anyway.

Such a baffling case..

I recall reading that the purse was found with one strap ripped, but also that LE said there was no apparent sign of struggle.

If she actually got in a car that stopped for her on Copeley Bridge, a semi-immediate toss of the purse out the driver's side window would fairly easily land it where I believe it was found. MH gets in the car, perp immediately rips purse away and tosses it before fleeing. But nobody is stepping forward to say they saw any of that.

If she forgot her purse at Lannigan Field Parking while engaged in the brief interaction around 9:10-9:20 before heading onto Copeley Bridge, then no matter what happened to her, that would explain the purse being there. But if you believe the 7-11 surveillance video claim, then she would have either had to have her purse/money or she would have realized it then (and wouldn't be hitchhiking without first retrieving her purse, unless she was really out of it).

It may have been left/dropped/thrown somewhere else, then moved by a third party before being found the next morning.

If someone wanted to stage an abduction or throw LE off the real track, they might have placed it there after the fact.

It may not have actually been found there, but only reported to be found there (the actual UVa police report says Cage Parking and/or UHall Parking).

That's all I can get out of it. Any other thoughts?

 

[Janeumayer]

The Discussion forum at FindMorgan brought up an interesting scenario: remember the guy who stopped by Boyd's Tavern all freaked out with a car packed with kids? They think maybe they had a hit and run and Morgan was the victim. Very interesting...

http://www.findmorgan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=754&highlight=boyd+tavern

 

[debirlfan]

Question re the possible Boyd's Tavern "frantic male asking directions"- could the mystery boyfriend have taken the car from the concert and have gone somewhere with it - and gotten lost? Given the confusion over which car was actually at the concert, is there any possibility that for some reason, after initially taking MH's car to the arena, boyfriend drove it back to Harrisonburg and swapped it for one of the other girl's cars?