Police Working Leads in Search for Missing VT Student
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Updated: 6:47 PM Oct 20, 2009
Police Working Leads in Search for Missing VT Student
Charlottesvile, Va.
University of Virginia Police and Virginia State Police are still working to find a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who went missing Saturday night during the Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.
Posted: 1:12 PM Oct 20, 2009
Reporter: Bianca Spinosa, Liz Palka
Email Address: bianca.spinosa@newsplex.com, liz.palka@newsplex.com
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Almost three days after a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student from Roanoke went missing at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia State Police and University of Virginia Police continue to look for her.

Investigators say they are following up on a couple dozen new leads that have come in since Monday's press conference with Morgan Dana Harrington's parents.

Police activity and searches will continue Tuesday near the JPJ. State and UVA police have been canvassing the area since Monday to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary, and that no additional evidence was overlooked.

On Tuesday, police did find a black cloth and took it into evidence. However, there is no word at this time about what that cloth was.

Police investigators say they've received calls regarding Harrington's disappearance, and are following up on them Tuesday. Each tip is prioritized based on the information provided.

Police are still encouraging the public to come forward with any information, especially those who may have gone to the Metallica concert Saturday night.

Anyone who may have been recording or taking pictures of the concert and/or audience with a camera or a cell phone Saturday night is asked to look over the video and pictures for someone who might resemble Harrington and contact police.

Harrington was last seen around 8:40 p.m. Saturday. She had gone inside JPJ with a group of friends, but ended up getting separated from them during the concert.

If you have information you would like to report, can can call Virginia State Police at434-352-3435 or e-mail bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov.

UVA Police can be reached at 434-924-7166.

Harrinston's family is speaking out, asking the public for help in finding her.

Holding back tears, Harrington's parents are hopeful that their daughter will come home safe.

"Please come home. If someone has Morgan, please let her come home safely," says Dan Harrington, Morgan's father.

Harrington traveled to Charlottesville with a group of friends to see the popular metal band Metallica. She met up with a group at James Madison University, and they all made it to the John Paul Jones Arena safely before being separated.

Morgan's father reported her missing at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. She was supposed to be back home to take an exam for which she had been studying. Morgan's father said it was uncharacteristic of her not to call.

Police say if Harrington is found, she probably won't have any identification or cell phone on her. They would not specify why, but ABC13 in Lynchburg reports that the Harrington's family pastor says Harrington's purse was found in the parking lot of the JPJ Arena.

"That's our biggest concern. It's unusual that her friends and family haven't heard anything regarding her whereabouts. That's the biggest concern, is her whereabouts and her welfare," says Lt. Joe Rader from the Virginia State Police.

The search is a missing persons investigation, which means police believe there's still a chance she's alive. Search helicopters and canines have been heavily searching the UVA area in the hope of finding some clues about what happened to her in Charlottesville.

Throughout this difficult and heart wrenching ordeal, Harrington's mom is staying hopeful.

"She has her Halloween costume picked out, and we'd love to see her walking around in it. She's got a dog that's missing her. Let's bring her back, and she can address all these things, so she can be back with her family," said Gil Harrington.

Harrington was last seen wearing a black Pantera shirt, a black skirt, black tights and knee high black boots. She's five-feet-six-inches tall and weighs about 120 lbs.

Again, if you have any information about her whereabouts, call Virginia State Police at (434) 352-3455. You can also call UVA Police at (434) 924-7166.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Laura Location: VA on Oct 21, 2009 at 06:18 PM

Wow, Leslie I feel sorry for you. As a mother of a daughter this age at UVA, it makes me feel very sad for this family. Let's hope for a successful reunion with their daughter. I can only imagine the pain they must be feeling.
Posted by: Leslie Location: SC on Oct 21, 2009 at 04:31 PM

I'm sorry if some find this offensive, but stranger things have happened: I'm tired of hearing Morgan's father stressing how "transparent" she was, how he had full access to her computer codes/bank statements, how often she would come home, and stressing before the question was even complete that she did NOT have a boyfriend. Her mother seems very guarded-only stressing how Morgan hung out with children from middle school, and went so far as to ask her mother what outfit to wear to a "Metallica" concert. I don't know quite what to think, but the parent's statements are peculiar to me. If her friends were as protective -"having each other's backs," then I wonder if Morgan needed to get away from "overprotective" Dad, who saw the ticket to the copncert on the refrigerator door for 6 months...maybe she had her own reasons for needing act more like the traditional 20-year-old college student. Anyway, I also believe that the reason for the missing cell phonebattery was b/c she knew "them
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Grottoes on Oct 20, 2009 at 03:20 PM

As a mother of a daughter the same age, this makes me so sad I hope and pray to God they find this beautiful young lady, my prayers go out to this family!
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