October 29, 2009

As Virginia State Police continue to look for more clues in the disappearance of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student, Morgan Harrington, her parents, Dan and Gil Harrington, released a statement to the public.

On Wednesday, we learned that the last known sighting of Morgan Harrington was on the Copeley Road Bridge, which leads to Ivy Road, and is a heavily trafficked part of Charlottesville.

The following is the statement from Morgan's parents, which was released Thursday. The Harringtons say they are doing everything in their power to bring their daughter back home.

STATEMENT FROM DANIEL AND GIL HARRINGTON:

We sincerely thank the Virginia State Police Department, University of Virginia Police Department, members of Metallica, and the many people who have shown their support in this difficult time. We are doing everything in our power to bring Morgan home. We appreciate your prayers and ask that you continue to share any information you can with law enforcement so that we can find our daughter.

Please refer to www.FindMorgan.com as a resource for updates on Morgan’s investigation. Information can also be found on the Virginia State Police Department’s website at http://www.vsp.state.va.us/News/News_Releases.shtm. We encourage you to share your thoughts and questions with us directly at info@findmorgan.com.

If you have any helpful information regarding our daughter’s whereabouts, please contact the Virginia State Police’s tip hotline at (434) 352-3467 or bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov.

We thank you again for your prayers and support.

______________________________________________________
October 28, 2009

Morgan Harrington was last seen in Charlottesville at the Copeley Road bridge about an hour after she left the Metallica concert, according to a new time line of that fateful night released by State Police.

State Police Lt. Joe Rader issued the new time line for the disappearance of Harrington at a news conference in Charlottesville.

Morgan’s Critical Hour:

8:30 p.m. Outside John Paul Jones Arena
8:48 p.m. Friend called Morgan's cell phone
9:00 p.m. Seen in University Hall parking lot adjacent to JPJ
9:10 p.m. Near Davenport Field RV Park and UVa. Track
9:20 p.m. On Copeley Bridge near intersection with Ivy Road

Rader said, "We know we don't have all the information there is in Charlottesville about this case." Rader urged anyone who saw anything outside the Metallica concert between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. to call police.

It's not what happened inside the John Paul Jones Arena, it's what happened outside that investigators are concentrating on.

At around 8:30 pm, witnesses saw someone matching Morgan Harrington's description at the ticket counter outside JPJ trying to get back in the concert after she ended up outside.

About fifteen minutes later at 8:48 pm, a friend of Morgan's inside the concert called her on her cell phone asking if she was OK. Morgan apparently told her friend not to worry. She was going to get a ride from friends in Charlottesville.

At around 9:00 pm, witnesses saw Morgan Harrington walking and carrying her black purse with backpack straps in the parking lot outside University Hall.

Ten minutes later, Morgan made her way to the RV parking area near the UVa track.

The night of October 17th, the area would have been filled with RV's for the concert. Witnesses saw Morgan there around 9:10 pm, but they say ten minutes later they drove off, leaving her in the parking area alone. The morning after the concert, a passerby found Morgan's purse on the ground.

The last known sighting of Morgan Harrington was on the Copeley Road bridge near Ivy Road at 9:30 pm.

Police believe people driving or walking along the bridge must have seen Morgan after 9:30. They believe she may have gone in a car.

"Perhaps you saw someone stop a vehicle to discuss something with this young lady. That would be important. Perhaps you saw this lady get into a vehicle. That would be important," said Lt. Rader.

This new time line explains why police spent so much time in the Copeley Road area looking for clues. Now, they're revealing where she was, with the hope that someone will know where she is.

Harrington's parents did not appear the news conference, but have said they believe she was taken by a stranger, and that foul play was involved.

Police are asking any witnesses to come forward. They say every detail counts, and since the Copeley bridge is well traveled on Saturday nights, they hope to jog people's memories of the night of October 17th.

Police are accepting anonymous tips.

The tip line is 434-352-3467.

A reward of $150,000 is being offered to information that leads to Morgan Harrington's discovery.