More updates in the case of the human remains found on a south Albemarle farm this morning, that are likely to be Morgan Harrington, the Virginia Tech student who has been missing since October 17:

David Bass, who owns Anchorage Farm where the body was discovered this morning, told C-VILLE that in the course of checking fences this morning, in a location he arrived at via tractor, “I saw what looked like a dead deer. When I got a little closer, it didn’t look like a deer skull.” Bass further confirmed that clothing was found near the body, but added that Virginia State Police have asked him to not divulge further details.

Bass told C-VILLE that there is “no real history of trespassing” on his property, which county records show he has owned since 1985. He has no idea, he says, how the body got there, as the location where it is found is not accessible by car.

Meanwhile the Newsplex is reporting that in a phone call to a reporter, Morgan Harrington’s mother, Gil Harrington, said the state police informed her that the remains are probably her daughter’s. The State Police have a news conference scheduled for 5 p.m. today.

Remains Found on Farm, Missing Virginia Student’s Family Contacted

Virginia state police say human remains have been discovered on a southern Albermarle County farm.

The skeletal remains were discovered Tuesday morning on the Anchorage Farm by owner David Bass.

A representative for the family of missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington confirmed the family was contacted and some members are on their way to the body.

The family learned this morning that remains of a female body had been found in Virginia, the family’s representative, Leslie Valenza, told Fox News.

Dan Harrington, Morgan’s father, told WTVR.com that “this is a horrible day” for him and his family.

Harrington, a 20-year-old junior at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, hasn’t been seen since October when she was separated from her friends at a Metallica concert in Charlottesville.

At this time, there is no conclusive report by law enforcement that the body is that of Harrington.

Bass told The Associated Press he was feeding his cattle at the time and saw the remains from his tractor. He declined additional comment.

“I looked down and saw what looked like a human skull and my first thought was that it was Morgan Harrington,” Bass told WTVR.com.

State police say they will not discuss the finding until a news conference that has been scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

WHIPLASH To Play Morgan Harrington Benefit Show

On January 16, 2010, legendary New Jersey thrashers WHIPLASH will play a benefit concert for Morgan Harrington, the 20-year-old student from Virginia Tech who was last seen on October 17th near the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia following a Metallica concert. The event, originally scheduled for December 19, 2009 but postponed due to inclement weather, will be held at The Hat Factory in Richmond, Virginia and aims to raise awareness of Morgan’s disappearance and support the Harrington family’s ongoing search to find her.

Tickets will be available at the door, day of show ($15.00). All proceeds will go to the Find Morgan Fund: http://findmorgan.com. Other bands on the bill include Dangerous New Machine, At War and The Chaos Agent. Doors open at 8:00pm by a candlelight vigil.

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Parents of Morgan Harrington talk about float effort in local parades

The parents of missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington are thanking those in the community who are helping keep their daughter’s case in focus during the holiday season.

A group of volunteer from “Forgotten Victims” came up with floats for local Christmas parades as part of a “Let’s Bring Morgan Home for X-Mas” campaign.  Morgan used to volunteer with the non-profit group.

According to a news release, the floats will include signs with the Find Morgan website, fliers and children carrying a Find Morgan banner.

The float will be in the Christmas parades in Vinton, Salem, and Roanoke.

Dan and Gil Harrington issed this statement on Thursday, through the PR firm they hired:

The past few weeks have been particularly trying for our family as we face the holiday season without our daughter, Morgan. It is the community’s continued outpouring of love and support that helps us endure this difficult time each day. We thank the members of the non-profit group, Forgotten Victims, and the many others who will help spread the word about Morgan’s disappearance by marching in upcoming holiday parades at Vinton, Salem, and Roanoke, Virginia. Your support has helped lift our spirits when we needed it most.

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The search for Morgan Harrington continued Tuesday, and it’s been one month since she disappeared from Charlottesville.

Friends, family and volunteers have dedicated a lot of time and effort to her cause.

Morgan’s parents, Gil and Dan Harrington, say it has been tough for them, but say they have to think positively.

“We’re coming for you baby,” says Gil, as the search continues for her 20-year-old daughter.

On October 17, Morgan disappeared from a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville.

In a press conference held late last month, Virginia State Police Lt. Joe Rader said clues to her disappearance are somewhere out there.

Gil and Dan have worked tirelessly to keep Morgan’s story alive. They’ve appeared on national television broadcasts, including Dr. Phil. Morgan’s picture is even on the cover of the most recent People magazine.

Valley residents will receive a picture of Morgan in their mailbox, as part of the Valpak coupon mailer.

Local radio DJ Ryan O’Bryan knows Morgan and continues to speak to listeners about her disappearance. He says it’s tough to deal with something like this, especially when it hits so close to home.

State Police released a detailed time line of Morgan’s whereabouts the night she disappeared. It stops at 9:30 p.m., when she was seen on a bridge in Charlottesville.

However, after receiving more than 300 leads, there’s no sign of Morgan.

If you have any information about Morgan’s disappearance, you are asked to call Virginia State Police at 434-352-3467.

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Nov. 9th, 2009

Virginia State Police say there are no new leads in the Morgan Harrington case, even after it was mentioned on “America’s Most Wanted” Saturday.

Meanwhile, more than 1,600 volunteers searched more than 2,500 acres over the weekend.

Police say, even though several items of clothing were found, none were linked back to Morgan.

The 20-year-old Virginia Tech student was last seen October 17 while attending a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.

Her parents, Dan and Gil Harrington released a statement Monday, thanking volunteers for their efforts.

“We want to thank the many wonderful people who volunteered their time and hard work this past weekend to help search for our beloved daughter, Morgan. An area of approximately 2,600 acres was searched by teams made up of the 1,667 total registered volunteers. Your selfless generosity and continuing support have touched our hearts during an unbearably difficult time.

“We especially wish to thank the Laura Recovery Center, which organized the three-day search for Morgan, augmenting law enforcement’s search and investigative efforts. More importantly, the Laura Recovery Center trained community members to continue ongoing search efforts. While no new information has yet been discovered, we have gained some peace in knowing much ground was, and will continue to be, covered during the search.”

October 23rd, 2009

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, the search for missing Metallica fan Morgan Harrington continued on Thursday, Oct. 22, as a group of local sheriffs joined the hunt for the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student, who has been missing for four days. She was last seen wearing a black skirt, a Pantera shirt, and knee-high boots at Metallica’s concert Oct. 17. Crews searched wooded areas with canines, but still, have uncovered no clues as to what may have happened to Harrington.

Investigators, who are treating Harrington’s disappearance as a criminal matter, said Wednesday that they’d be calling off all search efforts on the ground and in the air unless a credible tip called teams back out. According to police, Thursday was spent following up on tips, but the search was mainly intended to recheck areas that have already been searched.

Meanwhile, a vigil was held Oct. 22 in Roanoke, Va., and Harrington’s parents are offering a $100,000 reward for their daughter’s safe return. Harrington’s parents told reporters Thursday that they believe their daughter was abducted and didn’t run away, and that they’re not yet ready to give up hope. They released a statement to the media.

“Dr. Harrington and his wife have asked that the following message be shared with everyone possible,” the statement reads. The message, “I love you too much…forever…and once more.” It’s a message the Harringtons share with each other, verbally, in notes, and even in signing, and the Harringtons believe if the message is shared with others, Morgan will experience “love, comfort, and peace.”

Those with any information regarding this case have been asked to call (434) 352-3467, or e-mail police.

Metallica issued a statement earlier this week, saying that they “are deeply concerned about the disappearance of Morgan Dana Harrington. She was not carrying I.D. or a cell phone. Morgan was separated from her friends shortly before 9 PM at the venue, and police have been searching the area since Monday. We encourage anyone who has any information regarding Morgan’s disappearance to please come forward. Our thoughts are with Morgan and her family for her safe return.”

October 22, 2009

Virginia State Police and UVa Police are continuing their ground search around the University of Virginia Thursday for any further clues about Morgan Harrington’s disappearance.

They’re focusing their attention on the area behind the UVa track and the Davenport baseball field. A State Police spokesperson tells the Newsplex they’ve received some new tips that caused them to search the area again Thursday.

Police say Morgan Harrington’s purse was found in a parking lot near the athletic fields, but there was no sign of a struggle in the vicinity. Police say there aren’t any plans to bring back the search helicopter unless they decide they need it.

The search for the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student is also stretching into the valley. Students at James Madison University are handing out flyers, hoping that someone may have information that could help find the missing woman.

Harrington met up with friends at JMU before heading to Charlottesville for the Metallica concert Saturday night.

A student who is heading up the search effort at JMU says the most important thing they can do to help find Harrington is to spread the word about her disappearance quickly.

Friends of Harrington are holding a candlelight vigil at Northside High School in Roanoke County Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.

We’ll have live coverage of the vigil Thursday night starting at the CBS19 News at 5 pm.

A reward of at least $50,000 will be set up by the Harrington family through Crimestoppers. Investigators have also set up a new tip line dedicated solely to the search for Morgan Harrington. The new number for that tip line is 434-352-3467.

EVENING UPDATE – October 21, 2009:

Lieutenant Joe Rader said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Charlottesville that Virginia State Police do not know if Morgan Dana Harrington is still alive or has met “an ill fate”. Police investigators are treating the disappearance of Harrington as a missing person case within the parameters of a criminal investigation. However, Lt. Rader made it clear that there has been no reliable information that criminal misconduct has occurred.

Investigators planned to conclude the localized ground search of the John Paul Jones Arena and surrounding areas, including Klockner Stadium, the University of Virginia track, and Davenport Field early Wednesday evening. They believe that the ground search has been very extensive, but has not revealed any clues at this point. Lt. Rader added that unless new information becomes available, there will be no further air searches of the JPJ area.

Lt. Rader says police have interviewed Morgan’s friends as well as people who saw Morgan either inside JPJ or outside the arena. They can confirm that Morgan was on the grounds outside JPJ until at least 9:30pm Saturday night. Police say Morgan exited the concert for reasons unknown and due to the John Paul Jones arena policy, was not allowed to re-enter the venue. Police have confirmed that Morgan contacted her friends while she was outside the arena to let them know she would be unable to re-enter the concert, which was the last known contact Morgan had with her friends.

Police also confirmed that Morgan Harrington’s purse and cell phone were found in the parking lot between JPJ and the athletic fields. They say there appeared to be no signs of a struggle, however. Police also say the battery was taken out of the cell phone, but add it could have fallen out.

Rader was asked if Harrington was drunk or stoned when she left the arena. He didn’t answer directly, but did say she was able to move about the facility on her own power.

Police have reviewed surveillance camera footage from the John Paul Jones Arena and surrounding area, but Lt. Rader said Wednesday that nothing has come of that effort.

A reward of at least $50,000 will be set up by the Harrington family through Crimestoppers in the next 24 hours. Investigators have also set up a new tip line dedicated solely to the search for Morgan Harrington. The new number for that tip line is 434-352-3467 and is being manned all day and all night. Lt. Rader said that police have received over 100 calls to the original tip line, with 20% of those calls he described as being “leads that needed immediate attention”.

Charlottesville and Albemarle Police are aiding the UVa Police and Virginia State Police with their investigation.

Rader said a police SWAT team aided in the search Wednesday but that was only because they were already planning on doing some training and it was convenient to use them to help.

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October 21, 2009 (morning update)

University of Virginia Police, Virginia State Police, and members of the FBI are actively searching for Morgan Harrington Wednesday around Davenport Field, where the UVa. baseball team plays its home games.

Wednesday morning, UVa. and State Police were seen searching the woods around Davenport Field and the track near Klockner Stadium. The UVa. track, Klockner Stadium, and Davenport Field are all part of a sports complex that is only one block away from the John Paul Jones Arena, where Morgan was last seen.

Morgan’s parents, Dan and Gil Harrington, told reporters she was last seen going to the bathroom inside JPJ around 8:40pm Saturday night. They say Morgan then went outside before Metallica took the stage; security would not let her back inside. Gil Harrington told CNN’s Nancy Grace that Morgan’s purse was found across the street in the University Hall parking lot, not far from Klockner Stadium.

Avid heavy metal fan and CBS19 Chief Meteorologist Travis Koshko attended the Metallica concert Saturday night, and he says it was the safest metal concert he’s seen.

“The thing that surprised me the most of all about this concert was how calm it was and how safe and in control the security was in the venue. There were policemen inside and outside. Yes, there were a few mosh pits, but those were suppressed,” he said.

As Metallica continues their tour, they have released a statement on their web site titled “One of Our Fans is Missing”.

We are deeply concerned about the disappearance of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington, who was last seen while attending our concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA, on Saturday night.

Police announced Wednesday morning that they will hold another news conference Wednesday afternoon at 3pm.
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October 20, 2009

Almost three days after a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student from Roanoke vanished outside 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 news conference with Morgan Harrington’s parents.

A job fair was held at John Paul Jones Arena Tuesday. Hundreds of job seekers showed up, but just a few hundred feet away, down in the creek, police probed with batons, trying to find any bit of evidence. Police spent about fifteen minutes looking over a black piece of cloth. We could not confirm exactly what it was, though it looked like a tarp or a T-shirt. Police collected it for further information.

Fliers headlined “Missing” and explaining the mysterious disappearance of Harrington are being posted around Charlottesville as well.

Police investigators say they’ve received a couple dozen calls regarding Harrington’s disappearance, and are following up on them. 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 at John Paul Arena.

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 Morgan Harrington and contact State Police or UVa. police.

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

Read the story below for a detailed description of Morgan Harrington, and her parents’ plea for her safe return.
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Original Story:

Virginia State Police are searching the University of Virginia area for a missing Virginia Tech student. What was supposed to be a fun night out for 20-year-old Morgan Harrington has turned into a nightmare for her family.

Harrington was last seen Saturday night in Charlottesville at around 8:40 p.m. with some friends at a Metallica concert. Now, her family is speaking out, asking the public for help in finding their daughter.

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, but State Police say Saturday night, Morgan Harrington somehow got separated from her friends.

Morgan’s father reported her missing on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. She was supposed to be back home to take an exam she had been studying for. 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. Our sister station ABC13 in Lynchburg reports that the Harrington’s family Pastor says Morgan’s purse was found in the parking lot of the John Paul Jones 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 for Morgan Harrington 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 hopes 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.

Morgan Harrington was last seen wearing a black Pantera shirt, a black skirt, black tights, and knee high black boots. She’s 5′6″ and weighs about 120 lbs.

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