Collegiate Times

Dan and Gil Harrington, the parents of missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, believe their daughter is still alive and potentially in the Charlottesville area.

The Harringtons spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon outside the John Paul Jones arena in Charlottesville, the same location where Morgan was last seen in October while attending a Metallica concert. Several eyewitnesses reported seeing her in various spots around the arena as she left the concert, and she was last spotted near the Copeley Road Bridge less than a half mile away from the arena.

Dan Harrington said he believes the party involved with Morgan’s disappearance may be in the area.

“Whoever took Morgan is still in this community. This is still a vulnerable community,” he said.

The Harringtons met with Charlottesville area law enforcement Tuesday along with Monica Caison, the founder and director of the Community United Effort Center for Missing Persons, an organization from Wilmington, North Carolina.

Caison’s professional search team hopes to increase the search area as well as re-visit areas previously searched by volunteers and law enforcement. Caison added that she hopes a search can begin in February.

Dan Harrington praised ongoing volunteer efforts in the Charlottesville area, saying he had been pleased with both law enforcement and volunteer responses to his daughter’s disappearance.

“I think there are ongoing efforts here,” he said. “We will encourage them to continue that.”

Harrington also spoke about the recent confirmation that his daughter had consumed alcohol the night of the concert.

“Alcohol use among college students is typical, but her behavior was described as not typical,” Harrington said. “None of this makes sense.”

Harrington said that his greatest fear, three months after their daughter’s disappearance, “is that Morgan be forgotten.”

“Having a hole in your life that’s unfilled, it’s very painful,” Harrington said. “No one should have to go through that.”

A $150,000 reward is offered for information leading to the location and recovery of Harrington. Anyone with information is asked to call Virginia State Police at 434-352-3467.