Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington was reported missing on Oct. 17, 2009. Her body was found ten miles from Charlottesville on Jan. 26.
The search for missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington came to an unsettling conclusion Tuesday, as police confirmed her remains have been discovered at a farm approximately 10 miles from her last known sighting.
According to an e-mail sent Wednesday from Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller, the confirmation was made through dental records supplied by the family.
Currently police are searching the farm area for additional evidence. There has been no determination of the cause or time of Harrington’s death.
Morgan’s father Dan released a statement Wednesday acknowledging the loss of their daughter:
“Morgan’s mother, Gil, and I are overwhelmingly saddened by yesterday’s discovery, but we are also relieved because our questions can now be answered and we can give our daughter a proper burial. We know that because of the good life Morgan led and the love she created for everyone around her, she is now in a safer, better place,” Harrington said. “We appreciate everyone’s respect for our privacy at this difficult time and we thank everyone who has helped us through this tragedy and helped us find Morgan.”
Harrington, a 20-year-old Tech student, disappeared Oct. 17, 2009 during the Metallica concert at John Paul Jones arena on the UVa campus. She was last seen hitchhiking at the Copeley Road Bridge, less than half a mile from the arena.
Monica Caison, the liaison between the Harrington family and the CUE Center for Missing Persons in Wilmington, N.C., said that Morgan’s parents Dan and Gil Harrington were in Charlottesville Tuesday.
The two were not present for the press conference when the police announced that a body had been found, and they were “fairly confident” it was that of Harrington.
The body was found at Anchorage Farm, a 742-acre property located in southern Albemarle County along Route 29. The farm had not been a part of any previous search for Harrington. Lt. Joe Rader, of the state police, noted the large distance between the farm and the Copeley Road Bridge, where Harrington was last seen.
“We had no evidence at the time that it (the farm) was an area of interest,” Rader said.
David Bass, the owner of the farm, said he found the remains around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, while checking fences. Bass said the body was in a very remote part of his farm, and that he only ventures to that particular part of the farm about once each year.
Bass added he had not been around that area of the property since August.
Rader said that at the time of Harrington’s disappearance the hayfield at the scene would have been at waist height. Snow and other inclement weather also may have affected the location where the body was found.
View Updated: Body found in Charlottesville was 'nowhere near a highway' in a larger map
Leave a comment 89 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
What's the name of the psychic used to find the body?
Reply to this Top
The "(Route) 29 Stalker" was never caught. It was not Darrell Rice, so it appears he is active again. Prayers for the Harringtons.
Reply to this Top
The stalker worked during the daylight and targeted women who were in their vehicles. He lurked mostly around the Culpeper area. I think maybe she somehow made the ill advised (and maybe drunken at the time) decision to hop in the car with a random Metallica fan who "seemed" nice.... a fatal mistake.
Reply to this Top
As long as they have not charged anyone with the route 29 murders then it is possible this murder may be perpetrated by the same individual who did the others, maybe he changed his MO. Granted Miss Harrington made an ill advised decision to get into a car with someone whom she may not have known but I find your reasoning that it was a random Metallica fan ignorant. Who knows if it was a Metallica fan or not. In fact I would say it was not a Metallica fan because Miss Harrington disappeard around the time Metallica went on stage so if it was a Metallica fan they would have probably been in the concert venue. I think it was a stalker trolling the venue knowing that there would perhaps be someone in a vulnerable position wandering around.
Top
The remote location suggests a local who knew the farm...especially if it was at night. Yeah, it could someone else...
Reply to this Top
I have it from a retired law enforcement officer, a well connected one at that, that the man they believe to be the "29 stalker" is in jail serving out a sentence for aggravated assault/attempted abduction. That incident was actually nowhere near Culpepper. They believe him to be the perpetrator in several murders but are awaiting further evidence. They are watching him very closely, and are by no means giving up on "older" cases. They are 80% sure they have their man.
Top
I'm praying for this family today. What a sad situation.
Reply to this Top
Prayers to the students. Please look out for each other.
Reply to this Top
I have been following this case periodically since it became news. I have mixed emotions. Someone is deceased and that is bad enough, but for her parents, the fact that it could be her is so sad. I at lease hope that if it is her, that they will be relieved of the stress from not knowing where she is. Who ever this person is, it's really very sad that another person could do this to someone.
Reply to this Top
I hope the Harrignton's sue the hell out of JPA and the state of Va for their paranoid policy of not allowing ticketers back inside. JPA is a DIRECT cause of Morgan's death. This arena should NEVER be allowed to ever again host an event until they change the no re-enter policy for the SAFETY of ticket holders.
Reply to this Top
This is a typical example of blaming powers that are clearly not at fault. This is a sad story, but the JPA is not responsible for Morgan's death. Their policy does more to ensure the safety of ticketholders than to endanger them; it prevents two people from using the same ticket and it helps to maintain security inside the venue. It is unfortunate that such a tragedy would befall Morgan Harrington, however, we must not sling such accusations at the JPA or the state of Va for that matter. Neither are to blame for this evil.
Reply to this Top
it prevents two people from using the same ticket and it helps to maintain security inside the venue.
-----------------------------------------------Wrong: the ticket is either scanned or torn on one end. Only 1 person get use it.
Security can easily still be maintained and allow people back inside. All that is needed is a dedicated usher to stamp the hand of the exiting person and re-enter at the same exit.
Top
Having been to several events at the JPA, they scan your ticket and hand it back to you. Yes, a hand stamp could be used in order to allow re-entry, but it's not very secure. A policy allowing this practice would make it easier for contraband to find its way into the concert, compromising the security of patrons. Nevertheless the venue is well within its right to require ticketholders to stay at the show or lose their ability to re-enter.
To date the Harringtons have been very dignified and graceful during this tragedy, and I applaud them for their resolve and composure. My heart goes out to them in this terrible time.
A lawsuit on the JPA would be frivolous. It will not bring back Morgan. It would not, as someone claimed, take money from virginia tax payers, but rather from the privately-owned company that runs the venue.
Top
(continued from JPA 1)
Sometimes, tragedy happens and it is not easy to place the blame on a particular entity. Would she have suffered this fate if she had been let back into the show? Probably not. But that does not make it the JPAs responsibility to monitor her safety after she has left the venue. We certainly cannot sue the man whose farm she was found on for failing to keep track of his property, nor can we sue her friends for failing to keep better track of her that night, nor can we sue the local police department for not doing enough to find her. I would hope that the family continues their dignity and does not fall victim to the sue-happy environment that exists in society today.
Top
I feel like a lot of emotion and not a lot of thought was put into that post if you are really claiming that a venue is "absolutely responsible for her death." Why, because they wouldn't let her back in? A lot of places don't allow you to reenter once you leave, including Lane Stadium. There are a lot of implications for a venue if you allow people to come and go, especially if those people leave to refill on booze and drugs. Keeping people in is a way to control the environment and avoid incidents inside. I'm sure a cascade of things went wrong for it to end up this way, but putting sole blame on the venue is just nonsensical. This was a tragedy and I can't even begin to express condolences to the family. RIP Morgan
Top
If all you have to do is show your ticket to a "dedicated usher", then what's to stop one girl leaving with two tickets and coming back with a friend? The arena has to have controls in place to ensure that everyone at the event actually paid.
Also, hand stamps can be copied, smeared, etc. And it's all irrelevant, anyways. The girl wandered outside the arena on her own. If a guy saw her leave, I'm sure he'd let her back in. She probably just went out a random exit that nobody was around because she missed the sign.
Top
Do you live in the State of VA? If so, are you willing to pay for this out of your pocket because that is exactly what is going to happen. More taxes for you and me...Why is everyone so "Sue Happy"? A life was lost and the parents have to grieve. Suing the State for a rule that JPA installed will not solve anything.
Reply to this Top
I agree with the fault falling directly on the venue. I notice alot of folks dont agree with that, however it is time for all stadiums and arenas to change the policy. If an individual is asking to reenter a venue that is not disturbed or wildly intoxicated that they should be allowed to reenter if they have retained their ticket stub or posess a hand stamp. This should be the case especially at a venue that is taking millions of dollars from a major student body while being located on a STATE campus.. It is time to look out for our kids everywhere, I know you students dont like to hear it, but you are still kids and are going to make bad decisions, the only difference is hopefully you will learn from your mistakes, unlike poor Morgan. I agree that if they just let her in she would have been here today..
Change the stupid rules to protect the people that are spending their money at you venue seeking a good time, You should get somthing for the near 100 dollar ticket price...
Reply to this Top
With that logic you could argue that if her friends had just gone out to meet her or helped let her back in, this would never have happened.
It's pretty easy to blame the venue in this 'someone must take responsibility' society; however, the venue's policy is sound. You have no idea why she went outside of those walls. I sincerely doubt she got lost on the way to the restroom. Positing that the venue is at fault is short-sighted and incredibly presumptive.
The most saddening part of this story to me is that her friends, who drove her car to the concert, accepted at face value that she would find a way back to Virginia Tech from Charlottesville, rather than abandon the concert. Please, please, please, everyone, look out for your friends and take care of them.
Top
I think maybe there should have been an increase police presence in the parking lot area around the venue. To blame JPJ arena for their policy is pretty silly. I have been to concerts in many different venues and they all have a similar policy. However all the concerts I have been to have had a visible police presence in the parking lot and outside, but I have never been to JPJ arena or to VA.
Reply to this Top
Occasionally CAPITALIZING words does not make your ARGUMENT anymore COMPELLING.
Reply to this Top
Honestly kid, you really need to just shut the hell up and stop posting.. We just lost someone very special and you want to criticize spelling? My thoughts and prayers go out to Dan and Gil as well as to all who knew Morgan..
Reply to this Top
This is really not the time or place for that.
Reply to this Top
Grammar Nazi is an IDIOT.
(And someone who makes his kind of comments given this situation is the one who should be deleted. He/She DESERVES to be called a degrading name). So, monitor, should you choose to delete this post, you clearly are of the same "descriptor" as Grammar Nazi.
Reply to this Top
I am so sad at what happened to Morgan Harrington. I have a daughter her age that attends college and I nag her about being alone on the streets at night. The kids today have too much trust and lack of "street smarts" to think that this terrible tragedy could ever happen to them! Please, kids, listen to your parents and their warnings! My heart goes out to the Harrington family. No one had the right to do this terrible thing.
Reply to this Top
You're about twice as likely to die in a plane crash than be kidnapped by a stranger.
Reply to this Top
where did you get such a statistic? yes, you probably are more likely to die in a plane crash than be kidnapped by a stranger while you're at home asleep in your own bed... but a girl, by herself, at night, roaming the streets, looking for a ride home? the chances are probably slightly elevated.
Top
Just google USA kidnapping statistics. It's about 300 each year with strangers (way, way more people you know do abductions/kidnappings, just like with rapes). Then google plane crash statistics (wikipedia had one of the lowest number of deaths at 700 something in 2004, I think). The discrepancy comes from me comparing US abductions to universal plane crashes, but that's because you can't only count US plane crashes since planes go all over the place, not just the US. US abductions happen in the US, though.
And the girl was near a huge university. She wasn't exactly "alone". Plus there are security guards and police around at events like these.
Top
why are we assuming she was kidnapped and/or raped? you know the cause of death too?
Top
I disagree. The venue is absolutely responsible for her death. If they had a policy in place to ensure people didn't use tickets twice, this girl would still be alive. They just didn't want to put the money into it or else they were just too lazy. There are many event centers that are much more successful than this one who know how to run a business without locking young girls out with no place to go and no transportation. It's rediculous!
Reply to this Top
@Elise: So, if ticketholders decide to leave, go out in the parking lot, get some drinks and/or smoke a few, then are allowed to re-enter, go to the top seating in the arena and fall to the floor, who do we blame THEN?. . . .anxiously awaiting your answer. . .
Reply to this Top
At least her family is getting closure. RIP.
Reply to this Top
There is NEVER any closure to the death of a loved on. A body may be found but the survivors will go on living with an absent loved one.
Reply to this Top
I think both comments are somewhat correct. It is completely true that you never get over the death of a loved one, particularly a child. That is something that haunts you for life. That said, regardless of whether you want to call finding the body "closure," it is very, very important that the body was found and it will provide the family with some much needed information. People who have not had a loved one go "missing" may not be able to understand the sheer torture of all the "what ifs" that go on 24/7 in the minds of the family members. It is psychologically very distressing and horrible. All you can do is wonder, wonder, wonder -- and of course everything your brain comes up with is horrible. But you are desperate to know one way or another. It is the not knowing that can truly drive someone crazy. So, even if you don't want to refer to it as "closure" I am sure that this family would prefer to have found their daughter's body (may she rest in peace) than forever not know what happened to her.
Top
Father of victim Alicia Showalter Reynolds: Its hell and agony, Showalter explains today, not to know where a valued member of your family is. Not knowing is bad, but bad news is better than no news. For Showalter, the revelation meant that whatever pain his daughter, a married pharmacology student on her way to shop in Charlottesville for her twin brothers then-upcoming wedding, had ended.
Reply to this Top
there will be no closure until the murderer is found, but at least they can lay their daughter to rest now. i can not even begin to imagine the pain these parents have been going through, as i have a young son too. i know that i would blame the venue for not letting my child back inside, for that would have made all the difference in the world for this beautiful young girl.
Reply to this Top
Thoughts and prayers are with the family of this lovely young girl.
Reply to this Top
Maybe the young lady wasn't killed by someone. Maybe she died of exposure. Was she bipolar?
Reply to this Top
I think it is pretty likely that she was killed.
Reply to this Top
Grammar Nazi you are an IDIOT.
Reply to this Top
The girl couldn't find a bathroom. And then "somehow wandered outside the arena". And then she said she'd try to "find a way home on her own". Sounds like it's 100% her fault.
Seriously, guys. Quit blaming other people. This was 100% the girl's fault. If you know you can't get back into an event, then don't leave it!
Reply to this Top
We all sometimes need to own our mistakes we make in life. This is one of those mistakes you can never learn from, only those who knew us. Maybe this mistake will save thousands. To all just call your parents let them know you need them. We may be mad for a while but we love you and it's a safer call.
Reply to this Top
They (Morgan & her friends) made some bad decisions that night that we can all learn from, but place blame where it belongs...with the killer. A remote possibility she died from exposure (walking)...based on autopsy. JPA's policy is not unique, but I'm sure they will be sued...
Reply to this Top
Please remove the above comment.
Reply to this Top
Yes, please remove all comments that don't put the blame on third parties. In fact, please ban anyone with a dissenting opinion. I like going to discussion pages where everyone just agrees with each other. Let's have more of that.
Top
Way to blame the victim. The only fault here is that of the person who killed this young woman and I find it horrifying that you are placing the guilt on the victim.
Morgan is a victim and her death IS NOT her fault. It is the fault of the person who wrongly attacked her.
Next time you have a thought # 38 keep it to yourself.
Reply to this Top
Obviously the killer is to blame for killing her. Duh. But as far as putting herself in that situation, it's 100% the girl's fault. It is not at all any fault of the arena, Metallica, VT, UVA, Charlottesville, or anyone else. It's solely the girl's fault for wandering outside and deciding to go hitchhiking.
Top
Thoughts, and prayers to the family, and all those who care about Morgan. This is a sad say.
Students... I understand most of you are getting your first real taste of independence, but be careful, and aware at all times. Things can go from good, to bad, to worse in a hurry. Many of you will learn from this tragedy, and that knowledge, and awareness means that Morgan left a legacy within you. Look to that when you're making decisions about where to go, and what to so. It will serve you well.
Reply to this Top
I think what everyone is trying to say is RIP Morgan. Im praying for your family, and im so sorry you had to leave us. I hope many young girls learn from what you have now lost your life for.. I know i have. God Bless.
Reply to this Top
What a tragedy. The family at least as finality as to knowing where she is.
I am *not* a psychic, but I do want to say that when news of this story occurred, I felt strongly that she would be found dead months later in an off-road location within 20 miles of the arena. Thats often how these sorts of incidences of disappearances end up, if contact is not made with the missing person within a week (e.g. they ran away for whatever reason).
So someone probably picked her up, attacked her, maybe raped her and dragged her body out into the woods to be found at a much later date, if ever. Just because it's not near a highway doesn't mean anything. It is a remote location -- secluded (700 acre farm), allowing for egress and exit without detection.
It also remains fairly near US 29 and the I-64 interchange, meaning that backtracking for a killer not used to the area would be fairly straightforward.
Let's hope now that the investigators can find enough evidence to put together time line and find who did this.
Reply to this Top
Prayers definitely go out to the family but the question I keep coming back to is why would friends leave someone at a concert without any confirmation that they were alright or had another means to get home or make sure they are safe.
Reply to this Top
Good point I don't understand that either. The only thing I can think is alcohol was involved and inhibitions were lowered. I guess its a moot point but I wonder if they tried to call her after the show.
Reply to this Top
Watching the news today it brought back memories of a story that once happened to my family...My brother 23 was found in the woods after only 9 days. He to had been murdered. I still remember. My Mother and Father still remember. Our hearts goes out to the Harrington's Someone knows something and it's only a matter of time. May God be with us all.
Reply to this Top
We all need to be smarter in things we do in everyday life. We all take risk at times and when something like this happens we wake up for a while and then we go back taking risks again. Be smarter because you never know this could be one of our kids, sister, brother,mother, father or even our self.
Reply to this Top
Just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss -- I am sure your brother was a wonderful person who you deeply miss and mourn.
Reply to this Top
The party to be sued is Virginia Tech. I warned Tech at the time of the Cho shooting and got an acknowledgment form letter but nothing was done.
The fact that the body was 1 1/2 miles from a roadway eliminates a serial killer. She had to walk that far an die of exposure.
There is a long list of missing students like this. A few are just never found. Occasionally one recovers and returns giving us insight into what is happening.
This is something to warn other students about. Just as a matter of chance anyone of the other students at Tech might be the next Dissociative Fugue victim from Subliminal Distraction exposure.
The real shame is that the problem that causes this was discovered and SOLVED forty years ago.
Reply to this Top
I fail to realize how Virginia Tech is to blame for this unthinkable tragedy.
Reply to this Top
Sure. The Holocaust, the Black Plague, Milli Vanilli - it all points right back at VT. It's almost too eeeasyyy...
Reply to this Top
...but seriously, I don't want to participate in the trivialization of this situation. People offering their "expertise" like Mr./Mrs. Tucker up there are better off keeping their mouths shut and being thought fools than speaking up and proving it.
I am glad the Harrington family and Morgan's friends finally have some closure. I know that won't grant them "comfort" anytime soon, but now their grieving process can begin.
My thoughts and prayers, and those of many others, are with the Harrington family and friends as they close one difficult chapter and begin another.
Top
This happened at UVA in Charlottesville!! Why the heck would you sue VT??
Reply to this Top
LK Tucker - you aren't making any sense at all.
Your assertions mean nothing. You clearly know nothing. About anything!!! So shut it!
Reply to this Top
LOL there's some site online about that stuff LK tucker is talking about and it's actually pretty interesting but I doubt it pertains to the vast majority of missing people. Why he keeps insisting or promoting the idea is beyond me.
Not a lot of people suddenly decide to walk away and disappear or get lost because of a mental breakdown or whatever.
Top
She wasn't even a student at the time of the shootings....moron.
Reply to this Top
Of course, we should sue Virginia Tech for the Haiti earthquake too. We just didn't respond fast enough....
Reply to this Top
While not the best outcome I'm glad this case got some sort of closure/result that could push the investigation forward and hopefully provide evidence to what happened and who is responsible.
There are still so many questions to be answered. A few of mine is in relation to the crime scene.
1. Where exactly on the property was she found? All that is given is a "remote location" so from looking at the property on google maps, the person would have to most likely pass right in front of the house and use the long driveway ect. So maybe the person knows the property owner? Or have been there before?
2. What were the condition of the remains? Fully decomposed or partially ect. This would determine how long she has been out there or if she was alive for a few weeks after missing before dieing ect or if her body was hidden elsewhere for a while. If she was killed at that spot or somewhere else and dumped there ect. I hope in time they share those answers but in many cases they keep these details closed for good and leave us wondering.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Reply to this Top
@L K Tucker, I doubt she was a Dissociative Fugue victim from Subliminal Distraction exposure and just happened to wander all the way out there. Say she was suffering that someone surely should have picked her up and dumped her there.
I doubt your being serious but just in case.
Reply to this Top
was re reading post in paper farmer said grass (hay) would have been waist high at the time of disappearance there in hayfield. was hay made? would there have not been a stinch of rotten flesh then. At night car lights/light on your property not be able to see or hear strange sounds. just thinking....
Reply to this Top
Body deterioration would not attract much attention in an isolated segment of a 700 acre farm where the grass was waist high at that time. It's when a body is in an enclosed space that the odors really become apparent.
Top
It was a 742 acre property. At night, in a remote part of the farm, it would have been very simple to make plenty of noise without being detected.
Top
She was found at a location on the property about 1.5 miles from US 29, according to the farmer who found her. Remains were mostly skeletonized, some hair still on the head to indicate it was a blonde person. Clothes still remained in a recognizable status, those take longer to break down than three months according to the researchers at Tennessee's forensics "Body Farm".
Parents made the ID, not of the remains, which were not recognizable at that point, but of jewelry found on her. That often is done in grisly homicide situations rather than a direct body viewing.
Reply to this Top
It seems like the re-entry problem can be solved quite easily with existing technology....no easily copied rubber stamps required. Just scan the tickets of people who need to leave the arena and the computer updates those tickets as "not in the building". So if someone were to sneak someone else's ticket out in the hope of getting someone in who didn't pay, then the "other ticket" would come back as "Still in the building" and not signed out. Simple.
Top
Reply to David, post #52:
JPJ Arena is not an office building, elementary school or library there is not any reason for a check-in, check-out system as you suggest. Their existing system works fine, one person is allowed entry upon presentation of one bona fide, unaltered, untorn ticket for said event. Person enters with understanding that necessary services such as restrooms, food and drink are available in the venue during the performance and that there is no need for them to leave the building for such. Additionally, if they leave the building - there is ample warning in the form of signs that they will not be allowed reentry to the venue.
Morgan was smart enough to understand this, but somehow didn't think it applied to her or was too inebriated to understand. She should have just waited outside at the front door of the venue, or gone and sat in her car. However she chose to go wander off and hitch hike back to Roanoke. It doesn't justify what happened to her, but JPJ Arena is not responsible for her actions.
Top
Thanks, that provides some better information. A lot of articles I found didn't go into details just the fact that she was found at the farm near Rt 29 ect. The police obviously are withholding that information. I hope in time more answers will be revealed.
I've been following this since the night she disappeared and want answers as I'm sure everybody does.
My theory now is that she hitchhiked/got a ride from someone local or who knew the farm area very well and either:
1. Passed out or died accidentally due to intoxication or drugs possibly and the guy freaked and dumped her body where she died of exposure. That can't be answered unless the exact state of her intoxication is known.
2. Most likely, foul play is involved, the guy took her somewhere else. She freaked and was killed ect. and was dumped at that site. Or possibly there was a group involved that went out there to hang out and something happened on that site and she was left there unconscious or dead ect.
Hopefully in time the police will confirm or be able to determine those answers.
I was hoping she just ran away like Matthew J. Wilson who was found 8 months later thousands of miles away ect. I'm at least happy there is some kind of closure, many missing people are never found at all.
Top
The very sad truth is that there is now at least 2 killers are out there because this is now the 3rd murder of a VT student this year. We havent heard much catching the killers of the two kids from last fall.
Reply to this Top
The CT should not allow comments on articles like this. It becomes a forum for retarded idiots who have no respect for others.
Reply to this Top
I see you have nothing better to add either.
Reply to this Top
Well, while the police chief will not give a warning to people, it's clear there should be one: NEVER HITCHHIKE.
Reply to this Top
The Collegiate Times needs to shut down this comment page right now.
This is not helping. It is doing nothing constructive. CT is actually quite irresponsible at this moment and time.
Reply to this Top
How is having open discussion about a loss all of us our experiencing disrespectful. It shows a lot of people care or were captured by Morgan's disappearance.
The comments should be censored and some removed as goes with any article if disrespectful but not the entire forum.
Reply to this Top
And what would you suggest would be more "constructive" and "responsible". Everybody keeping to themselves and offering no support or sympathy?
We're a community discussion with others following the story is a way of coping for many including myself.
Yes it should be respectful and some comments should be censored but not ALL are disrespectful.
Reply to this Top
Some of you are confusing this with a Facebook memorial page intent for family and friends. Yes, discussing facts from the case will always sound disrespectful from that perspective. If greater awareness of staying together in such situations (shared ride / new venues) and never hitchhiking is a result then I'm all for spreading the word....
Reply to this Top
Mark wrote: "I disagree. The venue is absolutely responsible for her death. If they had a policy in place to ensure people didn't use tickets twice, this girl would still be alive."
No, the people who buy Metallica records and tickets are to blame. If they did not buy these products, then the band would go bust and there would not have been any concert in the first place. Then that girl would still be alive.
Reply to this Top
PS. I'm being sarcastic here.
Reply to this Top
My 17 year old daughter hates how I am a nagging Mother who never misses an opportunity to quiz her on safety or go over yet another scary scenario and how to avoid it and how to get out of it. She really hates it but I drill it in anyway. Hopefully its info she will never need, but I know that if she ever does she will hear my voice in her mind talking her through how to escape harms way. God Bless our babies!
Reply to this Top
Even though I'm a student and have been/still am in your daughter's position of dealing with the nagging parent, it really hits home when tragedies like this occur. "Don't talk to strangers" (much older especially), "don't hitchhike or ask for a ride" seem like common sense to a lot of us but I guess sometimes people think "It won't happen to me" and it leads to tragedies like this. I know when I become a parent I'll definitely make sure to emphasize this stuff.
If all else, at least as a parent you can say you did everything you could to prepare your kid for being safely independent and safe even if an unfortunate event occurs.
I tend to believe things happen for reasons unknown many times and I believe Morgan was meant to set an example for the rest of us in some way.
Just because we're 20 somethings doesn't mean we're not targets especially females.
Also I take this as a lesson personally to watch out for each other when you can, don't let a friend "find a way home by him/herself" especially far away ect. I notice girls usually stick in groups and it's much safer that way. I believe if Morgan was with a group of friends or at least waited this wouldn't have happened.
Reply to this Top
Good comments charlie. Add in: underage drinking = bad idea. . .
Top
To Morgan's parents my prayers are with you, I do know God will hold you up & take you through this heartbreaking time. My niece was 21 when she was killed by a drunk driver February will be 3 yrs, our hearts are still broken & we still miss her just as much today. It puts a hurt in your hear that no amount of time will ever heal. I do think her "so called friends" are some-what to blame after all who lets a friend just leave especially a beautiful girl like Morgan to find a way home alone, a true friend would never let a friend just leave on her/his own. You were suppose to watch out for each other! God Bless the Harrington Family.
Reply to this Top
So it'd be okay if the girl was ugly and her friends let her wander home by herself? Nice to know how shallow some people are.
Reply to this Top
A site named <a href="http://www.pskiller.com/">Photoshop Killer</a> can expose PSed images! I just Googled an image which was photoshopped and then uploaded it to pskiller.com. The forensics analysis started just after I clicked the submit button and detailed information was shown then. The result was correct.
Reply to this Top