UVa police searching for missing Tech student
October 19, 2009
The University of Virginia Police Department is looking into the disappearance of a Virginia Tech student near the UVA campus.
Morgan Harrington
Virginia State Police positively identified remains found on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2010, on a farm outside Charlottesville as those of Virginia Tech junior education major Morgan Dana Harrington (July 24, 1989 - October 2009).
The 20-year-old Harrington had been missing since Oct. 17, 2009, when she was in Charlottesville, Va., for a Metallica concert at the University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena.
Police said they are "fairly confident" the remains belong to Harrington, but await forensic evidence from Richmond for confirmation.
After finding herself outside the arena while reportedly looking for a bathroom, Harrington was seen at various points outside the arena from 8:20 to 8:48 p.m., when she told her friends via cell phone she would look for a ride to James Madison University where she was planning on staying that evening.
Traveling through several lots surrounding the arena, Harrington was last seen walking on the Copeley Road railroad bridge between 9:20 and 9:30 p.m.
A reward, established through the Jefferson Area Crimestoppers, was set at $150,000, including a $50,000 contribution from Metallica. Those with information on Harrington are asked to call a special Virginia State Police tip line at (434) 352-3467.
Numerous community searches were conducted, but never focused on the site where remains were found. The owner of the property, Anchorage Farms, said he had not been to that area of the farm since August.