Birthday memorial for Morgan
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Supporters of Morgan Harrington and the Harrington family will gather Saturday, July 24 on the Copeley Road Bridge memorial at 11am to mark what would have been the young woman’s 21st birthday. Harrington disappeared after attending a Metallica show at the John Paul Jones Arena on October 17, 2009. Her remains were discovered on an Albemarle County Farm in late January. On July 1, state police revealed that forensic evidence linked Morgan’s case to a 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax. Police released a composite sketch of a man who may have committed both crimes, but do not know his identity.
Saturday’s event will feature the release of 21 balloons carrying mini-flyers with the sketch, and cake will be served on a grassy area near the bridge.
The birthday memorial will be the second Morgan related event this week. Today, Friday, July 23, the First Annual Morgan Harrington Memorial Golf Tournament is taking place at the Hanging Rock Golf Club in Salem, Virginia. Proceeds from that event will go toward construction of the Morgan Harrington Education Wing at the Orphan Medical Network International village in Zambia, Africa.
Let’s find the absolute freak who is responsible for these horrific crimes and put him in a cage for the rest of his life… Until then, this could happen to someone you love
I am sorry for the Harrington family but isnt it time to let Morgan rest in peace? I know its hard to go on with the thoughts of what happened to her but until there is someone arrested for this,i am tired of seeing something on the internet about her birthday,this is a time for family to think about her but we all dont need this pushed in our face every few weeks…God Bless Morgan and family….I hope your murderer is arrested or meets his doom soon!
Completely disagree with you, James… I feel it is most important to keep Morgan’s name front and center. Not only is this therapeutic for the family and friends, it is critical for keeping law enforcement, University and public service agencies mindful of the real danger in this community. The lapse in oversight of “security” for our citizens has been just one important aspect brought to light through this case. If we were to stop talking about it, there may be no further steps taken to prevent this tragedy from happening to another family.
How will we feel about apathy when the next victim is struck?
I estimate this articles gets 80-100 comments.
I understand why the family is doing what they do, and releasing 21 balloons with the composite sketch of the guy who was linked to her case via forensic evidence from the Fairfax case is a neat idea in my opinion (providing of course that authorities are not mistaken in interpreting the forensic evidence, whatever that evidence actually was). The only thing that makes me pause is the continued focus on Copeley Bridge. There is no definitive proof that Morgan was ever in fact hitch hiking on that bridge, or that it really was the last place where she was sighted. She may never have been there at all. So that’s the only thing that gives me pause, it the continued focus on Copeley Bridge, and choosing to make a scene on that bridge.
sad. but agree, we need to stop with the weekly PR blitz. Her parents are entitled to do whatever they want, but it will start to look bad shortly. the police will continue to work the case, they dont need weekly press events and poems to do their job.
someone above commented these events help keep the university focused? on what? they dont investigate crimes and its silly to continue to try to tie UVA or the JPJ to the perp. havent we run out of basketball players, lacrosse players, frat boys, arena workers to blame? maybe it was just a random bad dude.
chouva…I think the comment about keeping UVA focused refers to keeping them and the community focused on the fact that a killer is still yet to be found. Safety for the community is the number one reason the Harrrington family is keeping this case front and center. They are normally quiet, private people. But please no more victims!
By the way, when Courteney says “supporters of Morgan Harrington “and the Harrington family” will be there, she means that Supporters of the family will be there. The Harringtons will not be at the bridge for this event. Many friends of the family and supporters will be there. I think the golf tournament today to raise money for OMNI is enough to sufficiently wear them out…100 golfers! They can recover and recognize Morgan’s birthday tomorrow privately and in peace.
Yes, the University of Virginia must be more vigilant about the safety of its students. … maybe even set the standard for all VA universities. I am not implying that we need to “tie” this crime to UVA or JPJ, but this is the location of the disappearance of a murdered girl. We need to do all that we can to raise awareness for safety for our citizens, and most especially our young, vulnerable students.
The issue here is whether U.Va. needs to be more vigilant about the safety of concertgoers at JPJ. I don’t know. If someone wandered off from a show at the MCI Arena in DC and disappeared from a DC street and was later found murdered, would people complain that security at the venue was lax?
it won’t look bad until the killer(s) are found. this should be the most important story / situation in the town. a girl was murdered. argue all you want, but you will look like a chump if you don’t support the prevention of something like this ever happening again. Peace be with you, Harrington Family, and don’t stop until justice is served. from the little i know about Morgan, this is exactly what she would want!
Dear chova,james
You are kidding me. What if it that was your daughter.They are doing what any loving family would do. If you just let the coverage go than life will go on as if nothing happened. Thats what this creep wants and needs. If you dont want to face reality that a serial killer is here in charlottesville then you are sadly mistaken. This community needs more awareness for the safety of our citizens and children.
My heart goes out to these and any parents who have this kind of tragic event happen in their lives. My daughter was sexually assaulted this year in our great school systems and I know from first hand experience no one cares about the victims so I know what its like and hope they keep going with the publicity until something is done and the pervert is found and sentenced.
There are no real programs in our area to deal with violent sexual assualt or even murder to help the families and victims in their time of need. We need to pull together as a community and not drop this issue and help each other in the times of need and support and not turn our back or cheek on the victims and their families.
This pervert is sick and will pay the price one day by “GOD ALMIGHTY”
The police say they say found a DNA link between a rape suspect in Fairfax and evidence gathered in the Harrington case. If it was a cop/FBI agent(s) from Fairfax with access to that department’s forensic files who murdered Morgan Harrington (maybe the same cop that some suspect murdered all those other folks in the Fairfax area), of course he’d plant some of that DNA he got from the evidence lab on Morgan’s body. Of course, that scenario will never be investigated. That would discourage cops from killing people and framing others for it.
Peace to everyone tonight. This was not Dan and Gil’s idea. It was our idea to do this. Please do not blame them for this at all. I asked a few friends to meet this weekend at Copley Bridge to pray for justice. That’s how this all got started. One thing led to another and other ideas started pouring in. The balloons and cake was to remember Morgan’s 21st birthday but again it only started out with just a few friends that were going to meet. The golf tournament was not their idea either. It was Morgan’s friend out of love that put that together. It was a huge success and every golfer there said it was the most fun they had in a long time. So again, I know it may look like Dan and Gil doing this but we are the ones that enjoy doing this for this family. They opened up their hearts and home to us and we all feel like part of their family. If you should ever meet them you too would see what we have been talking about. They are two of the most loving individuals you will ever meet in your life. Hope everyone is staying in out of this heat. Thanks to The Hook for agreeing to show up tomorrow.
Kenny I and my family support your statement 100% every word well represents the effort. I just checked, I have 17 candles for earthquakes. We will buy another dozen. We will light 21 candles and the little ones will have 21 cupcakes. We are looking for purple food coloring God bless all of you! Alex, Gil and Dan my Father says from all of our family our hearts go out to you. I say Morgan, you will never be forgotten in this Country and I doubt in the English speaking world. Morgan you made this Earth a better Planet, and thank You!
Thank you “The Hook” And again Thank You Kenny!
To the Harringtons & Friends,
Keep Marching on as you should until Morgan’s murderer is identified & located. Praying for a wonderful gathering tomorrow . I will be with you all in spirit & Prayer as always. Love to you all !
God ~ Bless ~ Morgan ~ Dana ~ Harrington Forever !
2 ~ 4 ~ 1
alabamamom
• boooo! July 23rd, 2010 | 2:40 pm
I understand why the family is doing what they do, and releasing 21 balloons with the composite sketch of the guy who was linked to her case via forensic evidence from the Fairfax case is a neat idea in my opinion (providing of course that authorities are not mistaken in interpreting the forensic evidence, whatever that evidence actually was). The only thing that makes me pause is the continued focus on Copeley Bridge. There is no definitive proof that Morgan was ever in fact hitch hiking on that bridge, or that it really was the last place where she was sighted. She may never have been there at all. So that’s the only thing that gives me pause, it the continued focus on Copeley Bridge, and choosing to make a scene on that bridge.
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Hi Booooo…..the reason that we meet at the bridge is because it has become a symbol of Morgan’s disappearance and murder. Copely Bridge is the last place that Morgan was seen. It is also a main thoroughfare from JPJA to 250.
Whether or not we have definitive proof, the bridge has become a symbol of a beautiful young woman, who SHOULD BE celebrating her 21st birthday tomorrow.
Boooo….where else would we go? Morgan’s case needs to remain imprinted in the community of Charlottesville’s minds, at least until her MURDERER is caught and convicted. It really does not matter where we go, as long as we go. We are not going to stop. If we stop, then Charlottesville forgets. We are not going to let this happen.
Peace to you booo…I hope this weighs heavy on your heart and you join us tomorrow at the bridge. The Harrington’s need your support too.
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thank you Kenny and Ariaes46 for doing this. I am sure this mean a lot to Morgans parents. Keep the positive vibe going please!
I am sorry, very much. Of course Africa and all Continents are included. I was crass in my my portion and not authorized by Mom and Dad. I may of offended people from this whole planet, I am sorry.
I make mistakes, that was my on my own addition to my Family’s Statement. I was taken to the wood shed, And I deserved it.
The Whole Earth no matter what language will learn and be be better for for for Morgan’s short time on earth.
I am so sorry, I neglected the other members of our planet. That was my statement not my Father’s or My Mother’s.
I am very sad that that I diminished my Parent’s Statement. Please hold me solely responsible. Lars, please forgive me. Gil please forgive me but most of all to the the whole earth, Please forgive me. I think Morgan transcends language and I showed my short comings. I apologize.
The Harrington’s, Kenny, Metallica, The Hook and every one I offended, I am solely responsible, My families message should have been printed without my statement. No excuses, I am responsible, solely!
Whatever the parents and community need to do to grieve is fine with me. Violence against women doesn’t get nearly enough attention, and it’s good to see this particular community actually dealing with it. I’m not questioning the Fairfax cops, in fact I’m shocked in a GOOD way that the they actually did their job on the old rape case, because in my experience police in certain areas of Virginia don’t take rape seriously at all. But with that said, the Fairfax “community” must not have done enough to catch the rapist/murderer, because he’s still out there, isn’t he? If this much is what it takes, I’m glad it’s being done. Let’s get that roving serial rapist/murderer locked safely away from the rest of us.
It’s funny how people try to put their anti-death penalty feelings in to posts, like: “put him in a cage for the rest of his life.” This is someone who MURDERED someone, crushed her bones, and possibly brutally assaulted another woman, and they just want to put him behind bars for life?!
Anyway, my points here are: if Morgan was killed by the same guy who is in the “drawing,” did she get in to a car with him?
Would he really have just attacked her in a parking lot and then dragged her dead body in to a car?
If she had gotten in to a car with him, then why? Was it to use drugs?
Was Morgan a drug-user?
Was Morgan a drug-addict?
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My last question is this: Is this topic something that has prevented the case from being solved?
Well with time difference. The Candles are glowing. The children are a sleep. They are bright, my Niece while falling to sleep [3 years old] looked at Morgans art work and ask me is this Christmas? Even I the old fool almost cried at age 3 she said she is beautiful. My niece does not understand color of skin or fashion models or Television. She was looking at Morgan as a child does, her question was probably this easy ever asked. [she can ask some tough ones]. With the candles and conversations, I just had to pick her up and hold her, I said yes Morgan IS beautiful!
Sorry,. I really can’t do anything more. I am just just tired! God bless all of the girls and women. Every where. She is sleeping and I can only think, let us change this world.
But with that said, the Fairfax “community” must not have done enough to catch the rapist/murderer, because he’s still out there, isn’t he?
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Well, Fairfax “County” has over a million people. Are you really suggesting that it’s surprising that an area with that population has unsolved crimes?
Happy Birthday Morgan you will always be lovingly remembered
Hey, I’m just saying that this guy is still on the streets because Fairfax failed the last victim, even though they put forth SOME effort. And that’s the key - you can gripe that the Harringtons are doing too much, but obviously whatever EVERYONE has done so far ISN’T EVEN ENOUGH. So if you want to gripe, it should be about people NOT doing enough, not the other way around.
Here’s another thought for you — most of the time, composite sketches aren’t even made of “mere” rapists until they’ve already terrorized a neighborhood. I remember one city didn’t bother getting a sketch of an inner city rapist until he had raped something like 13 women in a short period of time and the police were hot under the collar to get him locked up. We haven’t heard about the circumstances behind the Fairfax case — why did they bother to do a sketch? Did he already have a dozen victims behind him?
You can say Fairfax has a million people and so “of course” they have unsolved crimes. Well, that’s a pretty serious crime to leave unsolved. If you want those kinds of crimes unsolved in your community because “of course” every community has unsolved crimes, then feel free to enjoy that guy wandering your community, free to rape and kill you/your daughter/your mother/your wife/your sister/your cousins. But if you don’t want to leave the crime unsolved, then I’d suggest people stop griping about the Harringtons and do something constructive for a change.
I’d suggest people stop griping about the Harringtons and do something constructive for a change.
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You mean, like having a balanced and reasoned perspective on things, rather than a tabloid mentality? I am confident that you are aware of the well known finding that people who tend to watch true crime television shows and follow notable criminal cases tend to significantly overestimate crime levels and the probability of being involved in a crime.
I am so glad that it was a wonderful birthday celebration for Morgan. This was something I knew we had to do being it was her birthday we had to come together and show our love and respect for Morgan!