Placards for Morgan Harrington on Copeley Bridge, where she was last seen alive, exemplify community outrage about the Virginia Tech student’s murder. Officials hope testing will provide clues. Photo by Albin Oh.
Medical examiners are now analyzing the remains of Morgan Dana Harrington, the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student whose body was found Jan. 26 on Anchorage Farm, about 10 miles south of where she had last been seen on the Copeley Road Bridge.
The cause of Harrington’s death has yet to be determined, but the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond has submitted samples to the Department of Forensic Science for toxicology studies, said Steve Murman, the office’s district administrator. The results of these studies usually return after 8-12 weeks, he said. It will take five to six months before the medical examiner can then release the DNA analysis, Harrington’s parents said.
Though the information gained from these studies might not be conclusive, it still should contribute to the investigation.
“In all medical examiner cases, we try to obtain as much information as we can from third-party sources such as hospital medical records and police reports along with other specialized tests such as toxicology studies,” Murman said.
Although state police members continuously are receiving tips, they have not been able to verify any new information during the past two weeks.
“As far as state police is concerned, there’s nothing new to release related to the investigation,” State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller said.
Police officers are looking specifically for people who know about the area around Anchorage Farm, said Dan Harrington, the father of the deceased.
“It’s not a place that anyone would know unless they’re familiar with that specific area,” he said.
Nevertheless, officials are looking at the case from all angles so that they can obtain as much information as they can, Murman said.
Anyone with information about Harrington’s disappearance should contact the Virginia State Police tip-line at (434)352-3467, officials said. Tips can be e-mailed to bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov, as well.
Why was Morgan’s ‘murder’ case not bumped to the top of the list for toxicology testing? Surely a ‘murder’ case carries more weight than any other reasons behind a toxicology test. Especially, if there’s a ‘murderer’ roaming free within the community. Why wasn’t her case given higher priority?
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You know, this is really sad, but you’re lucky when law enforcement takes the time to investigate any case that might take more than a few minutes to solve, or might be difficult to prove. Unless they show up and catch someone in the act, they may or may not get around to it.
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I don’t see where a toxicology report will catch the culprits but only possibly help the medical examiner determine her cause of death. What DNA analysis are the parents talking about?
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The DNA analysis might be seeing if there was any DNA on her bracelets, skin that was left, and clothes that could lead up to who could have been with her last
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The whole story is bizarre.
The VA tech killings are bizarre.
There may be some international organized criminals who are trying to use this as a way to steal our civil rights.
Read Title 18 USC 241: Conspiracy against Civil Rights.
How would you convince Americans to give up their civil liberties?
Answer: By making them think it will bring safety for them and their children.
(think Bush and 9/11)
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As I have been reading and keeping up with this case, I found some articles that talk about how police will likely catch Morgan’s killer now. The articles are on a website called Associated Content. The writer’s name is Radell Hunter. I think she is some kind of serial crime profiler or something.
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This was an awful thing to happen. I hope the truth is known as God knows the truth in this matter.
Does the coroner offer any evidence to the cause of death? You keep saying “he” or “him” did this aweful thing. How do we know it was a “he” without any evidence from the coroner? Everyone is assuming it was some sort of stalker or predator, but there have been surprises in many cases where a presumption is made without the Coroner’s report and findings.
Why are the police mum?
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