Months have passed since Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington's disappearance Oct. 17, but state police continue to stress that the investigation is still active and that anyone with relevant information should not hesitate to contact them.
"There are about 600 leads at this time, but unfortunately nothing has been able to get us beyond knowing that her last sighting was at 9:30 p.m. at Copeley Road Bridge," Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller said. "We have to find other sources before we can put [information from other leads] on the timeline and be confident that it is her."
Though investigators have confirmed that Harrington was last seen hitchhiking at 9:30 that night, they do not have sufficient evidence to prove or disprove that she fell victim to foul play, Geller said. In addition, police were able to retrieve Harrington's purse and necklace but have not yet located a red digital camera that they believe was in her possession at the time of her disappearance.
While anyone who picked up Harrington after her last known sighting may be scared of the possible implications, those with information are urged to contact the investigators, Geller said.
"We'd hate to have anyone who just picked her up and dropped her at a gas station [to be reluctant to talk to us] because that person holds a very vital key to finding more information," Geller said. "Investigators are willing to work with that person because right now the focus is on finding Morgan and bringing her back to her family."
Even persons who have not seen Harrington since her disappearance can still be of assistance to the investigation, Geller said. For example, if anyone has noticed someone else acting strangely since around the time of the disappearance, he or she is encouraged to report the information.
The passage of time, though, may have lessened students' and their families' concerns about their safety, first-year College student Veronica Elkins said. Nevertheless, Winter Break has not necessarily made the University community apathetic about Harrington's disappearance, many students said.
"There aren't as many signs," first-year College student Maggie Wood said. "I haven't heard a lot of people talking about it. But I think it's scarier the longer she's gone"
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