At an afternoon news conference Thursday, Lt. Joe Rader, the lead investigator for Virginia State Police in the death of Morgan Harrington, made an impassioned plea to the local community.
Investigators need information from locals about the area in and around Anchorage Farms.
Harrington's remains were found in a remote area of the 700-acre Albemarle County farm on January 26, more than three months after her disappearance from John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville during a Metallica rock concert. The medical examiner has not released the cause of death, but calls the case a homicide.
Rader repeatedly stressed the importance of the remains' location in finding whoever was responsible for what he called a "tragedy." So important, he said, a special tip-line has been established: 434-709-1685.
He said the person or persons involved would have had intimate knowledge of the terrain necessary to traverse to get there, including, he said, streams, fences and other unexpected challenges. He added, such knowledge would be critical to someone enduring a "high-stress moment," although he would not confirm whether that "moment" meant disposing of a body. David Bass, the property owner, has said the nearest road was more than a mile away from the spot where her body was found.
In urging members of the local Albemarle County community to come forward with whatever information about Anchorage Farms they might have, Rader stressed investigators were not "looking for names" just information about what activities may have gone on from time to time on the property. He would not specify what activities may have been involved, but owner Bass has said hunters sometimes used his property. When asked whether the location may have been used for "parties," Rader would not answer. Rader said information about people who passed through, or worked on the Farms was important, and no bit of information was insignificant.
He asked the community to listen to six key points of "significance:"
1. The person responsible for the tragedy of Morgan Harrington, may or may not be formally connected to the Anchorage Farm properties, but investigators believe that person may have travelled, worked, recreated, or passed through that particular farm or the area close by.
2. As a result of the responsible person's past experience with that location or general area where Morgan's body was recovered, that person was inclined to return to the area in a high-stress situation.
3. Investigators are confident that someone knows the offender (through no fault of their own) and investigators need that information.
4. Investigators believe the person involved has specific knowledge and was comfortable operating in the area where Morgan's body was located. It was a significant distance from a roadway.
5. The choice of that particular area is important. It would have been a higher risk location unless you are familiar with the area. People living in that area understand what that means.
6. Travelling to Anchorage Farm location would have created a significant risk for anyone not familiar with that area and not comfortable with that type of area. Farmland such as where Morgan's body was found, has obstacles like streams, fences and terrain that changes. It can be very risky unless you are familiar with the area.
Rader concluded by pointing out the person responsible would have "passed up other more convenient areas" --presumably for disposal of her body -- en route to the remote Anchorage Farms locale.
Investigators need information from locals about the area in and around Anchorage Farms.
Harrington's remains were found in a remote area of the 700-acre Albemarle County farm on January 26, more than three months after her disappearance from John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville during a Metallica rock concert. The medical examiner has not released the cause of death, but calls the case a homicide.
Rader repeatedly stressed the importance of the remains' location in finding whoever was responsible for what he called a "tragedy." So important, he said, a special tip-line has been established: 434-709-1685.
He said the person or persons involved would have had intimate knowledge of the terrain necessary to traverse to get there, including, he said, streams, fences and other unexpected challenges. He added, such knowledge would be critical to someone enduring a "high-stress moment," although he would not confirm whether that "moment" meant disposing of a body. David Bass, the property owner, has said the nearest road was more than a mile away from the spot where her body was found.
In urging members of the local Albemarle County community to come forward with whatever information about Anchorage Farms they might have, Rader stressed investigators were not "looking for names" just information about what activities may have gone on from time to time on the property. He would not specify what activities may have been involved, but owner Bass has said hunters sometimes used his property. When asked whether the location may have been used for "parties," Rader would not answer. Rader said information about people who passed through, or worked on the Farms was important, and no bit of information was insignificant.
He asked the community to listen to six key points of "significance:"
1. The person responsible for the tragedy of Morgan Harrington, may or may not be formally connected to the Anchorage Farm properties, but investigators believe that person may have travelled, worked, recreated, or passed through that particular farm or the area close by.
2. As a result of the responsible person's past experience with that location or general area where Morgan's body was recovered, that person was inclined to return to the area in a high-stress situation.
3. Investigators are confident that someone knows the offender (through no fault of their own) and investigators need that information.
4. Investigators believe the person involved has specific knowledge and was comfortable operating in the area where Morgan's body was located. It was a significant distance from a roadway.
5. The choice of that particular area is important. It would have been a higher risk location unless you are familiar with the area. People living in that area understand what that means.
6. Travelling to Anchorage Farm location would have created a significant risk for anyone not familiar with that area and not comfortable with that type of area. Farmland such as where Morgan's body was found, has obstacles like streams, fences and terrain that changes. It can be very risky unless you are familiar with the area.
Rader concluded by pointing out the person responsible would have "passed up other more convenient areas" --presumably for disposal of her body -- en route to the remote Anchorage Farms locale.
