MORGAN HARRINGTON's Parents' Press Conference Regarding Discovery Of Daughter's Remains

January 30, 2010

Video footage of Dan and Gil Harrington's January 27, 2010 press conference at Copeley Bridge in Charlottesville, Virginia on the discovery of their of 20-year-old daughter Morgan's body can be viewed below.

According to WSLS 10, Dan Harrington opened the press conference by saying the results of the case were "not what we had hoped for," but added that it does offer some closure for the family. He added that he believes Morgan was murdered, and the family will not rest until her killer has been found.

Gil Harrington said the sorrow the family feels is "etched into our faces." She added that for the first time in 131 days, she felt "faint tindrils of hope" not having to think of what someone is doing to her daughter. Gil Harrington also said her daughter "had some lovely bones," ostensibly a reference to the book and movie about a different murdered child.

Dan Harrington said they had not been to the field itself, but State Police flew he and his wife over the field in a helicopter on Tuesday.

The family placed a black ribbon on the Copeley Bridge on the University of Virginia's campus after the news conference. The bridge was the last place police say Morgan was seen alive the night of the METALLICA concert, October 17, 2009. The Harringtons said they chose the bridge for the news conference because of that.

Dan Harrington says the family plans to regroup and figure out how to honor Morgan's life. He added that the family plans to go forward with Morgan's work, volunteering with mental health groups.

METALLICA posted a statement on Wednesday (January 27) regarding the discovery of Morgan Harrington's remains. In the statement posted at their official web site, called "The Loss Of A Fan," the band wrote in part, "We are profoundly saddened by the news of the discovery of Morgan Dana Harrington's body . . . Mere words cannot express the anguish and grief that we know her parents Dan and Gil are feeling, and our thoughts are with them."

The band's message added, "If you have any information at all about Morgan's death, please contact the Virginia State Police at (434) 352-3425 or the UVA Police at (434) 352-3467 or [email protected]."

The state medical examiner confirmed that the remains found on a farm in Albemarle County, Virginia on Tuesday (January 26) are those of Harrington.

State police said that identification was made through dental records provided by Harrington's parents. Authorities are now investigating the time and cause of Harrington's death.

Dan Harrington told local TV station CBS 6, "This may sound strange, but we have found some peace in all of this. It wasn't the outcome that we wanted but we know now where our daughter is and there is peace in that."

Harrington vanished from outside the John Paul Jones Arena on October 17 after she accidentally left the venue and was unable to get back in. Her body was found in a remote section of a 700-acre farm 10 miles from the arena.

Her disappearance led to national attention and an extensive search. METALLICA offered $50,000 for information about her whereabouts, in addition to the $100,000 reward that had been offered by her parents.

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