Heather Gioia, Broadside Correspondent
Popular metal band Metallica announced last Friday that they were giving $50,000 towards the reward for any information about Morgan Harrington, the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who went missing during the band’s concert at the University of Virginia on Oct. 17. The total reward currently stands at $150,000.
According to CBS News, Harrington and her friends were together to see opening act Lamb of God, who took the stage at 7 p.m.
Sometime before 8:40 p.m. Harrington stepped outside to and was denied re-entry under John Paul Jones Arena’s policy according to a press release from the Virginia State Police.
After being denied re-entry, friends phoned Harrington who told them not to wait for her and that she would find her own ride home. Following the concert, Harrington’s cell phone and purse were found in a parking lot of the John Paul Jones Arena the following morning. There was no sign of any struggle in the area according to the release.
Harrington’s parents reported her missing when she failed to show up at their home in Roanoke, Va. on Oct. 18.
On Oct. 20, Metallica released a statement on their official website about Harrington’s disappearance.
“We are deeply concerned about the disappearance of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington, who was last seen while attending our concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday night.”
The band also asked all of those who attended the concert to go back and review photographs and videos taken at the concert for anyone who looks like Harrington.
Metallica concluded that message with, “our thoughts are with Morgan and her family for her safe return.”
According to the Virginia State Police press release, “potential leads and tips continue to pour in from around the country” in regards to Harrington’s disappearance.
As of Oct. 21, more than 100 tips were received by the Virginia State Police. Surveillance video footage from the arena and businesses in the immediate area have so far revealed nothing relevant to the investigation according to the release.
Harrington is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a Pantera T-shirt, a black skirt, black tights and knee-high black boots.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the Morgan Harrington Tip Hotline at (434) 352-3467. More information can be found at http://findmorgan.com.
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