Reward for Missing Virginia Tech Student

Man Tells CBS Affiliate About Encounter With 20-Yr-Old Woman Just Before Her Disappearance at Metallica Concert

(CBS)  The family of a missing Virginia Tech student is offering a reward of at least $100,000.

Twenty-year-old Morgan Dana Harrington disappeared Saturday night after she became separated from her friends at a Metallica concert.

Appearing on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, Dr. Dan Harrington said they've not heard any news from the police in the last 12 hours.

"My understanding is that the FBI's been called into the case, but there's really from my understanding no significant new leads," he said.

"It has been hugely difficult," Morgan's mother, Gil Harrington, said of their ordeal. "One thing that's helping us, though, is that as medical people, we are used to putting our emotions on hold in crises and difficult situations in order to get a task done and to deal with problems. And that skill that we have is really useful right now."

She admitted, however, that it is more difficult because it concerns their daughter. "And the longer the time goes on, the more frightening it becomes," she said.

Last night in Roanoke County, Va., dozens turned out for a vigil at the high school Morgan Harrington once attended. Everyone received a purple balloon.

Organizers say the color (Harrington's favorite) symbolizes hope.

"I am humbled standing here today to feel the outpouring of love that you are raining down on our family," Gil Harrington said last night. "And that love is vital to us right now, as we try and locate Morgan and to survive this obscene place in time where we have landed ourselves."

During the vigil, Harrington's father announced that family and friends have raised $100,000 for a reward.

One University of Virginia graduate said he remembers seeing Morgan Harrington before Saturday night's concert in the parking lot.

"It was definitely her. I'm 100% certain of that," he said.

Gardner, a 2005 UVA grad who now works in New Jersey, came back to Charlottesville to see Metallica.

"She pulled up with her party and got out of the car and kind of immediately engaged me and my brother and my cousin and my friend who were at the concert," he told CBS Station WDBJ correspondent Jean Jadhon. "She did seem excited for Metallica, "because she asked us who the opening act was. We told her and then she immediately said, 'Well, who cares anyway? We're here to see Metallica, right?'"

Gardner says Harrington was anxious to get into the arena. "It was clear to us she wanted to get in there and no one else was in as big of a hurry as her and it was frustrating for her," he said.

Gardner said he did not see evidence that either Harrington or the people in the car she was in were drinking, and didn’t want to speculate on it.

Harrington only spoke to Gardner's group for a few minutes before heading toward the arena, but he says he remembers seeing the car after the concert - without Morgan.

"There were definitely just three people in the car, and she was the only one we spoke to, and we all noticed that she wasn't in the car," he said.

Gardner did not think much about it until ... "My Dad e-mailed me and said, 'Did you hear someone vanished at the concert?' And I, you know, I got online out of curiosity and a chill just ran straight down my spine when I saw the picture."

Harrington's purse and cell phone were found by a passer-by in the parking lot between the arena and an athletic field. Virginia State police say there's no sign of any type of struggle in the area.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Morgan Harrington Tip Hotline at [phone]. There is also mor einformation at a Web site, findmorgan.com.

[lovetaps1]

OMG! This has happened on occassion, we as young scared females would turn to parking lot security to catch a ride to nearest office to contact upper management security or police. I have a personal experience where I was left alone and with parking lot security once and I also had a experience with a police officer who was getting off his shift and offered me a ride home, both were a bad experience and a lesson learned but not reported by myself for my own reasons.

[mike18881]

how about the 9 year old in Alabama who's missing? No news about her?

[dannystroup]

Next he'll be saying,"I remember seeing a purse and cell phone lying in the parking lot and said to myself,'gee...I hope it doesn't belong to the girl who wasn't in the car with her friends that I talked to before the concert.'"

[zozozu]

I totally agree with Rondivoo. Anyone who can take this Gardner dude's ridiculous story with a straight face should be reading tabloids and not news. Doesn't sound like there's a grain of truth to it and he should definitely become a "person of interest". Anyone so desparate to make himself a center of attention to a crime in this way is up to no good somehow or other, either he was involved or he has some sick need to put in the spotlight.

[Ms_enza]

Gardner was in a group. It's probable the police have talked to them all.

"There were definitely just three people in the car, and she was the only one we spoke to, and we all noticed that she wasn't in the car," he said.

[rondivoo]

Police should thoroughly question this dude who said he talked to her in the parking lot BEFORE the concert .... What are the odds that he would see her in the car with her friends and that he would talk to her BEFORE the concert.... and ALSO notice.... AFTER the concert that she was NOT in the car... and this happening in a place with so many people in attendance. I think this guy knows more than he's saying.