Metal band Metallica joins hunt for killer
The FBI issued this composite drawing of the suspect in a 2005 sexual assault that is linked by DNA evidence to the 2009 murder of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington.
June 13th, 2012
03:57 PM ET

Metal band Metallica joins hunt for killer

Metallica is doing its part to help the FBI solve the murder of a 20-year-old college student after a 2009 concert by the rock band in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In a one-minute announcement on YouTube, Metallica frontman James Hetfield urges anyone who knows anything about what happened to Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington to contact authorities.

"Remember, any information, no matter how small you think it is, could be that crucial piece investigators need to help solve the case," Hetfield says in the video, with guitars and amplifiers in the background.

The band offered $10,000 in 2010 for information leading to an arrest in the case; the reward fund since has grown to $150,000, Hetfield says.

"This crime we feel was horrific in nature and what we want to do is bring closure to Morgan's family," Virginia State Police Capt. Timothy Lyon says in a video on the FBI's website. "We want an arrest, and that's what we're committed to doing."

Morgan Harrington

The FBI says Harrington was last seen hitchhiking on a Charlottesville bridge after leaving the concert before it was over on October 17, 2009. Her body was found in a field four months later. She had been wearing a distinctive silver necklace with Swarovski crystals, which has not been recovered.

The FBI says DNA evidence links Harrington's case to a 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax, Virginia. The bureau issued an enhanced composite sketch of an unnamed man they think may be responsible.

The suspect is described as an African-American male with black hair and facial hair at the time of the 2005 attack. He is about 6 feet tall and was believed to be between 25 and 35 years old at the time of the attack, making him 32 to 42 now.

Information can be conveyed by calling Virginia State Police at 434-352-3467; Fairfax police at 703-385-7959; or the FBI at 800-225-5324.

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Filed under: Crime • Music • Virginia
soundoff (374 Responses)
  1. Marci

    Condolences to the family and friends of Morgan. I pray you find peace.

    June 15, 2012 at 7:39 am | Report abuse |
  2. not a hater

    Why isn't THIS being handled as a 'hate crime'....oh...because the girl is dead and can't tell anyone what this creep said or did to her before he killed her. This SHOULD be looked at and he should be CHARGED w/hate crime murder!!!! Where is the outrage????

    June 15, 2012 at 3:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • none-ya

      It wasn't a hate crime. I was just a crime. Unless you were THERE when it happened........

      June 16, 2012 at 11:46 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Fr33th1nk3r

    "Do me a favor and name one Metallica song that is full of hate"

    Creeping Death
    Kill 'Em All
    One
    Leper Messiah
    Holier Than Thou

    Shall we continue? It would be easier to name the few Metallica songs that AREN'T about hate/angst....

    June 15, 2012 at 4:22 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Mich

    Both of this guys victims are white and he is black, this is obviously racially motivated–where is the Rev. Al? Where is Jessie Jackson? Why aren't the panters putting a bounty on this guys head?

    June 15, 2012 at 5:00 pm | Report abuse |
    • Silent Majority

      They already have their pockets full of cash from the recent incident.

      June 16, 2012 at 5:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • none-ya

      wow! BOOOO how dare you even try to get mad because you "think" Al or the panters are not doing there part. You know NOTHING! Their pockets have nothing to do with them providing justice for their people as much as they can since they ARE INDIVIDUALS! Our race as whites get justice and media coverage easier because we are white where minorities have to fight HARD to get a fraction of the justice we get. How can you DARE to be outraged about a race that you don't know what its like to wear their skin. Its good that they stand up for themselves! Now back to this horrific crime.......I pray for the victims' family and hopes she recieves justice. -–equal justice for all. Equal treatment for all

      June 16, 2012 at 11:53 pm | Report abuse |
  5. steve

    black males sure like white women!
    then if they like them so much, why murder them?

    June 15, 2012 at 7:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • RealityChecker

      Because most don't "like" them back.

      June 18, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Report abuse |
  6. BlogMediator

    I understand the guy you're looking for was sleepwalking at the time!

    June 18, 2012 at 2:29 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Dallas

    Hang him, swift justice!

    June 19, 2012 at 9:57 am | Report abuse |
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