At a press conference this afternoon in Charlottesville, Virginia State Police said they have set up a new tip line for information regarding the disappearance of Morgan Harrington: (434) 352-3467.
Lt. Joe Rader also said a reward of at least $50,000 will soon be established.
Investigators have already received more than 100 calls from people around the country regarding Harrington's disappearance.
-- Rex Bowman
All of the photos courtesy of the Harrington family:
No new information has been released today about the search for missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington of Roanoke County.
However, Virginia State Police and the University of Virginia Police Department will be holding a press conference at 3 p.m. today in Charlottesville.
We will have updates as more information becomes available.
The case of missing Tech student Morgan Harrington has drawn nationwide attention.
From today's Roanoke Times:
The search for Morgan Dana Harrington stretched into its second full day Tuesday, drawing national attention to the disappearance of the Virginia Tech junior during a weekend Metallica concert in Charlottesville.
Harrington's parents took to the television, appearing on HLN's Nancy Grace show [watch clip] and other broadcasts to ask for Harrington's return and bringing camera crews to their Roanoke County home.
Postings about the missing 20-year-old spread across online forums, and a Facebook group dedicated to her had more than 2,100 members by Tuesday evening. On the official Metallica Web site, the band posted an article titled "One of our fans is missing."
From today's Roanoke Times:
"The thought has crossed my mind before that I might be standing before Heidi one day with David at her side in front of a very large crowd," said Kent Gregory, student ministries pastor at Heritage Baptist, as he looked out over the crowd of nearly 1,000. "But that was a different ceremony."
Follow the investigation here as it unfolds.
A search warrant return filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court over the weekend shows investigators took a sweatshirt, hairs and the 1992 Toyota Camry belonging to David Metzler.
Metzler's body was found inside the automobile and the body of Heidi Childs was found outside.
-- Shawna Morrison
Heritage Baptist Church's website appears to be temporarily down for many users. We've embedded their live stream of Heidi Childs' and David Metzler's funerals here on The Roanoke Times' breaking news blog as a service for those who were unable to access the church's site.
For more on the services, see our earlier post.
-- Meg Martin, online editor
The funeral services for Virginia Tech sophomores David Metzler and Heidi Childs, who were found shot to death in Montgomery County last week, have begun streaming live at Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg.
Metzler's service began at 1 p.m., while Childs' is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
Watch the live stream on Heritage Baptist Church's Web site.
Lt. Brian Wright with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office just released the following:
"Investigators from our Office are seeking to speak with anyone who was in the area of Caldwell Fields or the Jefferson National Forest Shooting Range on Craig Creek Road between the times of 8:00 a.m. Wednesday August 26 and 8:00 a.m. Thursday August 27.
We would like to speak with anyone who was in or around these areas during this time-frame regardless of whether they believe they have information that may be helpful. It is possible that they may unknowingly have information that could assist in the double homicide investigation being worked by our Office. We are asking them to call (540) 382-2951."
The funeral services for Virginia Tech sophomores David Metzler and Heidi Childs, who were found shot to death in Montgomery County last week, are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. today at Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg.
Metzler's service will be at 1 p.m., while Childs' will be at 3 p.m. Each service will be streamed live on Heritage Baptist Church's Web site at www.hbclynchburg.com.
Burials for both Metzler and Childs will immediately follow the funeral service at Virginia Memorial Park in Forest, according to a Virginia State Police media release.
Because of expected heavy traffic for the funeral procession, police advise motorists to avoid U.S. 221 (Lakeside Drive/Forest Road) from the intersection of U.S. 221 and U.S. 501 in Lynchburg west into the Forest area of Bedford County (see a map) from 4:30 to about 6:30 p.m.
