Parents Of Missing Virginia Tech Student Fear Foul Play

October 28, 2009 12:22 p.m. EST

Charlottesville, VA (AHN) - The parents of a Virginia Tech student who went missing outside a Metallica concert in Charlottesville fear their daughter is the victim of foul play. Morgan Dana Harrington was last seen on October 17th outside of the University of Virginia's John Paul Jones Arena.

"This is probably a parent's worst nightmare," Dan Harrington said while on NBC's Today Show. "Clearly no one ever expects to be in this situation, and we have to hold out hope that we're going to see our daughter again."

He believes his daughter may have accepted a ride home with someone. Apparently Morgan left the concert to use the restroom and forgot her ticket stub. Because she didn't have her stub she was denied re-entry and told her friends not to worry that she would find a ride home.

Authorities on Tuesday say that Harrington was last seen at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 17 on a bridge in Charlottesville. Witnesses say they saw someone matching Harrington's description around the outside of the arena from about 8:30 until 9 p.m. She then was seen walking across two parking areas, one of which is near the bridge.

On Monday morning police found her purse and cellphone in a parking lot.

"You know kids at this age think everybody's their friend," said Gil Harrington, Morgan's mother.

When asked if they feared foul play in Morgan's disappearance, her mother responded: "Nothing else makes sense."

Metallica's website has a notice of the missing fan. The band states, "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."

Police are hoping that a $150,000 reward -- including $50,000 from Metallica will help provide new leads for investigators.