Police: Body found in Roanoke as missing Va. Tech student case continues

Update: State police now say they don’t believe it’s the body of Harrington, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

As the case of a missing Virginia Tech student entered into its second month, authorities today are investigating the discovery of a body in Roanoke.

Authorities said a body discovered near Norfolk Southern railroad tracks shortly after daybreak in Roanoke appeared to be that of a female.

Roanoke police detectives and a medical examiner were called to the scene.

Virginia State Police, the lead agency investigating the disappearance of Morgan Dana Harrington, was aware of this morning’s discovery and was looking into the matter, agency spokeswoman Corinne Geller said. Geller said she had no other details.

Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student from Roanoke, has been missing since the night of Oct. 17, when she attended a Metallica concert at the University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena. ¶

Investigators believe Harrington was hitchhiking before she disappeared.

Today’s discovery of the body in Roanoke marks at least the third time investigators have checked into the possibility that it may be Harrington.

Shortly after Harrington’s disappearance, a body was found along the Blue Ridge Parkway outside Asheville, N.C., and a badly burned female body was found Sunday, this time in Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina. In each case, authorities found no indication it was Harrington.

Harrington was wearing a black T-shirt with “Pantera” in tan letters, a black mini-skirt, black tights and knee-high black boots. She had a Swarovski crystal necklace on, with large crystal chain links. She is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

State police have a 24-hour-a-day tip line at (804) 263-5547. Tips can be sent to .