WASHINGTON – Metallica has made a public service video as part of a law enforcement publicity blitz to try to catch a man wanted in the death of a Virginia Tech student who disappeared after one of the heavy metal band's concerts.

Composite sketches of the suspect will be featured at bus shelters and on digital billboards up and down the East Coast, and a video on the Internet from lead singer James Hetfield urges people to come forward with tips and to contact police if they think they recognize the man. The FBI and Virginia State Police announced the campaign on Wednesday.

"Remember, any information — no matter how small you might think it is — could be that crucial piece investigators need to help solve the case," Hetfield says in the video, which appears on YouTube and an FBI website dedicated to the case.

Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old aspiring teacher and Virginia Tech student, disappeared after an October 2009 concert in Charlottesville, Va. Her skeletal remains were discovered about three months later in a remote hay field about 10 miles from the concert venue. Her T-shirt was found in front an apartment building near the Charlottesville arena, but a camera and a crystal necklace she had with her were never located. She was last seen hitchhiking.

The FBI says the suspect has also been linked through DNA to a September 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax City, Va., where a woman walking home from a grocery story reported being grabbed from behind, dragged behind a maintenance shed and attacked. Authorities this month released an enhanced composite sketch based on a description from the sexual assault victim.

"We don't know who he is so we don't know where he is," said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.

Harrington's mother, Gil Harrington, said she and her husband, Dan, are hopeful the new publicity effort will lead to an arrest.

"Our big motivation now is to catch this man and help save the next girl because he is a predator at the top of his game," Gil Harrington said, adding, "I have urgency as time goes on as to where he's going to strike next."

The Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers is offering $100,000 for any information leading to an arrest, and Metallica has put up a $50,000 reward.

Gil Harrington said it was an "abomination" to suffer through the murder of a child, and that the band has been supportive from the outset.

"The band reacted to that right away. It was a matter of days before James Hetfield was on the phone to Dan saying, 'As a father, I am outraged,'" she said.

The FBI campaign, which also includes a podcast and online photo gallery, is similar to ones that have led to the arrests of former Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, and of Aaron Thomas, who is suspected in a series of sexual assaults along the East Coast.

The PSA video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tkVcZB2pds&feature=plcp


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/13/metallica-helps-fbi-try-to-catch-virginia-killer/?test=latestnews#ixzz1xie3XHmZ

Anyone hear any updates on this one yet?

Hmmmm... wonder if the perp will slip up sometime and get caught? But I must ask, who in the hell hitchhikes anymore? She didn't deserve death by no means but that's a risk you take when hitchhiking. Hitchhiking?? Really? This day & age? They'll catch the guy in a few years after he slips up.

Hitchhiking is commonplace where I live. I think it's much safer here in general though, less crime then most of the mainland

I hope they catch, try, convict and execute this creep. There are two attacks that they KNOW about. I wonder how many more unreported or ones they haven't found the bodies of yet?

It's extremly dangerous. Your getting into a vehicle with someone you don't know who could be a Socio or Psychopath. They can drug you, lock you in, attack you, and many, MANY worse things.

Look at this.............

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Kemper

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/30/10934355-truck-driver-who-killed-hitchhikers-gets-life-sentences-in-plea-deal?lite

MILAT Ivan Robert Marko

Ted Bundy

Leonard Lake and Charles Ng.

Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono.

Just to name a few reasons not to hitchhike............

Not to mention they are investigating along the truck routes here in Nevada for a serial killer

I totally agree that it's dangerous. I was just stating that it's very common here to see hitchhikers. I'm not usually one to pick them up but I pass at least a few every day.

Isn't it illegal there? I know here it is and in California.

I had to look it up. Apparently, it is illegal here but I've never seen it enforced. Public transportation on the Big Isle sucks which is probably why the police here seem to allow it

I think it's illegal in every state but typically it is a bored officer or who uses it as a way in to talk to the person because they think there is more going on.

It's basically just like a traffic ticket.

IN nevada its only illegal if you

1)stand

and two are

2) IN The highway (where cars travel)........






A person shall not stand in a highway to solicit a ride or any business from the driver or any occupant of a vehickle.


NRS 484.065


Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way dedicated to a puplic authority when any part of the way is open to the use of the public for purpose of vehicular traffic, whether or not the public authority is maintaining the way.

I have seen them in both Reno and Carson light someone up for doing it in a bike lane.

http://www.hitchhiker.50megs.com/custom.html

All the laws in EVERY state is there.

Ive never agreed with hitch hiker laws. Danger is everywhere, learn to live in the environment. Paper protection is not enough.

Why? Hitchhiking is one of the most dangerous things you can do.