The father of a missing Virginia Tech junior held back tears Wednesday as he expressed his desolation and desire for the return of his daughter.

Beckley native Dan Harrington is the father of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington, who was last seen Saturday evening in Charlottesville, Va.

The elementary education major disappeared around 9:30 p.m. during a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena.

“Morgan came home Friday and spent the night,” her father explained. “Then she and her roommate drove to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., where they met two other friends and went to Charlottesville.

“There are some reports out there that say Morgan’s car was found, but her car was never in Charlottesville,” Harrington added. “Police did, however, find her purse and cell phone (with the battery removed) between the John Paul Jones Arena and the athletic fields. They were vague about the exact location.”

According to Harrington, Morgan’s friends said they waited several hours before returning to Harrisonburg.

“In the police briefing today, we learned something we didn’t know,” he said. “Apparently, Morgan left the arena and couldn’t get back in because of policy. Her friend said she said not to worry about her, that she would find a way home.

“I don’t know what that means,” Harrington continued, “with her being 45 minutes away from Harrisonburg. We don’t know whether she met someone, or, well, we just don’t know.”

Pleading for his daughter’s safe return, the 1970 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School said Morgan checks in almost daily.

“Virginia Tech is only 35 minutes from our home in Roanoke,” Harrington said. “So she can drive down here mid-week and do her laundry or come home for a couple hours. She’s pretty close to us.

“Morgan has been having a really great year,” her father added. “In my opinion, she is not missing because she ran away. I think she was taken. We just want her brought back safely.”

Dan Harrington grew up in Beckley and returned after college to work until 1976, when he went to medical school. His mother remained in Beckley until around 1993, when she sold her home on Harper Road and went to live with her sister.

“I know it may be a long shot,” he said, “but we’re just hoping someone might see her picture in the paper that happened to be at the concert.

“This is devastating to us as a family,” Harrington said, “but we have had a phenomenal outpouring from friends. There is now a $50,000 reward for Morgan, raised from our friends. There should be a line for the reward set up tomorrow through Crime Stoppers.”

Morgan is 5-foot-6 and about 120 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with “Pantera” written on the front in tan letters, a black mini-skirt with black tights and knee-high black boots.

The Harrington family asks that if anyone has information regarding her whereabouts to contact the Virginia State Police at 434-352-3435 or U.Va. police at 434-924-7166.

— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com