Morgan Harrington Was Drinking When She Vanished From Metallica Show

On Dec. 30, more than two months after Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington disappeared from outside a Metallica concert in Charlottesville, Va., police held a briefing to reassure the public that their efforts are ongoing and that the case is far from cold.

According to reports, state police explained during this week's press conference that the more time passes, the harder it will be to find the 20-year-old Harrington -- who was last seen wearing a Pantera shirt, black boots and a black mini-skirt -- alive. Detectives believe that, if Harrington is still alive, that she is most likely being held captive and not living freely. A police spokesperson, Joe Rader, told reporters that Harrington was far too social to have left on her own and not contact anyone back home.

On Oct. 17, the last time Harrington was seen, she attended Metallica's concert with friends, but was separated from the group after using the bathroom. Harrington somehow ended up outside the venue, which has a no re-entry policy.

According to Rader, Harrington was drinking alcohol the night she disappeared, sometime between 9:20 and 9:30 PM. It's likely Harrington got into a car with someone, either on her own or against her will, he said.

Countless leads have been looked into, and more come in daily. Police have even investigated one theory that Harrington may have been thrown in a train boxcar under Charlottesville's Copeley Bridge, where she was last seen. Investigators also revealed that they've been dealing with clairvoyants, who've contacted them with tips. Numerous ground searches have turned up little in the way of hard evidence, and officers even ruled out one lead that suggested Harrington had been spotted in the Middle East.

At this point, investigators do not have a suspect in mind, nor have they identified any persons of interest in the case. Rader contended the answers to what happened to Harrington lie in the Charlottesville area, and once again encouraged anyone who might have seen Harrington to contact state police.

Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo said in a recent interview that he hopes Morgan is returned safely. "I was crushed," Trujillo said, about learning of Harrington's disappearance; he added that the case has been ever-present on the band members' minds. "Stuff like this just really, really bums me out, especially when you are a parent and you have children. I mean, it's the worst thing that you could ever imagine. And of course, you know, we're all hoping for the best and just praying that she's alive. It really hit a sour chord with us and bummed us out."