Virginia State Police announced the formation of a new cold case task force on Tuesday to investigate the 2019 disappearance of Emily Morrison, a 19-year-old University of Virginia student who vanished from the Charlottesville campus. The new investigation will employ advanced DNA analysis and digital forensics.
Morrison was last seen leaving a library on the evening of October 3, 2019. Her car was found abandoned three days later on the Blue Ridge Parkway, approximately 40 miles from campus, with no signs of struggle.
"We believe advances in forensic technology, combined with new investigative approaches, may finally provide answers for the Morrison family," said Virginia State Police Superintendent Colonel David Thompson.
Morrison's disappearance has been the subject of extensive speculation over the years, including theories involving serial predators active in the region. Virginia investigators say they are examining all leads with fresh eyes.
"Our family has never stopped hoping for the truth about what happened to Emily," said Morrison's brother, Robert Morrison. "We are grateful that after all these years, someone is finally taking another look at this case."