Lindsey Henley from WSLS 10 is reporting:

A new search for Morgan Harrington is set to start Friday morning.

Representatives from Laura Recovery Center out of Texas arrived in Charlottesville Thursday.

The non-profit group has organized search efforts in cases as high-profile as Elizabeth Smart, and this weekend they have one goal.

“My expectation is to find Morgan,“ Dawn Davis, a senior case manager with Laura Recover Center, said.

At a news conference Wednesday, State Police assured the public this is a collaborative effort.

Dr. Tod Burke, a local criminal justice expert, says search groups that work with police can really help.

“The more eyes and ears you have out there the better,“ Dr. Burke said.

There are also downfalls to volunteer searches, according to Dr. Burke.

“Anything could be evidence, and if they contaminate the crime scene, that could make it difficult,“ he said. “That could hinder the investigation, but for the most part it looks like this is an effort that’s to assist law enforcement, not hinder.“

According to a spokesperson from Laura Recovery Center, volunteers are told not to touch things they find.

Volunteers will be asked hand out flyers with Harrington’s picture throughout Charlottesville. Experts say getting out and talking to people in the community is just as important as re-combing the area where Harrington went missing.

“They’re not necessarily looking for a body,” Dr. Burke said. “What they’re trying to do, hopefully what they’ll be able to do, is make some contacts and be able to talk to people and maybe somebody they police have not been able to make contact with.“