First degree murder charges filed against Jesse Matthew in Hannah Graham case

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Jesse Matthew was officially charged today with first degree murder of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham (see Charlottesville man charged in Hannah Graham’s killing).

For many, it’s a sigh of relief. For police, it caps months of tedious investigation. For the community, it is hoped a monster has been stopped. For Hannah’s parents, whose hearts will forever hold their missing child, perhaps this will provide a tiny bit of closure. Emphasis on tiny.

Back story links:
– UVa student Hannah Graham missing
– Albemarle law enforcement statement on Hannah Graham investigation
– Jesse Matthew arrested in Galveston, TX
– Coy Barefoot and the site where Hannah was found
– Parents remember Hannah, thank all who helped search, ask for privacy to grieve their loss

Sad closure: Hannah has been found

By Lynn R. Mitchell

We all suspected the ending would be this way when human remains were found last Saturday at a remote house in Albemarle County which prompted police to call off all future searches and notify eighteen-year-old Hannah Graham’s parents. What, we wondered, had there been that made them so sure their hunt for the missing University of Virginia student was over?

Today officials escorted Hannah’s parents to the Old Lynchburg Road crime site in the morning, and then released the information that Hannah had, indeed, been found. Her parents have closure as opposed to wondering where she is, but what a sad way for this six-week journey to end (see Hannah Graham’s parents visit Old Lynchburg Road crime scene and Medical examiner confirms Hannah Graham’s remains found in Albemarle).

Jesse Matthew to be charged with 2005 Fairfax rape, news conference at 4:30 p.m. – Updated

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Hopefully, the crime spree of Jesse Matthew is over. While he sits in jail, it was announced today that he will be charged with the 2005 rape of a woman in Fairfax (see Jesse Matthew to be charged in Fairfax City rape case in the Washington Post by Justin Jouvenal):

The man suspected in the abduction of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham will be charged in a 2005 sexual assault case in Fairfax City, Fairfax County prosecutors announced Monday.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Morrogh plans to provide details of the charges against Jesse L. Matthew Jr. at a 4:30 p.m. news conference at the Fairfax City police headquarters.

Matthew has been tied to the Morgan Harrington murder and is in jail for the abduction of UVa student Hannah Graham who disappeared five weeks ago. Human remains were found Saturday that may turn out to be hers (see Hannah … waiting to hear if the human remains found Saturday are hers).

UPDATE: NBC-29 reported, “Jesse Matthew, the suspect in custody for the abduction of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, has been indicted in connection with a sexual assault on September 24, 2005 in the city of Fairfax.  This marks the second case in which Matthew has been charged and the third case to which police say he’s linked.”

He now faces charges of attempted capital murder, abduction with the intent to defile, and sexual penetration with an object against the victim’s will.

Hannah … waiting to hear if the human remains found Saturday are hers

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On Saturday, five weeks to the day from when Hannah Graham, 18, disappeared from Charlottesville, human remains were found outside Charlottesville. A press conference was held that afternoon by Charlottesville police chief Tim Longo with the grim news that all had been fearing … that Hannah had probably been found pending positive identification after lab results (see Police notify Graham parents that body found in Albemarle County is likely hers by Bryan McKenzie).

The skeletal remains were found by a team from the Chesterfield County sheriff’s office who were among the thousands who have volunteered during the five-week search for Hannah (see Hannah Graham searcher says ‘God wanted’ them to find what they found).

The isolated house at 3193 Old Lynchburg Road had been noticed by someone who saw a large number of buzzards around the property so called in to the tip line with the address and his observations (see Where Hannah was found by Coy Barefoot). That was on October 6. Police have been working non-stop on the overwhelming number of tips. Of particular interest in Barefoot’s article was this:

“Morgan’s [Harrington] skeletal remains were found 100 days later, on a farm south of Charlottesville— just about five miles from 3193 Old Lynchburg Road.  Jesse Matthew grew up in this rural part of Albemarle County south of Charlottesville. His mom’s house is just up the road, about 4 miles from where the remains of Hannah Graham are believed to have been found.”

Cab driving Jesse Matthew and Morgan Harrington

By Lynn R. Mitchell

There may be more connections between Jesse Matthew and Va Tech student Morgan Harrington who was murdered five years ago while in Charlottesville. He was a cab driver and she was reportedly seen getting into a cab that night and then disappeared (see Details Emerge about Matthew on Night of Harrington Disappearance).

Morgan’s dad commented on the latest development in the missing Hannah Graham case as well as his daughter:

Dan Harrington, Morgan’s father, released a statement Thursday, saying,”This is what we hoped for, that more pieces of the puzzle would come together. It’s exciting, it’s encouraging to hear but it’s still sad for us too. It will hopefully open up more doors for us [as investigators build their case].”

If you have a tip, you can call 434-295-3851 or email it to CPDtips@charlottesville.org.

#BringHannahHome

Keep searching to #BringHannahHome

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The search for Hannah Graham continues with the latest bombshell news from Virginia State Police linking forensic evidence between Jesse Matthew and Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington who was murdered five years ago (see Forensic evidence links Hannah Graham suspect to murdered Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington). Prayers continue for her family and friends at this difficult time. #BringHannahHome

Jesse Matthew arrested in Galveston, TX, in case of missing UVa student Hannah Graham – Updated

By Lynn R. Mitchell

I was on the phone with my Texas sister last night who was in Houston, about an hour from Galveston. I had texted that Jesse Matthew, 32, had been captured in Galveston, a location that was surprising to most and something I knew she would be interested in hearing. She had kept up on the case of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, 18, from her home in Austin. A former newspaper journalist, my sister started finding more details through the local media and passed it along.

Jesse Matthew arrested, suspect in disappearance of Hannah Graham

By Lynn R. Mitchell

From NBC-29 at 7:00 p.m.:

BREAKING: Police tell NBC29’s Henry Graff that they have arrested Jesse Matthew, man charged with abduction with intent to defile in connection to the Hannah Graham case. They say he was not arrested in VA. Press conference to start any minute now.

Watch on NBC29 or here: http://www.nbc29.com/category/175730/live-stream-landing-page

Press conference is set to begin at any moment. Police have not revealed where Matthew was arrested.

UPDATE #1: Suspect in Hannah Graham Disappearance Arrested from NBC-29

UPDATE #2: At 7:25 we’re still waiting for the press conference.

Update #3: Press conference underway. Jesse Matthew caught in Galveston, Texas.

If you see this car wanted in missing UVa student case, call police

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Charlottesville Police Tip ine: 434.295-3851

There’s a warrant for the arrest of Jesse Matthew. This is his sister’s vehicle.

For more information read The search for Hannah from NBC-29.