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Police: ‘Person of interest’ seen with missing U-Va. student at bar Police: ‘Person of interest’ seen with missing U-Va. student at bar
(about 3 hours later)
CHARLOTTESVILLE — Charlottesville police said Friday that they are seeking information about a man who they believe was in a bar with U-Va. student Hannah Graham at about the time she went missing last Saturday, calling him a “person of interest” but saying they do not have enough information to arrest him. CHARLOTTESVILLE — Charlottesville police pleaded with the public Friday to come forward with information about a man who they believe was in a bar with U-Va. student Hannah Graham at about the time she went missing last Saturday, saying they know who he is and have spoken with him but that they don’t yet have enough information to arrest him.
Police said they believe the man accompanied Graham, an 18-year-old sophomore, into a bar along the city’s downtown mall and purchased alcohol shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday morning, at some point after Graham was seen on surveillance video walking alone. Police said they know the two were in the bar together, and they know the man drove away from the area in a burnt orange 1998 Chrysler coupe that had been parked nearby. At an unusual news conference here Friday afternoon, Police Chief Timothy Longo released specific details about the man — who he described as black, 32 years old, 6-foot-2, 270 pounds and with dreadlocks — but would not release his name. Police said surveillance videos show the man noticing Graham, circling around behind her and then following her through a downtown pedestrian mall at about 1 a.m. He then is seen in surveillance video with his arm around her, and police said the two walked to a bar around the corner.
But Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said that while police have identified that man, know his name and have searched his car and apartment, they do not have the legal authority to arrest him. They describe him as a black male, 32, who is 6-foot-2, 270 pounds and has dreadlocks. But they declined to mention his name. Police said the man purchased alcohol there, and that is the last place anyone can say they saw Graham, an 18-year-old sophomore from Fairfax County, who then disappeared. Longo said police know the man drove away from the area in a burnt orange 1998 Chrysler coupe.
But Longo also said that while police have identified that man, know his name and have searched his car and apartment, they do not have the legal authority to arrest him.
“People saw Hannah and people saw him and people saw them together,” Longo said at a 5 p.m. news conference Friday. “It is possible Hannah Graham may have gotten into his vehicle, a vehicle we seized. ... We have every reason to believe she was in that car.”“People saw Hannah and people saw him and people saw them together,” Longo said at a 5 p.m. news conference Friday. “It is possible Hannah Graham may have gotten into his vehicle, a vehicle we seized. ... We have every reason to believe she was in that car.”
Police are searching the car for evidence and hope more surveillance video will turn up linking Graham’s disappearance to the man. Police are searching the car and hope more surveillance video and witnesses could help lead them to Graham. So far, there is no evidence of any crime. Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Warner D. “Dave” Chapman declined to comment.
Police said they believe the information is a major break in the case and that tips about the car led them to an off-campus apartment complex. Longo said officers searched an apartment in the Hessian Hills complex and said there were three people inside a condo there, one of whom is associated with the vehicle. Police did not take anyone into custody. Graham’s disappearance from an area of Charlottesville that is considered safe, about a mile east of the center of campus, has shaken the student body at Virginia’s flagship public university. Students held vigils, the town is plastered with missing signs showing Graham’s face, and a massive volunteer search is scheduled for Saturday. Her case emphasizes the potential dangers and vulnerabilities of what many students consider a part of college: Weekend drinking and walking alone through town.
Graham has not been located and no one is in custody, Longo said. He said he is hopeful the new information eventually will lead to an arrest in the case. Graham had spent the last evening before her disappearance at a restaurant near campus, swing-dancing and performing in a raucous conga-line with friends.
The person of interest does not exactly match — but has similar characteristics of — the man another witness described as approaching Graham and putting his arm around her shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday as she walked alone through a pedestrian mall east of campus. Longo said that it is clear that Graham walked to the mall on her own — more than a mile from her apartment — and that police believe she could have left the mall in a vehicle. “She was happy as can be,” said junior Jenna Van Dyck, 20, one of the last people to see Graham before she went wandering through town.
Surveillance videos show Graham walking through the mall but there is no trace of her after a text message sent from her phone at 1:06 a.m. indicating to friends that she was lost. Long said he believes there is other similar evidence that could help the case.
“My gut tells me there’s more video,” Longo said.
Police are trying to determine what happened after Graham walks through the final clip of surveillance video, on the east end of the mall across from a jewelry store.
The missing U-Va. student had spent the last evening before her disappearance at a restaurant near campus, swing-dancing and performing in a raucous conga-line with friends.
“She was happy as can be,” said junior Jenna Van Dyck, 20, one of the last people to see sophomore Hannah Graham before her disappearance.
“It was a happy, light-hearted time with friends,” said junior Hallie Pence, 21, who also was among the students with Graham at Fig Bistro and Bar.“It was a happy, light-hearted time with friends,” said junior Hallie Pence, 21, who also was among the students with Graham at Fig Bistro and Bar.
Graham disappeared later that night in an area of town that friends said was unfamiliar to the teen. A graduate of West Potomac High School in Fairfax County, Graham spent her freshman year at a dorm on the far side of the campus that bisects this picturesque town clutched in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Graham disappeared later that night in an area of town that friends said was unfamiliar to the teen. A graduate of West Potomac High School, Graham spent her freshman year at a dorm on the far side of the campus.
Van Dyck said Graham had lived at her off-campus housing for only two weeks and did not yet know her way around the winding maze of streets near the GrandMarc apartments. Van Dyck said Graham had lived at her off-campus apartment for just two weeks and did not yet know her way around the winding maze of streets.
“I still get lost when I go over there,” Van Dyck said.“I still get lost when I go over there,” Van Dyck said.
Graham was last seen walking near an open-air mall about a mile from campus. In a series of text messages to friends just after 1 a.m., Graham indicated she was lost and disoriented. On Thursday, Charlottesville police released details from a witness who said he saw a man approach Graham. The witness told police the man put his arm around Graham and that it looked like someone she knew. From surveillance video police have found, it appears that Graham simply was walking in the wrong direction while trying to meet up with friends. Charlottesville police detective James Mooney said that Graham indicated she was lost and disoriented in text messages to friends, at one point saying in a text that she was on Main Street when she really was on Preston Avenue.
Police described the man as black, in his late 20s to early 30s, standing 5-foot-10 to 5-foot-11, 250 to 285 pounds, with a close-shaved head, goatee and a slight “beer belly.” He was wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt. Graham also indicated in texts that she believed she was walking back toward the direction of her home when she was actually headed the opposite way, authorities said. She also texted friends asking for someone to come find her after she realized she was lost. She last texted friends at 1:06 a.m., about the same time that the man in dreadlocks encountered her.
Friends said that they were not aware of any friends of Graham’s who matched the man’s description. Longo, the police chief, said it is clear that Graham walked to the mall on her own — more than a mile from her apartment — and that police believe she could have left the mall in the man’s vehicle after joining him at Tempo, a restaurant and bar.
Around Charlottesville on Thursday, businesses in the popular “corner” area displayed “missing” posters featuring the face of the sophomore. Music blared from the bars, but students noted that the atmosphere at the university felt subdued. Police said they believe locating the person of interest is a major break in the case. Longo said officers searched the man’s apartment early Friday in the Hessian Hills complex. Police did not take anyone into custody, and Graham has not been located.
Hessian Hills resident Karen Stacy said the commotion in her complex startled her, and that since the news of Graham’s disappearance, she has not allowd her teenage daughters to walk to school: “I’ve been keeping a close watch on them.”
The person of interest does not exactly match — but has similar characteristics of — the man another witness described as approaching Graham and putting his arm around her shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday as she walked alone through the pedestrian mall. The witness told police the man put his arm around Graham and that it looked like someone she knew.
Graham’s friends said that they were not aware of any friends of Graham’s who matched the man’s description.
Around Charlottesville this week, businesses in the popular “corner” area displayed “missing” posters. Music blared from the bars, but students noted a subdued atmosphere at the school.
Fewer students went out, and some parties were canceled, said Abraham Axler, 19, president of the class of 2017.Fewer students went out, and some parties were canceled, said Abraham Axler, 19, president of the class of 2017.
“It’s a sobering mood,” said Axler, of New York City. “It’s a sobering mood,” said Axler, of New York.
Jalen Ross, president of the university’s student council, said female friends have been more cautious about making plans at night. More women on campus are now using an impromptu buddy system to get around campus after dark, Ross said.Jalen Ross, president of the university’s student council, said female friends have been more cautious about making plans at night. More women on campus are now using an impromptu buddy system to get around campus after dark, Ross said.
“Female friends tell me they never used to be offered to be walked home,” said Ross, 21, of Charlotte, N.C. “Now it’s happened multiple times this week.”“Female friends tell me they never used to be offered to be walked home,” said Ross, 21, of Charlotte, N.C. “Now it’s happened multiple times this week.”
Ross said that after a late-night campaigns and elections class led by Larry Sabato, the professor’s assistant, Ken Stroupe, insisted that all 20 students in the class pair up before walking home. Ross said that after a late-night campaigns and elections class led by Larry Sabato, the professor’s assistant insisted that all 20 students pair up before leaving.
Ross and Axler organized a candlelight vigil for Graham on campus, where they handed out hundreds of pink Starbursts, her favorite candy.Ross and Axler organized a candlelight vigil for Graham on campus, where they handed out hundreds of pink Starbursts, her favorite candy.
“We wanted to put on an event that Hannah would want to go to,” Axler said. “There’s a tense hopefulness. We want to bring Hannah home.”“We wanted to put on an event that Hannah would want to go to,” Axler said. “There’s a tense hopefulness. We want to bring Hannah home.”
Van Dyck and Pence said that Graham had been enjoying a night out with fellow members of the school’s ski and snowboard team. They said Graham, known for her wry sense of humor and spontaneous personality, is seen as a central figure of their group.Van Dyck and Pence said that Graham had been enjoying a night out with fellow members of the school’s ski and snowboard team. They said Graham, known for her wry sense of humor and spontaneous personality, is seen as a central figure of their group.
The last night she was seen, Graham had “a smile ear to ear,” Van Dyck said. “She had a face that said ‘I’m too cute to be mad at.’ She was just such a character.”The last night she was seen, Graham had “a smile ear to ear,” Van Dyck said. “She had a face that said ‘I’m too cute to be mad at.’ She was just such a character.”
At the solemn candlelight vigil on campus Thursday, students shared stories about Graham and called for her safe return.At the solemn candlelight vigil on campus Thursday, students shared stories about Graham and called for her safe return.
“We miss you,” said student Lani Galloway, who spent spring break last year with Graham building houses in Tuscaloosa, Ala. “We miss you,” said student Lani Galloway, who spent spring break last year with Graham building houses in Alabama.
Addressing Graham directly, Galloway asked: “Where are you? We want you back where you belong.” Lynh Bui, Mary Pat Flaherty, Jennifer Jenkins and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this story from Washington.