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Police: ‘Person of interest’ seen with missing U-Va. student at bar Police scrutinize ‘person of interest’ seen with missing U-Va. student Hannah Graham
(about 1 hour later)
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. CHARLOTTESVILLE — Police pleaded with the public Friday to come forward with information about a man who they believe was in a bar with University of Virginia student Hannah Graham about the time she went missing last Saturday, saying they know who he is and have spoken with him but don’t have enough information to arrest him.
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. At an unusual news conference here, Police Chief Timothy Longo released specific details about the man — describing him as black, 32 years old, 6-foot-2, 270 pounds and having dreadlocks — but would not identify him. Police said surveillance videos show the man noticing Graham, circling around behind her and following her through a downtown pedestrian mall 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.
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. Police said that the man purchased alcohol there and that it is the last place anyone can say they saw Graham, an 18-year-old sophomore from Fairfax County. Longo said police know that 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. But Longo also said that although police have identified that man, know his name and have searched his car and apartment, they do not have grounds to arrest him. Police would not discuss their interactions with 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 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 are searching the car and hope that more surveillance video and witnesses can 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.
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’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 had spent the last evening before her disappearance at a restaurant near campus, swing-dancing and performing in a raucous conga-line with friends. 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.
“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.“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.
“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, lighthearted time with friends,” said junior Hallie Pence, 21, who also was among the students who were 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, Graham spent her freshman year at a dorm on the far side of the campus.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 apartment for just two weeks and did not yet know her way around the winding maze of streets. Van Dyck said that Graham had an 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.
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. From surveillance video police have found, it appears that Graham simply was walking in the wrong direction while trying to meet up with friends. Police detective James Mooney said that in her text messages to friends, Graham indicated that she was lost and disoriented, at one point saying she was on Main Street when she actually was on Preston Avenue.
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. Graham also indicated that she believed she was walking back toward 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 time that the man in dreadlocks encountered her.
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.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.
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. Police said they believe that locating the “person of interest” is a major break in the case. Longo said officers searched the man’s apartment, in the Hessian Hills complex, early Friday. 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.” 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 allowed her teenage daughters to walk to school. “I’ve been keeping a close watch on them,” she said
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. The person of interest has some similar characteristics as — but does not exactly match — 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 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. Graham’s friends said they were not aware of any friends of Graham’s matching 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. Across 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.“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. “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 insisted that all 20 students pair up before leaving.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 Thursday 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 Graham had been enjoying a night out with fellow members of the school’s ski and snowboard team. Graham, known for her spontaneity and wry sense of humor, is seen as a central figure of their group, they said.
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. During Thursday’s solemn candlelight vigil, 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 Alabama.“We miss you,” said student Lani Galloway, who spent spring break last year with Graham building houses in Alabama.
Lynh Bui, Mary Pat Flaherty, Jennifer Jenkins and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this story from Washington. Lynh Bui, Mary Pat Flaherty, Jennifer Jenkins and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report from Washington.