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Police plan 3 p.m. news conference on missing U.Va. student Hannah Graham Charlottesville police charge ‘person of interest’ in Graham case with reckless driving
(about 1 hour later)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Charlottesville police chief Timothy J. Longo will hold a news conference Sunday afternoon to update the public in the case of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Charlottesville Police chief Timothy J. Longo said Sunday that an arrest warrant for reckless driving has been issued for a man who is considered a person of interest in the case involving missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham.
Longo will speak to reporters at 3 p.m. Sunday to discuss developments in the investigation to find Graham, 18, who disappeared eight days ago. Longo said Sunday that Jesse L. “LJ” Matthew came to the Charlottesville police department voluntarily on Saturday and requested a lawyer. After speaking with the lawyer, Matthew and a second person were seen by police leaving the Charlottesville area at a “high rate of speed,” Longo said. The vehicle was traveling so dangerously that authorities tailing the car had to discontinue the chase.
A Fairfax County resident, Graham is a sophomore on the university’s Charlottesville campus. She spent the night of Sept. 12 socializing and drinking with friends. At around 1 a.m. Saturday, authorities say, Graham was seen with a man, whom police now describe as a “person of interest” in the case. Virginia State Police have issued an arrest warrant on charges of reckless driving for Matthew, 32, who Longo said is believed to be the last person to see Graham before she disappeared eight days ago.
The 32 year-old man and Graham were seen by witnesses inside the Tempo restaurant and bar near the downtown mall in Charlottesville. Shortly after, Graham vanished. Longo said that Charlottesville detectives did not speak further with Matthew, who has not been charged with a crime in connection to Graham’s disappearance. Police said Matthew is a black man who stands 6’2” and weighs 270 pounds.
On Friday, police searched the man’s vehicle, a 1998 burnt orange Chrysler coupe. After obtaining evidence inside the vehicle, police entered the man’s residence at 164 Hessian Hills Way in Charlottesville. Matthew is not a suspect in Graham’s disappearance. Police describe him as a “person of interest” in the case.
Police publicly identified the man on Saturday. The Washington Post is not naming him because he has not been charged with a crime and is not a suspect in the case. “I think he can help us find Hannah Graham. Because that’s what we want,” Longo said.
Despite days of investigation and massive searches by volunteers from Virginia, Maryland and elsewhere, police do not currently know if Graham’s disappearance is connected to a crime.
At the news conference Graham’s parents came forward to speak to reporters about their daughter, who is an 18-year-old sophomore at the university.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said her father, John Graham. “I’m certain that everyone in this room and those watching know that what happened to Hannah could happen to their child. We need to find out what happened to Hannah, and make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
A Fairfax County resident, Graham is a sophomore on the university’s Charlottesville campus. She spent the night of Sept. 12 socializing and drinking with friends. At around 1 a.m. Saturday, authorities say, Graham was seen with Matthew, 32, inside the Tempo restaurant and bar near the downtown mall in Charlottesville. Shortly after, Graham vanished.
On Friday, police searched Matthew’s vehicle, a 1998 burnt orange Chrysler coupe. After obtaining evidence inside the vehicle, police entered the man’s residence at 164 Hessian Hills Way in Charlottesville.
Charlottesville police Capt. Gary Pleasants said Sunday that investigators did not locate Graham’s mobile phone inside the car. Tests so far have not identified Graham’s DNA inside the vehicle either, he said. Pleasants did not indicate what evidence detectives found inside the vehicle that enabled them to obtain a search warrant to enter the man’s home.Charlottesville police Capt. Gary Pleasants said Sunday that investigators did not locate Graham’s mobile phone inside the car. Tests so far have not identified Graham’s DNA inside the vehicle either, he said. Pleasants did not indicate what evidence detectives found inside the vehicle that enabled them to obtain a search warrant to enter the man’s home.
On Sunday, hundreds of volunteers combed neighborhoods around Charlottesville searching for clues that could help investigators find Graham. The massive search is scheduled to end Sunday evening.On Sunday, hundreds of volunteers combed neighborhoods around Charlottesville searching for clues that could help investigators find Graham. The massive search is scheduled to end Sunday evening.