A former hospital worker was indicted for first-degree murder for the abduction and killing of Hannah Graham. Hannah Graham, a University of Virginia student, was missing for weeks before her body had was found. Now Jesse Matthew Jr. is being accused for the young woman’s disappearance and death.
Albemarle County Prosecutor Denise Lunsford has stated that the state is not going to push for the death penalty in this case, and did not say why Matthews is not being punished more severely for a higher count of capital murder. While he may not be facing the death penalty, Matthews charges of abduction and first degree murder could face life in prison.
Police have also claimed that they have evidence that link Matthew to a 2009 disappearance and death of a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student named Morgan Harrington. While the evidence is there police stated, “there are no pending charges” regarding Matthew’s activity and suspicion regarding that case, but “The simple fact is the case involving Hannah Graham was ready to be charged first.”
Matthew appears to be no stranger to these types of crimes and has previously been accused of raping students at two universities; Liberty University and Christopher Newport University in 2002 and 2003.
Surveillance footage shows Graham on the night of the twelfth walking unsteadily and at times running past several pubs and service stations. According to the police a friend confirmed that Graham had left a party alone and was indeed lost.
His first hearing for the Graham case will be on February 18, according to the Lunsford, where he will be present in the form of a video link from Fairfax County Prison.
Photo By: David J. Phillip / AP
