The suspect in Hannah Graham's kidnapping will be charged with a 2005 sexual assault — a crime that has been linked by DNA to the slaying of yet another woman in Virginia. Jesse Matthew is charged with attempted capital murder and abduction in an indictment obtained by NBC Washington.
"The victim is grateful to the lead detective who stayed in touch with her over the course of nine years and said he would never never give up — and he didn’t," prosecutor Ray Morrogh said at an afternoon press conference announcing the charges. "Hopefully justice will be served."
Matthew, 32, was previously charged with abduction with the intent to defile in connection with the Sept. 13 disappearance of Graham, who was last seen in Charlottesville. Police are investigating whether human remains found over the weekend are those of the University of Virginia student.
Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, 20, was last seen alive on October 17, 2009, after leaving a Metallica concert on the UVA campus and her body was found three months later. DNA recovered during the Harrington investigation matches material in the 2005 sex attack, officials have said. Prosecutors said they could not comment on the evidence.
IN-DEPTH
- Remains Found in Search for Hannah Graham
- UVA Suspect Was Accused of Second College Sex Assault
- Five in Five Years: What Happened to Other Va. Girls?
