Human Remains Found In Charlottesville, Virginia; Believed To Be Those Of Missing UVA Student Hannah Graham
A body believed to be that of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham has been found.
At a 5:30 P.M. (local time) press conference, Albermarle County officials confirmed that a body had been found, according to WAVY out of Portsmouth, Virginia. Officials have reason to believe that it is the body of of the missing 18-year-old, who had been missing since September 13.
Speaking before the assembled media, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo, joined by Albemarle Police Chief Steven Sellers, warned reporters that the press conference would be brief and that officials would not be able to answer any questions at this time. He then announced that a body had been found on an abandoned property in southern Albemarle County, and that a call to Ms. Graham’s parents was made.
He did not confirm or deny that the body was that of Hannah Graham, but said that the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond would be conducting an autopsy to identify the remains, and to determine the cause of death.
“Today’s discovery is a significant development, but we have a long ways to go.”
Before the press conference, WAVY reporter Andy Fox posted a series of tweets indicating that an unnamed source had told him of the discovery.
A source tells me remains have been found off Old Lynchburg Road near Charlottesville. A briefing is set for 5:30. @WAVY_News
— Andy Fox (@AndyFoxWAVY) October 18, 2014
The source says investigators in the Hanna Graham case took K9s to the site and got a hit. @WAVY_News — Andy Fox (@AndyFoxWAVY) October 18, 2014
The source says the remains were found in a shallow grave and the k9s went to the targeted site. @WAVY_News
— Andy Fox (@AndyFoxWAVY) October 18, 2014
Hannah Graham was last seen alive in the early morning hours of September 13 after leaving an off-campus party, according to NBC News. Surveillance video, and witnesses, placed her with Jesse Leroy Matthew, who was arrested in Texas on September 24, according to this Inquisitr report. Since his arrest in the Hannah Graham disappearance, Matthew has been held in custody in Charlottesville and charged with abduction with intent to defile.
The body is believed to be that of a woman, and is in the vicinity of where the suspect in Hannah Graham’s disappearance once lived.
This is a breaking news story. More information about the identity of the body found in Charlottesville, specifically, whether or not it is confirmed to be that of missing UVA student Hannah Graham, will be provided as it becomes available.
[Image courtesy of: ABC News]
