Suspect In Disappearance May Be Connected To Another Murder

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WJZ) -- A major development in the case of a missing UVA student: there's evidence the prime suspect in Hannah Graham's disappearance is also connected to a student murdered near UVA five years ago. Now five other missing person cases are in question.

Christie Ileto explains there are fears that Jesse Matthew could be a serial attacker.

Jesse Matthew Jr. is the prime suspect in the disappearance of UVA student Hannah Graham. Now Virginia State police say they've discovered a forensic link that connects him to the disappearance and death of Morgan Harrington. Just like Hannah, Morgan vanished around the campus of UVA, but five years earlier. The Virginia Tech student's body was found months later.

The Harringtons have waited for a break in their daughter's case. Now they're hopeful the new forensic evidence, whatever it may be, brings Hannah home.

"I mean, we know where Morgan is. She's in a box over there," Gil Harrington, Morgan's mother, said. "Hannah Graham is still missing and her family needs to know where she is."

Matthew never faced charges for Morgan's murder but he is charged with abducting Hannah. Surveillance video shows he's the last one to see her moments before she disappeared on Sept. 13.

Both Hannah and Morgan are among a handful of young women to disappear within a few miles on the same stretch of road in Virginia---and the big question is, could Matthew be connected to those cases, as well?

"To kill or hurt somebody---that's not my son," said Matthew's father, Jesse Matthew, Sr.

Matthew's father insists he's innocent...but Monday's big break could bring detectives one step closer to cracking these unsolved missing person mysteries.

Matthew has been in a Virginia jail since Friday. He has a bond hearing on Thursday.

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