Man Accused Of Killing UVa. Student Now Faces Capital Murder

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WJZ) — A major development in the case against the man accused of killing a University of Virginia student.

Prosecutors have upgraded the charges against Jesse Matthew to capital murder in the death of Hannah Graham.

The new charge means Matthew now faces the possibility of the death penalty.

Graham, 18, disappeared last September and her body was found a month later on an abandoned property.

Matthew was originally charged with first-degree murder and abduction.

Prosecutors say the upgraded charge of capital murder is based on new forensic evidence.

Matthew also faces a trial in June on charges of attempted murder and sexual assault in an unrelated case in Fairfax County.