Hannah Graham, an 18-year-old University of Virginia student, disappeared in Charlottesville on September 13, 2014; her remains were found five weeks later in Albemarle County. Jesse Matthew pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison, plus additional life terms for the murder of Morgan Dana Harrington and a Fairfax assault case.
Hannah Elizabeth Graham, a second-year student at the University of Virginia, was last seen in the early morning of September 13, 2014, at the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Virginia. She had texted friends around 1:20 a.m. saying she was on her way to a party but was lost, after previously attending another party that night. Surveillance footage and witness testimony placed her at Tempo Restaurant with a man later identified as Jesse Leroy "LJ" Matthew Jr. A witness reported seeing Matthew with an arm around Graham, who appeared intoxicated, and another witness reported hearing Graham say, near a vehicle identified as Matthew's orange 1998 Chrysler Sebring, "I'm not getting in that car with you!"
A large-scale search effort followed Graham's disappearance. On September 20, 2014, more than 1,000 volunteers participated in a search throughout Charlottesville. Charlottesville police chief Timothy Longo said on September 25 that he believed Graham was in Charlottesville or a surrounding county, and organized search teams logged 44 hours in the field by September 26. On October 18, 2014, human remains were discovered in southern Albemarle County by searchers from the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office. The remains were sent to the Chief Medical Examiner's office in Richmond and were positively identified as Graham on October 24, 2014. On November 18, 2014, the Albemarle County Police Department stated Graham died of homicide by "undetermined etiology."
Police identified Matthew as a person of interest on September 19–20, 2014, after surveillance footage showed him leaving a bar with Graham. Following searches of his apartment and car, and an arrest warrant issued September 21 for reckless driving, Longo announced on September 23 that Matthew had been charged with abduction with intent to defile. He was arrested on September 24, 2014, in Galveston County, Texas, after being recognized by a woman on a beach.
Matthew was indicted for first-degree murder of Graham on February 10, 2015, with prosecutors announcing on May 5, 2015, that he would face capital murder charges. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2016, and later received four additional life terms. Separately, Matthew was indicted on October 20, 2014, on charges including attempted murder and object sexual penetration stemming from a September 2005 incident in Fairfax, Virginia; he was convicted on all counts via an Alford plea in June 2015 and sentenced to three life terms on October 2, 2015.
Forensic evidence linked Matthew to the 2009 murder of Morgan Dana Harrington, whose remains were found about five miles from where Graham's were discovered. Matthew was formally charged in that case on September 15, 2015, and pleaded guilty, receiving four additional life terms. As of May 2025, he is incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison. UVA students later erected a memorial in Graham's honor, and a scholarship was established in her name in 2021.
Charlottesville, Virginia (disappearance); Old Lynchburg Road, southern Albemarle County (remains found)
Case status
solved
Case timeline
1996-02-25
Hannah Elizabeth Graham born.
2014-09-13
Graham last seen at the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Virginia, and reported missing.
2014-09-19
Police identify a 'person of interest' seen on surveillance footage leaving a bar with Graham.
2014-09-20
Volunteer search involving more than 1,000 people takes place in Charlottesville.
2014-09-20
Police publicly identify the person of interest as Jesse Matthew.
2014-09-21
Arrest warrant issued for Matthew for reckless driving.
2014-09-22
Police search Matthew's apartment again and remove clothing items; offer $100,000 reward.
2014-09-23
Matthew charged with abduction with intent to defile.
2014-09-24
Matthew arrested in Galveston County, Texas.
2014-09-25
Police chief Timothy Longo states Graham is believed to be in Charlottesville or a nearby county.
2014-09-29
Forensic evidence reported linking Matthew to the 2009 murder of Morgan Dana Harrington.
2014-10-18
Human remains found in southern Albemarle County by Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office searchers.
2014-10-20
Matthew indicted on attempted murder and related charges from a 2005 Fairfax incident.
2014-10-24
Remains positively identified as Hannah Graham.
2014-11-14
Matthew pleads not guilty to Fairfax charges.
2014-11-18
Albemarle County Police announce Graham's death was a homicide of 'undetermined etiology.'
2014-12-04
Matthew's first court appearance in the Graham case scheduled.
2015-02-10
Matthew indicted for first-degree murder of Graham.
2015-05-05
Prosecutors announce Matthew will face capital murder charges.
2015-06-10
Matthew enters an Alford plea and is convicted on all charges in the Fairfax case.
2015-09-15
Matthew formally charged with first-degree murder and abduction in the Morgan Harrington case.
2015-10-02
Matthew sentenced to three life terms in the Fairfax case.
2016-02-29
Prosecutors notify media that Matthew will plead guilty in the Harrington case.
2016-03-02
Matthew pleads guilty to murdering Hannah Graham.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
That Chapter / 20 min
The Disappearance of Hannah Graham
People
Hannah Graham
VICTIM
18-year-old University of Virginia student who disappeared September 13, 2014, and was later found murdered.
Morgan Dana Harrington
VICTIM
Victim of a 2009 murder later linked to Jesse Matthew through forensic evidence.
Timothy Longo
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Charlottesville police chief who led public communications during the search and investigation.
Denise Lunsford
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Albemarle County commonwealth's attorney who announced Matthew's indictment for first-degree murder.
Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr.
CONVICTED
Pleaded guilty to the murder of Hannah Graham and received a life sentence; also convicted of the murder of Morgan Dana Harrington and of a 2005 Fairfax assault, receiving additional life terms.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Hannah Graham, an 18-year-old University of Virginia student, disappeared in Charlottesville on September 13, 2014; her remains were found five weeks later in Albemarle County. Jesse Matthew pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison, plus additional life terms for the murder of Morgan Dana Harrington and a Fairfax assault case.
Where did the murder happen?
Charlottesville, Virginia (disappearance); Old Lynchburg Road, southern Albemarle County (remains found).
Who was convicted?
Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. (Pleaded guilty to the murder of Hannah Graham and received a life sentence; also convicted of the murder of Morgan Dana Harrington and of a 2005 Fairfax assault, receiving additional life terms.).
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