(Galveston Co., TX)
Thurs., Sept. 25 3:28 p.m.
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — The man suspected of abducting a missing University of Virginia student will be heading back to Virginia to face charges. At a brief court hearing Thursday in Texas — where he was arrested Wednesday — Jesse Matthew didn’t challenge his extradition. He’d apparently spent several nights camping on a beach before his arrest. According to a person familiar with the search for Hannah Graham, authorities had been concerned that Matthew would try to cross into Mexico. The 32-year-old former college football player was captured less than a day after he was charged with “abduction with intent to defile” Graham — an 18-year-old sophomore who disappeared on September 13th in Charlottesville. The police chief in Charlottesville says the case is “nowhere near over” — and that the “long road ahead” includes the search for the missing student. Owners of rural and wooded areas around Charlottesville are being urged to examine their properties for any signs her. And authorities in Texas have now joined the search as well.
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Thurs., Sept. 25 3:00 p.m.
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — A man charged with abducting a missing University of Virginia student appeared confused and refused a court-appointed attorney Thursday after being captured in Texas, where the search for Hannah Graham has now expanded. Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. sped away after being questioned by police in Charlottesville, Virginia, last Saturday. Authorities say he made it to the beach town of Gilchrist, Texas — 1,260 miles from home and about a seven-hour drive from the border — before his arrest. Authorities had issued a federal fugitive warrant for Matthew out of concern that he would try to cross into Mexico, according to a person familiar with the search for Hannah Graham. The source spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person isn’t authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. Matthew, 32, appeared in a brief initial hearing Thursday over a video link from a Galveston County jail. Wearing a dark green jumpsuit and handcuffs, he signed papers in court Thursday.
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Thurs., Sept. 25 9:17 a.m.
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — A man charged with abducting a missing University of Virginia student is in custody in Texas and has appeared briefly via video link before a county judge. Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. was arrested Wednesday on a beach in the community of Gilchrist in Galveston County, Texas. On Thursday morning, he appeared via video link before Galveston County Judge Mark Henry. Matthew is charged with abduction with intent to defile Hannah Graham, an 18-year-old sophomore who went missing Sept. 13 in Charlottesville. In Texas, he’s charged with being a fugitive from justice and with giving false information to an officer. Henry set bond at $1,500 on the latter charge, but Matthew is being held without bond on the fugitive charge. Police believe the 32-year-old Matthew was the last person seen with Graham. It’s not clear whether the two knew each other. Police are still searching for Graham.
Related news:
Police chief’s request evokes memories of Morgan Harrington case five years ago
Challenges remain in missing UVa student case
Tempo staff: Missing UVA student not served, did not enter bar
Arrest site for abduction suspect at road’s end
BREAKING: Suspect captured in case of missing UVa student
Prosecutor: no evidence linking disappearances of Hannah Graham and Alexis Murphy
BREAKING: Suspect now charged in UVA student disappearance
Clothes taken in search for missing UVa student
UPDATE: Home of man seen with missing UVa student searched again (and all prior stories)
