On September 13^th, 2014, tragedy struck the campus of the University of Virginia.  Hannah Graham, a sophomore from Alexandria, VA, was reported missing to the Charlottesville police department.  Last seen by friends the night of the 12^th leaving an off-campus party unaccompanied, Graham remains unfound as the search for her continues.

In the initial days following her disappearance, there was wide-spread speculation regarding her last known whereabouts.  Discrepancies between her text messages and footage from local bars and restaurants muddied the water and made pinpointing her location increasingly difficult.  Last week, however, it was confirmed that Graham was last seen at a local restaurant in Charlottesville.  In the surveillance footage, Graham is seen departing from the dining area followed closely behind an African American male, who was since been identified as Jesse Mathew.  Mathew and Graham were further proven to be involved from Mathew’s bank statement, which confirms he purchased two drinks from a nearby bar, the same bar which also has turned over tapes proving Graham was present there that night.

After this evidence came to light, Mathew fled the state of Virginia to a beach near Galveston, Texas, where he was arrested and charged as a suspect in the disappearance of Graham.  No stranger to criminal charges, Mathew was accused of rape in 2002, but the charges were dropped when the prosecution decided against pursuing the case.  On Friday evening, Mathew was extradited from Galveston back to Charlottesville and awaits a hearing on Thursday, October 2^nd. Police and crime scene analysts have collected evidence from Mathew’s Galveston campsite, his Charlottesville apartment, and his car in the hope of tying Graham’s disappearance directly to Mathew.  No word has been released yet on these findings.

With Mathew in police custody, the search for Graham continues both in Virginia and Texas. Search parties have expanded their parameters and canine units have been called in.  As a close-knit community, UVA, as well as the town of Charlottesville, is still reeling from the shock of Graham’s disappearance.  Known for her kindness and witty sense of humor, Graham has many hoping and praying for her safe return home.