A body found in Virginia on Saturday could be connected to the search for UVA student Hannah Graham, authorities say.
The remains were discovered on a property just five miles away from where the body of another young woman, Morgan Harrington, was found five years ago. Harrington disappeared after attending a Metallica concert in the area, and her remains were forensically linked to Jesse Matthew, the man who has been arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Graham. Matthew was reportedly working as a cab driver the night she disappeared; his cab has been seized by police for a thorough search.
Officials say the body found over the weekend was about eight miles from where Graham was last seen during a night out with friends. Although testing will have to be done to confirm whether they belong to Graham, Police Chief Timothy Longo says they have notified her family of the gruesome discovery.
“These are human remains and forensic tests need to be conducted to determine the identification. But nonetheless we wanted to be quick and timely to share that information with the Graham family,” Longo told reporters.
Although Jesse Matthew has reportedly been linked to Morgan Harrington in some way, authorities have not said just what that evidence is or why he was never arrested. An investigation into her death is ongoing.