Watch CBS News

Jesse Matthew charged in death of Morgan Harrington

Jesse Matthew, the man charged in the abduction and killing of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, is now facing charges in the 2009 death of another college student.

CBS affiliate WDBJ reports a grand jury in Albermarle County, Virginia on Tuesday indicted Matthew on charges of first-degree murder and abduction with intent to defile in the death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington.

Each charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

Morgan Harrington Facebook photo

Harrington, 20, disappeared October 17, 2009 after leaving a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. Her remains were found months later on a rural farm in Albermarle County.

Matthew already faces charges in the abduction and killing of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham.

Police say he was the last person seen with Graham, 18, on Charlottesville's downtown pedestrian mall before she vanished in September of 2014. Her remains were found in rural Albermarle County five weeks later.

In June, Matthew was convicted of attempted capital murder and sex crimes against a woman in Fairfax County in a 2005 case. Matthew entered an Alford Plea, acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict him but not technically admitting guilt. He faces life in prison when he is sentenced in the Fairfax case in October.

hannah-graham.jpg
Hannah Graham CBS affiliate WCAV

He faces death if convicted of Graham's murder.

Prosecutors have previously said the 2005 case was linked through DNA to Graham's murder and Harrington's disappearance.

Matthew is scheduled to appear in court on the new charges Wednesday.


"48 Hours" kicks off its 28th season with a two-hour primetime investigation into who killed Hannah Graham and the terrifying fear that the accused killer may have struck before. "Hannah Graham: Deadly Connections" airs Saturday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

And, for the first time, "48 Hours" has produced a five-part crime and justice podcast series on the case.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.