Drone deployed in search for missing U.Va. student
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Investigators are hoping technology will help their search for missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, and for the first time in Virginia law enforcement history, they're reportedly deploying a drone in the search.
Wednesday, investigators announced that they have deployed the drone or Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in an effort to cover more ground, reported CBS affiliate WCAV.
Jesse Matthew, Jr., 32, is charged with abduction with intent to defile in Graham's Sept. 13 disappearance. Graham, 18, vanished after attending two off-campus house parties and sending a text to a friend that she was lost. Police say they believe she was with Matthew on Charlottesville's downtown pedestrian mall, and may have been in his car when he left.
Matthew was arrested days later after a tipster who spotted him camping on a beach near Galveston, Texas called police. Matthew was recently also linked by authorities to the 2009 disappearance and murder of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, and investigators in several counties are investigating whether he could be tied to other Virginia cold cases.
Though Matthew was arrested more than 1,200 miles away, police have said they believe Graham is in Charlottesville or the nine surrounding counties.
"There's also some severe terrain, declines and inclines, and there is also tree cover that we can't look underneath unless we bring this UAS into focus down below the tree cover," said Col. Steve Sellers of the Albemarle Co. Police, reportsWCAV. "It can help direct our ground troops to specific locations to recover anything that needs to be recovered."
Investigators received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration and property owners before deploying the drone, which is on loan from Virginia Tech. They say the technology, with its high-quality camera and endurance, will be "invaluable."
"It's our hope this will give us a perspective you can't get from the ground, allow us to cover more area, and hopefully bring this to conclusion sooner,' said John Coggin with Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership.
Property owners have also been asked to check their own lots in the ongoing search for Graham.
Anyone with information in the case is urged to call the tip line at 434-295-3851 or email CPDtips@charlottesville.org.