UPDATE: New Videos Provide Clues to UVA Student's Disappearance

UPDATE Thursday, 12 a.m.: Police late Wednesday night disclosed new information in the disappearance of UVA student Hannah Graham, according to NBC-29.

New surveillance videos from just after 1 a.m. Saturday provided by Charlottesville merchants show a man walking behind Graham; another video a few minutes later then shows her walking with a woman, with the same man then following them. Police have spoken to that man, NBC-29 reported; that man told police the last time he saw Graham, another man who he described as black, was talking with Graham. That man, he said, had his arm draped over Graham’s shoulder and seemed concerned about her.

Candlelight “Bring Hannah Home” vigils are planned for Thursday evening in Charlottesville and near her home in Alexandria/Fairfax County.

The parents of missing UVA student Hannah Graham said Wednesday that their daughter is “beyond precious to us,” that they are “totally devastated” and “fear foul play,” said Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo, Sr., in an afternoon news conference.

The chief, who said he too is a father, barely suppressed his emotions as he read the new statement from John and Susan Graham, in a 4 p.m. news conference in Charlottesville. For any parents, “I can’t imagine a more horrifying set of circumstances,” he said.

Police in Charlottesville laid out a timeline Wednesday, detailing what they have pieced together of Hannah Graham’s night before she went missing in the early hours Saturday morning.

The 18-year-old from Fairfax County disappeared early Saturday morning; her last contact was a text she sent at 1:20 a.m. Saturday saying she was lost.

She met friends Friday evening for dinner, Longo said. Afterward, she went by herself to two parties at off-campus housing.

When she left her second location, she got lost, he said.

She was captured on video in at least two spots: Near McGrady’s Pub, where she circled the exterior but did not go in; from there she proceeded eastbound on Preston Avenue. An eyewitness saw her heading southbound on Second Street, headed to the downtown pedestrian mall. A video of her running near a gas station did not cause concern, police said, because there was no one else in the video.

The police chief said that earlier today (Wednesday), the police were made aware of another surveillance video showing Graham walking southbound on the mall.

Longo said that Graham had three roommates with separate bedrooms and that they did not realize she was missing until Sunday. Sometime on Sunday, her friends and family began to compare notes.

“Suffice it to say this investigation has been aggressive and will continue to be aggressive,” he said detailing some of that investigation:

• The police chief said the department has “secured some electronic equipment in her apartment to see if that might have value to our investigation.”
• Police brought in a bloodhound for the second time during the investigation on Tuesday, when they had a better idea of where she was last seen.
• Police have interviewed at least 50 people.
• Police have received and reviewed more than 100 tips.
• Police have searched a field where Morgan Harrington, a Virginia Tech student visiting Charlottesville, went missing in 2009 and was found dead in 2010. No one was ever arrested. The police chief was quick to say though that as of now there is no link between the two crimes.

Longo also read a new statement from Graham’s parents, who said that “Hannah is beyond precious to us,” and “we’re totally devastated.” The parents are urging the public to continue to phone in any leads, no matter how small.

They also thanked UVA, West Potomac High School, the high school band and softball team as well as neighbors and colleagues for their support throughout the ordeal. Originally from England, they said that they have lived in Northern Virginia since Hannah was 5 years old.

Longo urged Charlottesville area residents to search their properties for any clues but warned “don’t touch anything that appears to be evidence.”

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is coordinating searches of the area, Longo said.

Anyone with information should call 434-295-3851.

Also read:

Police: West Potomac High School Grad Reported Missing at UVA

Missing College Student’s Last Text: ‘I’m Lost, Come Find Me’

Family of Missing College Student, Hannah Graham, Issues Statement


PHOTO: Family photo courtesy of police