Grahams Expected to Speak at News Conference Wednesday

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- The parents of the late Hannah Elizabeth Graham are planning to speak at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, after a scheduled plea hearing for Jesse L. Matthew Jr., the suspect charged in their daughter’s death.

Matthew, 34, is charged with capital murder in Graham’s disappearance and death and is expected to enter a plea agreement Wednesday.

The daughter of Sue and John Graham was a University of Virginia student was 18 when she disappeared Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 in Charlottesville and was found six weeks later deceased, about 12 miles from campus. She was a 2013 graduate of West Potomac High School in Fairfax County.

More:

• Jesse Matthew Sentenced to Life in Prison
• Jesse Matthew to Be Charged with First Degree Murder
• Grand Jury Returns Indictments Against Jesse Matthew

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” John Graham said in the days after his daughter’s disappearance at a news conference in Charlottesville. “We need to find out what happened to Hannah and make sure it doesn’t happen to anybody else.” He spoke about what a caring person his daughter was, spending her spring break helping build new houses in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Graham said his daughter was interested in a career helping other people.

The Grahams plan to speak at a news conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, at about 3 p.m., following a plea hearing by Matthew, according to Albemarle County. They are expected to be joined by the parents of Morgan Harrington. Harrington, 20, was a student at Virginia Tech when she disappeared after attending a concert in Charlottesville in 2009. Her body was found three months later about 10 miles from the City.

Matthew faces first-degree murder charges in Harrington’s death.

Matthew, a native of the Charlottesville area, was expected to go on trial this summer in the deaths of Graham as well as Harrington. Matthew could have faced the death penalty.

A court hearing is planned for Wednesday afternoon in Albemarle County Circuit Court, with Matthew’s plea expected to resolve both cases, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Tracci.

Matthew is currently serving a life sentence for a 2005 attempted murder and sex assault of a 26-year old woman walking home at night from a grocery store in Fairfax City.

PHOTO: Hannah Graham photo released by Charlottesville Police Department