Hannah Graham's Parents: 'This Is Every Parent's Worst Nightmare'

Jesse Matthew, whom police publicly named Sunday in a televised news conference as the person of interest in the disappearance of UVA sophomore Hannah Graham, walked into the Charlottesville Police station Saturday asking for a lawyer, Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo said Sunday. The man stayed for about an hour and left with the lawyer, but Longo said he is not certain if he retained the lawyer.

The missing college student, Graham, 18, is a 2013 graduate of West Potomac High School in Fairfax County; she disappeared in the early morning hours Saturday, Sept. 13 in Charlottesville.

‘Person of Interest’ arrives at police station Saturday, leaves without talking

“Jesse Matthew showed up at the police station yesterday,” Longo said. “He walked right through the front door with a couple of family members. Asked for a lawyer and we found him one. I know they talked for a little bit; and I know they walked out that door.”

“I don’t know anything more about the interaction he had [with Graham] anymore than the moment he walked in,” Longo said. “So I hope and pray we might have an opportunity to talk to him again because I think he might be able to help us find Hannah Graham.”

Police charge ‘person of interest’ with reckless driving Saturday

After Matthew left, state and federal authorities who were following him said he was driving over the speed limit in Albemarle County and have charged him with reckless driving. There are two warrants out for his arrest for the reckless driving, Longo said.

State police obtained two charges of reckless driving against Jesse Matthew Saturday evening in Albemarle County, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman said Sunday. Both are Class 1 misdemeanors.

Police have not arrested him on those charges yet, Longo noted.

“I believe Jesse Matthew was the last person [Graham] was seen with before she vanished off the face of the earth,” Longo said, raising his voice in frustration at the news conference. “It’s been a week and we can’t find her. But somebody knows where she is. Somebody’s gotta know where she is.”

Police on Friday took Matthew’s car away to search it and also searched his apartment for hours.

Forensics lab investigation should be complete soon

Longo said that police do not know if Graham got into Matthew’s car, but merchant surveillance cameras have them at Tempo, a downtown bar and restaurant, together. Matthew has said that they parted aways after that. But police are searching Matthew’s car for evidence in the disappearance case.

“We want to know who was inside the vehicle,” Longo said. “If you saw someone get into that car at 1:20, 1:30, 1:40, we really want to talk to you. This is a critical piece of the puzzle. We searched the car, we searched the apartment; we’re waiting to hear back from the Department of Forensic Science.” Longo said he expects to hear back from the lab by Tuesday.

Parents: ‘We need to find out what happened to Hannah’

Meanwhile the parents of Graham appeared Sunday at the news conference to thank volunteers and to talk about their daughter. John Graham spoke as his wife stood by in obvious anguish.

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

Police have received more than 900 tips and spoken to 50 to 75 eyewitnesses, they said Sunday.

Mark Eggeman, with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, said that the response from volunteers from across Virginia has been overwhelming with more than 2,000 people registering to help look for Graham. After today, he said the search will continue mainly with professionals doing more targeted searches.

Anyone with information to share should call police at 434-295-3851.

Also read:

• Charlottesville Police Reveal Name of ‘Person of Interest’ to Media in Hannah Graham Case, No Charges Filed
• Police: Missing College Student Hannah Graham Left Bar with ‘Person of Interest’
• Police Execute Search Warrants in Connection with Missing UVA Student Hannah Graham
• UVA Holds ‘Bring Hannah Back’ Candlelight Vigil
• Charlottesville Police Offer Description of ‘Person of Interest’ in College Student Disappearance
• Security Video Shows Missing UVA College Student Hannah Graham
• New Videos Provide Clues to College Student’s Disappearance
• Family of Missing College Student, Hannah Graham, Issues Statement
• Missing College Student’s Last Text: ‘I’m Lost, Come Find Me’
• Police: West Potomac High School Grad Reported Missing at UVA

PHOTO: Parents of missing UVA student Hannah Graham, Sue and John Graham; screen shot from news conference