Police: Missing UVA Student Hannah Graham Left Bar with 'Person of Interest'

Charlottesville Police said Friday afternoon that missing UVA student Hannah Graham was seen leaving a downtown bar, Tempo, at 2 a.m. Saturday with a man who they say is not now a suspect but someone they are “interested in talking to.”

Friday night at Graham’s high school, West Potomac, students, football players, parents and faculty paused for a moment of silence during the football game. A large rock at the school was painted with the message “Bring Hannah Home,” and ringed with flickering candles.

Police said Friday afternoon they know who the man — “person of interest” — is but are not releasing his name; they spoke to him Friday morning while preparing to search his apartment but did not arrest him because they did not have a “legally sufficient reason” to do so, the city’s chief of police said. The man left his apartment Friday after police arrived to search it.

“I spoke with him early this morning and I want to speak to him again,” said one of the investigators at the news conference.

“The person I’m looking for is a black male, 32 years of age, 6’2”, 270 pounds and has dreadlocks,” said Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo, at a Friday afternoon news conference. “She [Graham] walked in the bar with this person and walked out with this person.”

The name of the bar, Tempo, is located at 117 5th St. SE in Charlottesville. Police say that Graham may have gotten into the “person of interest’s” car. Police took the man’s 1998 burnt orange Chrysler away from the apartment parking lot.

In addition to the “person of interest” leaving the apartment Friday, two other people at the apartment left, police said.

Longo wants anyone who saw the person of interest or Graham that night to contact police immediately. “She walked from one end of the mall to the other end of the mall,” said Longo, who said they have received more than 400 tips.

Longo addressed the question of why they did not take the man into custody while they were preparing to search the apartment.

“The question has come up, ‘Was anyone at that house?’ There were three people. ‘Is he in custody?’ No. ‘Was there probable cause to arrest him?’ No. There was not a legally sufficient reason,” Longo said.

“We know who he is,” Longo said. “Others know who he is. I’ve described his car. Many of you were there. Right now the message is this: Today was productive from an investigative standpoint.”

“If we make an arrest, we want it to lead to a conviction, on behalf of Hannah, and Mr and Mrs. Graham.”

Graham, a 2013 graduate of West Potomac High School in Fairfax County, was first reported missing Sunday afternoon and her last known contact was Saturday at 1:20 a.m. when she sent a text that she was lost. Police have not said who received the text, why they did not try to find Graham or report her missing sooner than Sunday.

On Friday, police swarmed the Hessian Hills apartment complex 2.3 miles from where Graham was last seen on surveillance video.

Albemarle County and Virginia State Police, as well as the FBI, are helping in the investigation.

A massive search for Graham, involving about 1,000 volunteers is planned on Saturday from people who registered by Friday afternoon. Thursday night, students at UVA gathered in a massive showing of support at a candlelight vigil to “Bring Hannah Home.”

Hannah’s parents John and Susan Graham arrived in the college town on Tuesday and have issued two statements expressing gratitude for support from those in Charlottesville and in Northern Virginia.

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

Also read:

• 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