Suspect in Missing UVA Student Case Accused Twice of Sexual Assault
Jesse Leroy Matthew, Jr.'s history of sexual assault accusations continue to be pieced together as the search for missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham extends into its third week. Matthew was accused of sexual assault during his time as a student and football player at Christopher Newport University in 2003—that's in addition to a sexual assault accusation filed against him when he was a student and football player at Liberty University in 2002.
Those sexual assault accusations are now coupled with new forensic evidence announced earlier this week that links Matthew to 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, who went missing from the University of Virginia campus in 2009 and whose body was found three months later buried on a farm. No charges were filed in both of those campus sexual assault allegations, the Daily Progress reports.
According to the Virginia Pilot, the sexual assault on the CNU campus allegedly took place five days before he left the school. "Students don't usually leave in the second month of the semester or leave the football team within a month," Lori Jacobs, director of public relations for CNU, told the paper. "The university is fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies." Matthew also left Liberty University soon after sexual assault allegations were field against him.
Graham has been missing since Sept. 13; Albemarle County police told the Pilot that they started using drones in their search for the 18-year-old. His bond hearing for an abduction with the intent to defile charge is scheduled for Dec. 4.
[Image via AP]