Source: DNA links cases of Va. women

By Mariano Castillo and Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN

updated 8:18 AM EDT, Wed October 1, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- DNA evidence links Jesse Matthew, a suspect in this month's disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, to the death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, who disappeared in 2009, a law enforcement source told CNN Monday. And state authorities are checking other unsolved homicide and missing person cases for possible connections.

Virginia State Police had said earlier that the two cases were connected by a "forensic link" but did not elaborate. Almost from the start, speculation was raised about the possibility of a connection between Graham's disappearance and Harrington's death.

"Certainly the question has arisen. It's certainly a legitimate question," Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo told reporters last week.

In a statement, James L. Camblos III, Matthew's lawyer, said he met with his client for 2 hours Monday but declined further comment.

"Because everything is under seal, I have not been provided with any evidence that links him to either of these cases," he said, referring to Graham and Harrington.

Matthew will have a bond hearing on Thursday.

In addition, authorities said they are studying other unsolved homicide and missing person cases in Virginia: In Campbell County, the sheriff's office is investigating a possible link to the case of Cassandra Morton, whose body was found in a wooded area near Lynchburg in November 2009; in Orange, police are checking for possible ties to the missing person case of Samantha Ann Clarke, who was last seen September 13, 2010; and in Montgomery County, the sheriff's office is looking for possible links to the unsolved 2009 shooting deaths of two Virginia Tech students, Heidi Childs and David Metzler.

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Source: DNA links cases of Va. women