Missing student's remains believed to be found, officials say

Saturday October 18, 2014 07:37 PM

The Associated Press

(c) 2014, The Washington Post.

Human remains believed to be those of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham have been found on an abandoned property outside Charlottesville, authorities announced Saturday evening.

Graham, 18, of Alexandria, Virginia, vanished in the early hours of Saturday Sept. 13. She was last seen by witnesses on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall with a man identified by police as Jesse Matthew Jr., 32, of Charlottesville.

Athorities have yet to make a conclusive identification of the remains, but police have notified Graham's family, said Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo Sr. Authorities also said Graham's case has become a death investigation.

If the body is that of the sophomore, it marks a grim end to a five-week search for the teen, who apparently became lost after a night out drinking and socializing with friends.

The remains were found by a sheriff's deputy in Albemarle County, Virginia.

"I want to thank everyone who gave up their days, their nights, their weekends," Longo said of the search for Graham. "People who called, wrote and dropped food and good wishes and words of encouragement to the search groups and the detectives who work so hard through this investigation."

"Today would have not been possible without their prayers, their encouragement and their help," the chief said.

See the original post:
Missing student's remains believed to be found, officials say