Police have charged Jesse Matthew in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. INSIDE EDITION reports.
The capture of the suspect being sought in the abduction of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham is a testament to diligent police work, all the way across the country.
Jesse Matthew was arrested in Galveston, Texas, 1,300 miles from the Charlottesville mall where he was seen walking with Hannah Graham twelve days ago!
Matthew seemed disoriented at his arraignment Thursday, saying, "They took all my clothes, and they got me sleeping on a hard thing."
KTRK reporter Tracy Clemons said, "Often times criminals or people who are accused of a crime may run and they come here to Galveston thinking they will be safe here, thinking that this is the end of the road."
Matthew was first spotted at a Galveston convenience store on Tuesday night buying bug spray, because he intended to camp out on the beach.
"He was seen buying OFF mosquito spray, so that could be part of the whole camping out thing," said Clemons.
The fact that a wanted poster was plastered from coast-to-coast proved crucial because it included this key detail: “Matthew was reportedly in possession of his sister's 1997 light blue Nissan Sentra."
The following day, the suspect was seen camped out in a tent on the beach when someone made a call about a "suspicious person" on the beach. A sheriff's deputy responded, and the blue car was nearby. Just like that, the cops had their man.
Matthew is charged with abducting Hannah Graham with intent to defile. By definition, this means he allegedly intended to have sex with her.
We're learning more about the six-foot-two, 270 pound suspect. He was reportedly Expelled from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, twelve years ago after a girl claimed he'd raped her on campus.
No charges were brought against him in that incident due to lack of evidence, police said.
INSIDE EDITION's Steven Fabian spoke with William Haith, who played football with Jesse Matthew at Liberty University.
"As far as you know, what happened in 2002 that led to the allegations," asked Fabian.
"What I heard was that 'LJ' (Jesse Mathew) participated in sexual activities with a female Liberty student. And that student must have been uncomfortable she informed the administrative staff and then they took action," answered Haith
Now, Jesse Matthew is being extradited to Virginia, where the search goes on for a beloved college student named Hannah Graham.
"Where's Hannah? That's still the question. If he's involved, she could be anywhere from Charlottesville to here," concluded Clemons.
