Hannah Graham Disappearance: Search Continues for Missing UVA Student
University of Virginia student Hannah Graham has been missing for five days and police continue to search for more clues that could lead to finding her. Though video evidence has proved somewhat useful in retracing her steps, investigators are not close to figuring out what happened to Graham when she disappeared
Graham, 18, disappeared Saturday morning after a night out in the Charlottesville area. Her friends reported her missing Sunday after not hearing from her for a whole day.
According to the Cavalier Daily, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo held a press conference Wednesday afternoon. He read out a statement by John and Susan Graham, Hannah's parents.
"It is totally out of character for us not to have heard from her," said the statement. "We fear foul play."
Present with Longo were University Police Chief Michael Gibson, University Dean of Students Allen Groves, Charlottesville Police Lt. Ronnie Roberts and Sergeant Detective Jim Mooney. Det. Mooney is currently leading the investigation.
Police have pieced together where she was previously after she left her apartment at around 9:30 p.m. She was with friends until about 11 p.m. when she headed to a party. She left sometime after midnight. Surveillance videos in front of local pub sometime after midnight indicate Graham may have gotten lost.
Initial reports released earlier this week placed Graham at the Downtown Mall, a pedestrian strip of businesses, according to CBS News.
Surveillance footage released by police showed Graham leaving her apartment at 9:30 p.m. wearing black trousers and a shiny gold top. She has been described as 5-foot-11 with blue eyes, light brown hair and freckles. Currently police do not suspect foul play.
"Right now there's nothing that points to anything criminal. However, we're obviously not discounting anything," Charlottesville Police Capt. Gary Pleasants.
Joining the investigation are the Virginia State Police, University of Virginia police and the FBI, along with the local police.
In one of the newest surveillance video released by police, Graham is walking along the Downtown Mall. According to WRIC, the video shows Graham walking in front of Sal's Pizza at around 1 a.m. where a man seems to follow her soon after.
The man followed her for a block, as shown in a third surveillance video shot in front of Tuel Jewelers. However, according to New York Daily News, the man came forward to police on Wednesday, saying he only followed Graham because she appeared drunk and distressed.
He informed police he stopped following her when she came upon a second man who put an arm around her and began talking to her. He believed him to be an acquaintance and he left.
Police are now searching for this man, who did not appear in any of the surveillance videos. Graham's last communication was a text sent to friends at 1:20 a.m. saying she was lost around 14th and Wertland Streets.
Police ask anyone with information to call the tip line with the Charlottesville Police Department at 434-295-3851 or CrimeStoppers at 434-977-4000.
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