Case Builds Against Suspect Jesse Matthew
KOSIK: A tragic end to the search for missing University of Virginia student, Hannah Graham. Officials have confirmed that human remains they discovered along an abandoned creek bed are those of 18-year-old who was last seen on September 13th. As her parents deal with the heartbreaking news, police are now building their case against Jesse Matthew, the prime suspect in their daughter's disappearance. CNN's Brian Todd has the details.</s>BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police now confirm the remains found along this creek bed are those of 18-year-old Hannah Graham. Her parents in a statement say, quote, "We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Hannah." As they deal with the worst possible news, the cases build against the prime suspect in their daughter's disappearance, Jesse Matthew.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a number of missing people and they have identified a suspect that clearly was involved to some extent with perhaps one or more of these cases.</s>TODD: The latest case Matthew was mentioned with is missing teenager, Alexis Murphy. She vanished in August 2013. Her body was never found. But her abandoned car was recovered in Charlottesville and another man was convicted of her killing. Local officials tell CNN, DNA in Murphy's car is being retested by the</s>FBI. MICHAEL HALLAHAN, ATTORNEY FOR RANDY TAYLOR: I'm asking them to take the known sample of DNA from Jesse Matthew that they (inaudible) and compare it to all the unknown DNA samples in that case.</s>TODD: That's the attorney for Randy Taylor, the man convicted of Murphy's killing after some of her DNA was found in his home.</s>STEVE DEATON, FORMER PROSECUTOR: I don't think Mr. Matthew had anything to do with that, that's just my personal opinion. I think that case shows how people are straining to pin more and more thins on Mr. Matthew.</s>TODD: Matthew has already been indicted in another case in Fairfax County two hours north of Charlottesville. He faces charges of sexual assault and attempted capital murder from a 2005 incident where a woman was abducted while walking home from the grocery store.</s>SCOTT GOODMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Fairfax is a strong case because it's a case that has been in the works for the last nine years. They have a live victim who did come in and testify.</s>TODD: And there could be a forensic link between that case and the abduction and murder of Virginia Tech student, Morgan Herrington. She vanished in October 2009 while visiting UVA. Her body was found in a farm outside of Charlottesville more than three months later. No one has been charged in Harrington's murder. (on camera): What is that forensic link? The man who found Morgan Harrington's shirt on this bush in downtown Charlottesville says police later told him they had a DNA match to that 2005 sexual case in Fairfax. (voice-over): But analysts say prosecuting Matthew in the Harrington case could be tough.</s>GOODMAN: The weakest case would be at this point on the surface Morgan Harrington's case because there has been no evidence that we are aware of that establishes to any kind of degree or certainty that Mr. Matthew and Miss Harrington were ever together.</s>TODD: That, of course, departs from the Hannah Graham case where surveillance video and witness accounts put Jesse Matthew and Hannah Graham either together the night she disappeared or at least in close proximity to each other. Brian Todd, CNN, Charlottesville, Virginia.</s>KOSIK: Defense attorney and HLN legal analyst, Joey Jackson joining me now. Joey, now that Hannah Graham's remains have been found, where does this lead the investigation? Where to now?</s>JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, good morning, Alison. The finding of the body is a very significant development, as unfortunate as it is. I'll tell you why. What happens, Alison, is that to the extent that now you have a body there's other evidence and information that could potentially be gleaned from that. Like what? Like hair analysis, like fibers, like DNA, like blood, something that could potentially link Jesse Matthew, and as we know, based upon science and based upon forensic evidence when you have that link, it's significant. So where you go is a potential upgrading of the charges. We know now that he's facing the charge of abduction with intent to defile, which is essentially a sex abuse charge, abducting someone for purposes of leading to things of a sexual variety. I'll just say it that way. Now that you have a body, we're talking about murder and it becomes a murder investigation. I would suspect in due time and in short order, the charges will be upgraded if in fact the authorities find, Alison, that he can be linked positively to her death.</s>KOSIK: If the suspect that we're talking Jesse Matthew is linked to the death of Hannah Graham and Morgan Harrington or other missing Virginia teens, would these cases be tried separately or how would that be handled?</s>JACKSON: Well, generally speaking, Alison, each case would have a separate prosecution. Certainly, you know, there would be the defenses in those respective cases would want that because you don't want to taint the defendant in any particular case based on his rights that would be overly prejudicial. But one of the things that would occur, the prosecution would be seeking to introduce evidence of other instances with Jesse Matthew engaged in prior bad conduct. Why, because it goes to motive. It goes to intent. It goes to a common plan of scheme. So even though you can see separate prosecutions for each case, don't be surprised if you see information relating to one case introduced in the prosecution of another -- Alison.</s>KOSIK: It's almost like the investigation is just revving up. Joey Jackson, thanks so much for joining us this morning.</s>JACKSON: A pleasure.</s>BLACKWELL: So we got the man with the hatchet in New York. And then, of course, the shooter in Ottawa, two of the lone wolf terrorists. And we're seeing this as ISIS calls for followers to take action against police and officials. Are people heeding that call? Then he was popular, even voted homecoming prince, so why did he had shoot his friends, his classmates, and as we learned from Dan Simon this morning, relatives, investigating his motive. Next on NEW DAY.