CHARLOTTESVILLE — A man from the Charlottesville area has been charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, officials in Albemarle County announced Tuesday.
Jesse L. Matthew Jr., 33, was previously charged with Graham’s abduction after authorities said he was the last person seen with the 18-year-old from Fairfax County before she disappeared from Charlottesville in September. Her body was found in a wooded area about 10 miles from campus weeks later.
Matthew also has been charged with abduction with intent to defile, indicating that police believe he intended to sexually assault Graham. Matthew faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted.
Lunsford said she chose not to seek a capital murder charge, which carries a potential death sentence. Virginia law allows it in homicide cases that allegedly involve an abduction or sexual assault. Lunsford would not discuss her reasoning but said the decision came after consulting with Graham’s family and weighing the impact on the community.
“The charges that the jury will hear are the charges that the prosecutor feels comfortable to bring,” Lunsford said.
How unfortunate. This case is clearly one where executing an evil person would seem more than appropriate. I don’t necessarily demand the death penalty for everyone who murders or commits a crime. However, if convicted, this is one nasty dude which a long trail of victims. I know I should technically say alleged, so let me say it: the alleged killer of Hannah Graham, Harrington Morgan, and Lord knows who else should be put to death.
The DNA evidence is there. In fact, that is how they determined who he was. We have a serial rapist and a serial killer. I actually can’t think of one good reason why, if convicted, Jessie Matthew should get to live. Harrah and Morgan sure didn’t.
The only reason I can think for not seeking a capital murder charge would be nailing his sorry ass for life and then going for the death penalty with the Morgan Harrington case. I feel this case is personal. Basically, at the end of the day, I want him dead. I want him dead for all the young women he has lured into a false sense of security, only to be sexually assaulted and/or killed.
Maybe enough evidence to convince a jury to send the accused to prison for life but perhaps fearful of not having enough to convince jurors psychologically to agree to play a primary role in condemning another human to death.
What I am hoping is that they are going to nail his tail with the Morgan Harrington case. that way if it is overturned over one of those death penalty technicalities, it will fall back on a life in prison conviction as well as a solid rape conviction our of Fairfax County.
Serial murderers …I just don’t think he deserves to live. Glad I am not on the jury.