Suspect formally charged in U.Va. murder case

Jesse Matthew, a former hospital worker, was formally charged with first-degree murder Wednesday in the death of 18-year-old University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. Trial was set for June 29.

Matthew, 33, was being held in Fairfax County, a suburban area of Washington, D.C., about 100 northeast of Charlottesville, on a separate 2005 sexual assault charge.

He appeared at the court hearing in Charlottesville by video. His exact whereabouts was unclear, however, as Fairfax County officials said he was no longer in their custody as of Wednesday morning, WUSA reports.

The commonwealth's attorney says the 33-year-old Matthew could face 20 years to life in prison if convicted. He is also charged with abduction in the case.

Graham, who disappeared after a night out with friends in Charlottesville, was last seen on surveillance video leaving a bar with Matthew on Sept. 13, according to prosecutors.

Her body was found about five weeks later near the location where the remains of another area college student, Morgan Harrington, 20, were discovered in January 2010.

Harrington, from Virginia Tech, disappeared after traveling to Charlottesville in October 2009 for a concert.

Matthew worked for the the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville as an operating-room patient technician for two years before his arrest. From 2007 to 2010, he had a taxi license.

He fled the area in September after police began questioning him about the Graham case. Matthew was arrested several days later as he camped on a beach near Galveston, Texas.

He was initially charged with abduction with intent to defile in the Graham case — a felony that under Virginia law compels suspects to submit to DNA testing.

Contributing: WUSA-TV