WASHINGTON — Jesse Matthew, the man police say abducted a Virginia college who was later found dead, has been linked by DNA to a 2005 sexual assault, reports the Washington Post.
The body of Hannah Graham, who attended the University of Virginia, was found in October of this year after a month-long search.
Citing court records, the Post reports that DNA evidence taken from a 2005 sexual assault victim’s fingernails is likely Jesse Matthew’s. There is only a 1 in 7.2 billion chance that the DNA could be someone else’s, according to The Virginia Department of Forensic Scienc. That eliminates most of the world’s population.
The 2005 assault occurred in Fairfax County.
Matthew was previously indicted in Fairfax on the assault. Police have said there are links between that case, Graham’s abduction and the 2009 disappearance and death of Morgan Harrington, who attended Virginia Tech.
Graham’s body was found on Oct. 18 in Albemarle County but Matthew has only been charged with her abduction and an intent to defile.
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