Man already charged with UVa student's abduction indicted on 1st-degree murder count in case
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2014 file photo Jesse Matthew Jr., right, looks toward the gallery while appearing in court in Fairfax, Va. New information is coming in the case against Matthew Jr., linked to two Virginia college students who disappeared and were later found dead. Matthew, 33, is charged with abduction with intent to defile in the case of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. (AP Photo/The Washington Post, Bill O'Leary, Pool) (The Associated Press)
Law enforcement officials say 33-year-old Jesse Matthew Jr., already charged with the abduction of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, has been indicted on a count of first-degree murder in the case.
Prosecutor Denise Lunsford said at a Tuesday news conference that he was indicted on the murder charge Monday. Matthew already was charged with abduction with intent to defile in the case. The 18-year-old Graham disappeared in September and was found dead in Albemarle County a few weeks later.
Matthew also faces two counts of reckless driving in the case.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Police have said forensic evidence also links Matthew to the 2009 disappearance and death of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, whose body also was found in the county. Lunsford says no charges have been filed against Matthew in that case.
Lunsford says Matthew's first court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 18.