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DNA evidence links Jesse Matthew, a suspect in this month's disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, to the death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, who disappeared in 2009, a law enforcement source told CNN on Monday.Earlier, Virginia State Police said the two cases were connected by a "forensic link" but did not elaborate.

Five years ago, as Alice Chan walked through Charlottesville as a first year University of Virginia student, she said she was always looking over her shoulder. She said the disappearance of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington from the UVa. campus on Oct. 17, 2009 put many students on guard.“That definitely kept a lot of us on our toes whenever we were out at night,” Chan said.Harrington’s remains were found on a remote farm the following January. Investigators eventually linked her case, through forensic evidence, to a 2005 unsolved sexual assault in Fairfax. Ch...

DNA evidence links the suspect in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham to a Virginia Tech student who disappeared in Charlottesville nearly five years ago, according to a law enforcement source.

Virginia State Police said Monday that a suspect charged in the disappearance of a University of Virginia sophomore is linked through forensic evidence to the abduction and murder of another college student five years ago.

One was snatched as she carried groceries. Another was trying to get home from a Metallica show. Now both are linked to Jesse Matthew, charged in 18-year-old Graham’s disappearance.The woman was grabbed from behind as she was walking from a grocery store to a friend’s home in Fairfax, Virginia, on the night of September 24, 2005.

The parents of a Virginia Tech student who was abducted and killed five years ago have issued a plea to the suspect in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham -- one day after police said the two cases could have a forensic link."I would like to appeal to him to please give the family information about where Hannah is. We need to find Hannah Graham. It is vital," said Gil Harrington, the mother of Morgan Harrington, during an appearance on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday morning.

[With video] The parents of a young college student whose murder five years ago may be linked to the recent disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham said Tuesday they hope new breaks in both cases may prevent future tragedies involving young women in the area.

"I thought it seemed very similar to Morgan's situation, the question of her maybe being somewhat impaired and someone just picking her up," Harrington said on NBC's Today show. “It really came to me about two weeks ago when I saw the picture of the sketch (of Matthew) .... at that point I said, 'Oh my gosh, I think it's the same person.'" 

Morgan Harrington's father said Tuesday morning that the disappearance of Hannah Graham "seemed very similar to Morgan's situation" and that he became more convinced of a possible connection as new information was revealed about the cases of the two young women who vanished from Charlottesville.

... "These women were not asking for it. They were stolen from us they were taken from us," Gil Harrington said. Gil Harrington said she's spent sleepless nights wondering if the person who killed Morgan would also kill again."I'm relieved. If this is the person who killed Morgan. He is in custody and he's likely not to ever be able to harm another human being. I'm very pleased to know that," Harrington said.... Harrington's response about Matthew's connection to other missing girls: "I would not be surprised to hear that. I would be saddened bu...

While Gil Harrington said she and her husband, Dan have tried to prepare for this day for years, now that it's here it's startling she said to "live it."

Gone but not forgotten. Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student, disappeared in October 2009. Her remains were found a few months later.Her death remains a mystery, but it's back in the news this week because of the arrest of Jesse Matthew -- the only known suspect in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham.

... Although Dan Harrington declined to elaborate on the link between Graham’s disappearance and that of his daughter, he said recent developments give him hope that a resolution in Morgan’s case is close.“Absolutely,” he said.

... Gil and Dan Harrington have spoken often with reporters since their daughter disappeared – hoping to help police solve the case and to make young women aware of the danger posed by sexual predators. Now, the Harringtons say they’re relieved that Morgan’s killer may be in custody and they plan to step back – allowing the media to focus solely on the Graham case. 

State police say the arrest of Jesse “LJ” Matthew has provided a forensic link to the case of Morgan Harrington, the 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who disappeared from the University of Virginia during a concert there in 2009. WVTF talks with experts on science and the law to find out what that might mean for Matthew, who’s now accused of kidnapping Hannah Graham.

By Sandy Hausman with Coy BarefootNew information is coming to light in the case of missing UVA student Hannah Graham. An investigative reporter and talk show host in Charlottesville has spoken with several witnesses about the man accused of kidnapping her -- where he was before encountering Graham on the downtown mall. To read Coy Barefoot's coverage, click here.

... In Blacksburg, Harrington’s former professor at Virginia Tech, Jane Vance, says while this could represent future closure, the Help Save the Next Girl organization she helped to start with Harrington's parents has no plans to stop in its effort to  educate young women about safety and predatory danger.

The desperate hunt for missing UVA student Hannah Graham took an astonishing turn on Monday when it was revealed police are linking the case to that of the notorious abduction, rape and murder of student Morgan Harrington.

... Matthew is scheduled to make his first court appearance this Thursday, October 2 at 10 a.m. via video uplink in Charlottesville General District Court.  Matthew will also appear in Albemarle General District Court on October 2 at 9 a.m. on two reckless driving charges.