JLM: What Do We Know About Him?

[RNER]

I think some people seem to be forgetting that there is nothing that says that the public has the right to know what evidence the police have. It is as much of a protection for the potential accused as it is for the police not to reveal everything they know/have. If the police revealed every piece of evidence they had, they run the risk of contaminating the potential jury pool. In addition, if they are looking for specific evidence, for example a piece of jewelry, they don't want to tip off the perp or his family/friends/associates who may know where that specific piece of evidence is and dispose of it.

I have read varying accounts of the issue with the lawyer - some said the police found a lawyer for JM, others said that JM came in with a list of attorneys and made the call to find his own lawyer - frankly, I think that's a problem with bad media investigation and reporting. As for the "forensic link," - multiple MSM outlets have said that a source close to the investigation but who is not authorized to speak about the case revealed that the link was DNA. Is that true? I don't know - I only have the media's word for it.

"Consciousness of guilt" - if Matthew had nothing to hide, why not come forward and say, hey that's me on the tape and yes, I met Hannah that night and interacted with her, but then we went our separate ways? Instead, police tracked down his CAR. The police have some evidence that brought them to Matthew's car before they even seek him out for general questioning. In my opinion, that's huge. I am convinced that they have additional video evidence that shows Hannah getting (or being put) in Matthew's car. Then, the investigation of the car led them to get a warrant for Matthew's apartment - I can't fathom what they would have found in the car that led to probable cause to search the apartment. Regardless, whatever was found in the car and the apartment had to be analyzed forensically to make certain there was a connection to Hannah.
I think Matthew had something in his apartment that linked him to Morgan Harrington - the necklace she was wearing the night she disappeared wasn't found with her body, although other jewelry was. Maybe police found that necklace and it had MH's DNA on it??? Or maybe they are simply referring to the shirt that was found that was Morgan's and had Matthew's DNA on it???
I then believe that Matthew knew that once cops went into his apartment, it was only a matter of time before things came crashing down on him and the connection was made between him and these three girls (Hannah, Morgan and the Fairfax victim). Why he went to the police station is beyond me - unless it was for nothing more than to "lawyer up" and let the police know that he had nothing to say to them. Skipping town makes you look guilty - if you want to avoid the prying eyes of the press, why not go escape to a family or friend's house?
Finding Hannah is the missing link to bring all of this together. She's his ace in the hole. If LE gets into a situation like with Alexis Murphy - where the body isn't found, maybe he uses that as leverage for a lighter sentence?
The cops are working so diligently to find Hannah because finding her could put a potential serial rapist/murderer away for life. I'm not a big believer in coincidence - and I certainly don't believe that Matthew has the sheer bad luck to have been accused of rape by two women while in two different schools, and then connected to three other women who have been raped/disappeared/murdered. No one's luck is that bad...
Thankfully, while I am from the general area where this is taking place, I'm just outside the jurisdictional boundary, so I am not burdened with having to presume Matthew is innocent until proven guilty (i.e. if I were to be called to sit on a jury), because frankly, I think he's a guilty as they come.

Great post!

 

[jamicat]

I think some people seem to be forgetting that there is nothing that says that the public has the right to know what evidence the police have. It is as much of a protection for the potential accused as it is for the police not to reveal everything they know/have. If the police revealed every piece of evidence they had, they run the risk of contaminating the potential jury pool. In addition, if they are looking for specific evidence, for example a piece of jewelry, they don't want to tip off the perp or his family/friends/associates who may know where that specific piece of evidence is and dispose of it.

I have read varying accounts of the issue with the lawyer - some said the police found a lawyer for JM, others said that JM came in with a list of attorneys and made the call to find his own lawyer - frankly, I think that's a problem with bad media investigation and reporting. As for the "forensic link," - multiple MSM outlets have said that a source close to the investigation but who is not authorized to speak about the case revealed that the link was DNA. Is that true? I don't know - I only have the media's word for it.

"Consciousness of guilt" - if Matthew had nothing to hide, why not come forward and say, hey that's me on the tape and yes, I met Hannah that night and interacted with her, but then we went our separate ways? Instead, police tracked down his CAR. The police have some evidence that brought them to Matthew's car before they even seek him out for general questioning. In my opinion, that's huge. I am convinced that they have additional video evidence that shows Hannah getting (or being put) in Matthew's car. Then, the investigation of the car led them to get a warrant for Matthew's apartment - I can't fathom what they would have found in the car that led to probable cause to search the apartment. Regardless, whatever was found in the car and the apartment had to be analyzed forensically to make certain there was a connection to Hannah.
I think Matthew had something in his apartment that linked him to Morgan Harrington - the necklace she was wearing the night she disappeared wasn't found with her body, although other jewelry was. Maybe police found that necklace and it had MH's DNA on it??? Or maybe they are simply referring to the shirt that was found that was Morgan's and had Matthew's DNA on it???
I then believe that Matthew knew that once cops went into his apartment, it was only a matter of time before things came crashing down on him and the connection was made between him and these three girls (Hannah, Morgan and the Fairfax victim). Why he went to the police station is beyond me - unless it was for nothing more than to "lawyer up" and let the police know that he had nothing to say to them. Skipping town makes you look guilty - if you want to avoid the prying eyes of the press, why not go escape to a family or friend's house?
Finding Hannah is the missing link to bring all of this together. She's his ace in the hole. If LE gets into a situation like with Alexis Murphy - where the body isn't found, maybe he uses that as leverage for a lighter sentence?
The cops are working so diligently to find Hannah because finding her could put a potential serial rapist/murderer away for life. I'm not a big believer in coincidence - and I certainly don't believe that Matthew has the sheer bad luck to have been accused of rape by two women while in two different schools, and then connected to three other women who have been raped/disappeared/murdered. No one's luck is that bad...
Thankfully, while I am from the general area where this is taking place, I'm just outside the jurisdictional boundary, so I am not burdened with having to presume Matthew is innocent until proven guilty (i.e. if I were to be called to sit on a jury), because frankly, I think he's a guilty as they come.

I agree with everything you say. There are some reports from various media sources that I have checked against what LE said, and those reports really were supposed to just reprise what was said at the press conference, and they have flat out incorrect info in them that can't be cross checked anywhere. Also, absolutely LE is not telling us everyhing or even most of what they know, hopefully, just a tiny bit of what they have. The AM case actually had an official news block on it because the evidence had to be presented well, with absence of body, the DA needed everything he could get to secure a conviction. Defense, through discovery does get a look at what the state has, but there is no need to taint to jury pool, not need to put ideas in others' head. Note that JM's attorney hasn't made a statement, not one. Not a peep from that quarter. My guess is that they are sitting very tight, hoping Hannah's body is not found, because frankly, without a body , in most such cases, a conviction isn't going to happen. The AM case is unusual and had a lot of very explicity DNA evidence on top of a perp who talked and couldn't tell a lie that would hold up and had to back track with so many storieds that no one could reasonab'y believe a word he said.

We really don't know what tied the case to the car even before JM was brought into the picture. Maybe LE did try to talk to him. If the info is as we know it, I think it was a huge gaffe on part of LE to go serve the warrent on the car without a very skilled interviewer with them to baby sit, commiserate with and try to get any info out of JM instead of setting him off as that whole thing did. LE directly said that they don't even know when and how he and his roommates left. No one there with coffee and donuts and a sympathetic ear on the scene, carefully watching JM's reactions, interaction. That, too me is a major fail, but then maybe there was and LE isn't telling. What they found there, why they could get that warrent is not known to us.

We do know that even with what was found, even that next day at the station, LE couldn't nab JM. Still not enought to charge him. It took the reckless driving for them to do that and that they went all out on such a trivial charge, to me, signals that they really did not have much in the way of evidence.

From looking at all that has transpired and how JM has reacted, I too, am in the camp that thinks he was guilty and that with a link to the MH murder, LE may well have caught a serial rapist and kller. But the MH case where there may be definitive DNA, and certainly that 2005 rape case, is where LE may have the best evidence. When I lay out distinct possibiities for Hannah, unless LE has some really good stuff in evidence, I don't see how it comes close to the guilty without reasonable doubt with a presumption of innocense to be observed which is our standard that has to be observed in court. Heck, yes, it's possible Hannah is still alive. Even Longo said so a couple of days ago, remember? Many of don't go for the slavery ring theory, and I'm one of them who doesn't think it's likely at all, but hey, it is possible. There are people who believe this and in absence of a body, well, yes, it's posssible JM turned her over to someone who might have been so involved. Hannah could have met up with someone and disappeared to the tropics, was off to meet the person, got lost, and JM gave her a ride somewhere to someone and the poor dumb JM is now stuck with a stupid story and no proof in a climate where everyone wants his head on a stick. I don't go for any of this but with what we know, yes, possible.

 

[Wondergirl]

It is curious why they would have been executing a warrant on him when there doesn't appear to be any reason for them to know who he was.

The only way to get any ID on him would be to get the CC information from Tempo, and that prompts the question of why they were there in the first place, since there was no clear indication that she had been there. And if the people at Tempo didn't know him, why would they connect him with the CC transaction?

The video of HG on the street is not clear.....we can guess that one of the people is her.....but is it? on one of the videos there are two women that pass who could be her - one appears to have male in white holding her shoulders, and the second has a male in white walking next to the woman....so which one really is HG?. The resolution on both of those cameras is so bad that it is impossible to say if JM is actually the person on the video....perhaps he wasn't.

Well I did read in article early on, that it was obvious to at least 1 of his friends that it was him in the video, be because the friend said he was wearing those horrible long white shorts and he wore them all the time.

 

[jamicat]

As impulsive as JM seems to be, his father's worry might have been well-founded. "Impulsive" often doesn't go over well with LE, at least not from the limited interactions I've seen myself.

I have been known to anger an officer just because I can't NOT CRY when I get pulled for speeding. It isn't me being manipulative, it's just what happens. But you know they have got to see everything, every trick in the book, so they are wise to be prepared. "Impulsive," JM-style, could get you shot or slammed down face-first on the hood of a car.

LE doesn't treat our "babies" like we treat them at home. They don't get 150 chances to screw up, they don't make excuses, and they don't listen to a whole lot of explaining.

Ha! JM was well on his way at the 150 mark looking at his DMV rap sheet . He was taking care of business at DMV the day he took off as well as some other problem within the week. How he is even allowed to drive, I have know idea, much less being a cabby, and his sister had to be a fool to give him use of her car. JM had major felony cases, from which he was excused. Strictly, speaking, he had NO criminal record, though plenty of opportunity to getting a major rap sheet Cases were dropped, people let him go. He hurt someone badly the very night before meeting Hannah. I don't believe for a second that he did not have interactions that could haver resulted in serious charges that we don't even know about, where he was let go.

His father's worries, that he was moved out to "the country", that he had some school, behavior issues are all things we see a lot. That he actually raped women, that he might have murderes women, that he may be a serial rapist, murderer is something NOT usual.

 

[jamicat]

Well I did read in article early on, that it was obvious to at least 1 of his friends that it was him in the video, be because the friend said he was wearing those horrible long white shorts and he wore them all the time.

Those tapes are so bad, I can't make out much either, but there are people who get really good reading them, just as certain medical personelle learn to read things that look like nothing to most of us. Also, the tapes , like a lot of evidence, are most useful in conjunction with other evidence. Hannah, apparently due to her height and build and that she was moving differently from most people at that mall, and her attire was pretty easy to spot. OThers, not so much. But people who did see her and heard that info on her was wanted, did call and go to LE and they could ID themselves or LE could spot them from their narratives of the evening.

STill some info would not be so accurate. It's not like anyone was all that focused on others walking in a mall or anyplace when your mind is on other things. I don't know if I could remember most people I pass in public after a few hours passe. Give it a try, for some time when you weren't engaged in observing the environment and people.

WG apparently was able to place self and Hannah at the mall, but his scrip of JM was off, way off. He wasn't really paying attention to JM. He was focused on Hannah for whatever reason, and by his own admission, was going to approach her when JM did and she willingly went off with him. The tape showed the interlude and by interviewing down the the mall, they did get to Tempo, and people there very easily remember JM, a regular there. Credit card records show he was there, and a final payment was on record, checker and others there remember seeing him with Hannah at last call in that area. Last reported sighting that LE is sharing. Dogs actually tracked her scent right to Market st, and I think LE was able to ID JM's car parked there-don't take that as fact.

I don't think there is any doublt that it was JM in the video. But more of interest is that JM is IDed later with Hannah at Tempos and then the trail ends.

 

[MJPeony]

Is it possible that there is a way to get JM convicted through a MH trial? While not finding HG would be heartbreaking, I would certainly like to think there is a sliver of hope for justice for her even w/out finding her. And what I mean is that, suppose they can find enough evidence to prosecute JM for the abduction and murder of MH. If that case were to go to trial, and JM would be found guilty, is it possible to THEN try him for the abduction and murder of HG- even if there is no body? Could they present enough evidence in an HG case that would cast enough "beyond reasonable doubt" on JM that he could be convicted at that time, given he was already guilty of MH? (b/c they would show a link in the cases somehow)

That might not make any sense... sorry! But if someone understands what I'm trying to say and has any legal knowledge of this, TIA.

 

[human]

Reasonable doubt has to be with reasonable people thinking something could reasonably happen.

To me, it is beyond reasonable doubt that she went off with a rapist and was disappeared by him.

Of course, [modsnip] perp could have had a change of heart on raping and killing that night.

After all, he is one unlucky dude having those fake rape charges and then DNA links to victims. Of all of the rotten luck for [modsnip] perp.

 

[Foxfire]

Hannah Graham likes Elvis. Reminded me of this (don't know why i'm posting it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR30KR19Aac

Tell LE anything you know about JM or anything else that can help bring Hannah Graham home, please...

Me either, FindHG, but ever since JM's friends described JM as a Teddy Bear, and learning that HG liked Elvis. Ironically, this song has been playing over & over in my head;

Elvis Presley - Teddy Bear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n4kcvGS_Lk

 

[wall0214]

Is it possible that there is a way to get JM convicted through a MH trial? While not finding HG would be heartbreaking, I would certainly like to think there is a sliver of hope for justice for her even w/out finding her. And what I mean is that, suppose they can find enough evidence to prosecute JM for the abduction and murder of MH. If that case were to go to trial, and JM would be found guilty, is it possible to THEN try him for the abduction and murder of HG- even if there is no body? Could they present enough evidence in an HG case that would cast enough "beyond reasonable doubt" on JM that he could be convicted at that time, given he was already guilty of MH? (b/c they would show a link in the cases somehow)

That might not make any sense... sorry! But if someone understands what I'm trying to say and has any legal knowledge of this, TIA.

I have heard talk of "prior bad acts," but I don't know what the standard is for being able to admit that into court - because he was merely accused of raping two women in college, that may not be sufficient, especially with no forensic evidence. The rape of the woman in Fairfax - we know from media accounts that it was brutal - he beat her and choked her unconscious, yet she clearly consented to a rape kit, thus the forensic evidence that links her to Morgan Harrington. We don't know how MH died and if the coroner could pinpoint it, it wasn't released. That was the major problem with the Caylee Anthony case - they couldn't say for certain how she died, so the prosecution was speculating and the jury said that planted the seed for reasonable doubt. We also don't know what evidence was found that links JM to MH - if it's just DNA on her shirt, the defense could argue that JM met MH that night and hugged her or put his arm around her. However, if the evidence is semen on the shirt, well, that's pretty hard to explain away. Also, it's not clear if DNA was found on MH's remains - if so, that too would be difficult to explain.

I think the Fairfax rape is the only "slam dunk" case right now based on evidence (based on what we now from info that has been made public), but I'm not sure why no charges have been brought unless they are retesting the DNA in that case to known samples from JM so they know 100%. Then again, they could not be bringing charges because the woman decided she didn't want to proceed. She was staying with a Muslim family in Fairfax and while we don't know her ethnicity or religious background, in some cultures, women who are raped are seen as tainted goods, not worthy of marriage. Also even though she was raped, because she had "sex" before marriage, that is also looked down upon in certain cultures.

 

[aHoo]

I also read that he arrived at the police station with a list of lawyers that he'd already prepared. Don't have time now to go back and find the reference, though.

This. Longo stated this in one of his televised press conferences.

 

[aHoo]

Well I did read in article early on, that it was obvious to at least 1 of his friends that it was him in the video, be because the friend said he was wearing those horrible long white shorts and he wore them all the time.

That comment came from JM's grandmother. She was interviewed early on.

 

[Moonchime]

BBM. Seconding that almost anyone who grows up in C-ville will have Northern Virginia connections.

I grew up in Roanoke, and had relatives in Northern VA and in the Maryland, DC area.

 

[Moonchime]

Maybe, the roommates found something while moving out and notified LE. The arrest warrant for abduction was released shortly after that second search. I have a feeling something critical was found during that second search. They seemed to be on a mission and knew what they were going to collect.
IMO

My belief is that during the initial search they found something they didn't expect--something that showed them that JM was involved in MH's disappearance and murder. But, the current search warrant didn't allow for collection of that evidence. Therefore they had to get a second search warrant to seize what they couldn't legally touch during the first search. Morgan's socks and boots were never recovered. Perhaps these items were what LE stumbled upon.

 

[ksj3]

Sorry if repost. "Everyone I've talked to says UVA suspect knows the woods better than anyone." - Coy Barefoot
https://twitter.com/CNNSitRoom/status/519242760852103169

 

[Moonchime]

Is it possible that there is a way to get JM convicted through a MH trial? While not finding HG would be heartbreaking, I would certainly like to think there is a sliver of hope for justice for her even w/out finding her. And what I mean is that, suppose they can find enough evidence to prosecute JM for the abduction and murder of MH. If that case were to go to trial, and JM would be found guilty, is it possible to THEN try him for the abduction and murder of HG- even if there is no body? Could they present enough evidence in an HG case that would cast enough "beyond reasonable doubt" on JM that he could be convicted at that time, given he was already guilty of MH? (b/c they would show a link in the cases somehow)

That might not make any sense... sorry! But if someone understands what I'm trying to say and has any legal knowledge of this, TIA.

Sorry that I have no link to provide, but LE did state soon after the forensic connection to MH, that they may prosecute JM for Morgan's murder FIRST.

 

[jamicat]

I have heard talk of "prior bad acts," but I don't know what the standard is for being able to admit that into court - because he was merely accused of raping two women in college, that may not be sufficient, especially with no forensic evidence. The rape of the woman in Fairfax - we know from media accounts that it was brutal - he beat her and choked her unconscious, yet she clearly consented to a rape kit, thus the forensic evidence that links her to Morgan Harrington. We don't know how MH died and if the coroner could pinpoint it, it wasn't released. That was the major problem with the Caylee Anthony case - they couldn't say for certain how she died, so the prosecution was speculating and the jury said that planted the seed for reasonable doubt. We also don't know what evidence was found that links JM to MH - if it's just DNA on her shirt, the defense could argue that JM met MH that night and hugged her or put his arm around her. However, if the evidence is semen on the shirt, well, that's pretty hard to explain away. Also, it's not clear if DNA was found on MH's remains - if so, that too would be difficult to explain.

I think the Fairfax rape is the only "slam dunk" case right now based on evidence (based on what we now from info that has been made public), but I'm not sure why no charges have been brought unless they are retesting the DNA in that case to known samples from JM so they know 100%. Then again, they could not be bringing charges because the woman decided she didn't want to proceed. She was staying with a Muslim family in Fairfax and while we don't know her ethnicity or religious background, in some cultures, women who are raped are seen as tainted goods, not worthy of marriage. Also even though she was raped, because she had "sex" before marriage, that is also looked down upon in certain cultures.

I agree with everything you have written. Unless LE has a lot more solid evidence, unless they find Hannah, there isn't much to hang JM. They know right now that he was with her, that he hugged her, that he had his arms around her, that they left together. So merely finding some of her DNA on her clothes, in his car is a "so what"? We all know that she left with him and yes, if his car was right there, they likely went into the car. I don't think any of that is likely to be disputed. Even if semen is found, so what? They had sex. She was not forced into the car, she clearly was letting JM hold her, hug her. Pretty clear to many there that this was a pick up and that Hannah was going a long with it. For all anyone knows it was consensual. The problem is finding out what happened next if that is the case. Maybe, Hannah just left the car. Maybe he let her off somewhere. Maybe all was good. Maybe, maybe, maybe It's a long ways to establishing that JM was with her (done), took her in the car( likely done), had sex with her (maybe done) and then harmed or killled her ( big question mark). The only evidence of that right now is that Hannah has not come back That JM is not talking is not allowed to be used against him in a court of law. He doesn't have to say jack. Anything he does say can be used against him, but not his silence.

 

[jamicat]

Sorry that I have no link to provide, but LE did state soon after the forensic connection to MH, that they may prosecute JM for Morgan's murder FIRST.

Makes sense. If his DNA is mixed with MH's in certain ways, and MH is certainly dead, there might well be more evidence to proceed. As I wrote above, there may not be enough to get JM on Hannah. Looks bad, but looks don't always do it in court.

 

[jamicat]

Sorry if repost. "Everyone I've talked to says UVA suspect knows the woods better than anyone." - Coy Barefoot
https://twitter.com/CNNSitRoom/status/519242760852103169

I rather doubt that, but it does let us know that JM is no lightweight in terms of manuevering the woods. That he likes to fish was a tip off on that. Unless he was very careless or LE gets lucky, Hannah's body may well not be found.

 

[Tugela]

My belief is that during the initial search they found something they didn't expect--something that showed them that JM was involved in MH's disappearance and murder. But, the current search warrant didn't allow for collection of that evidence. Therefore they had to get a second search warrant to seize what they couldn't legally touch during the first search. Morgan's socks and boots were never recovered. Perhaps these items were what LE stumbled upon.

They can take anything they find incidentally on a search warrant AFAIK.

 

[Tugela]

I suspect they ran a registration check on the car itself.

So how would they have known about the car?