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I want to introduce you to a podcast that I think you're going to love, Crime Salad. Hosted by the insightful husband and wife team, Ashley and Ricky, this podcast doesn't just recount crimes, it plunges listeners into the depths of the darkest narratives, all while aiming to prevent future tragedies. Together, they share a relentless spotlight on critical issues like relationship violence and domestic abuse, inviting you to explore the complexities of these societal challenges.
Since 2019, Ashley and Ricky have continued to deliver stories that are not only fascinating and well-researched, but also have a strong voice for change and justice. And they have a lot of episodes to binge. So grab your headphones and prepare to be pulled into a world where mystery meets humanity. And make sure to tune in and find Crime Salad wherever you get podcasts and join a growing community of listeners who tune in every week. I hope you enjoy. Here's Crime Salad. ♪
Hey, Crime Salad listeners, welcome back to another episode of Crime Salad, where we talk about true crime. My name is Ashley. And I'm Ricky. And if this is your first time here, welcome. Thank you so much for listening to us, and we hope you enjoy this week's episode.
So being a young student who goes missing really makes you realize the vulnerability of young people. It's a worry all of us parents have. We never want anything to happen to our children.
Well, sadly, that nightmare became reality for the Graham family in September of 2014. One of the most bittersweet things for a parent is watching them grow up, wouldn't you say? Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, our oldest is in high school. Like, we don't have a lot of years left.
Yeah, like college is if he goes to college is just right there, like a couple years away. It's a bittersweet feeling for sure. Time goes way too fast. And never in a million years would a parent ever believe something as heartbreaking would happen to their child while they were living out their college years.
This is a time when a young adult learns to live more on their own. They gain more independence, all while they're focusing on their college life and their studies. And Hannah Graham, a bright and vibrant young woman at the age of 18, attended the University of Virginia, or UVA as it's commonly known, which is located in Charlottesville, a big college town surrounded by so much love and support.
Then she disappeared under suspicious circumstances. It caused a flood on social media from her friends, family, and supporters to help find her. The strength of the community and witnesses who came forward with the desire to solve her case led to the discovery of a
another young college girl who went missing a few years earlier and was found murdered by her case. But her case was unsolved until now. So both of their deaths were caused by the same guy. So put your comfy socks on, grab your drink of choice, and turn up the volume, and let's dive into this week's case.
With this story, we hope that you understand the importance of being aware of your surroundings, like many of the witnesses did in this story, and the need to better protect younger adults and to educate them on the dangers that live in the world with us. As we always tell our 15-year-old son, do not ever be alone in public. Always go with a friend if you're going to the restroom or be around multiple friends.
Hannah Graham, an 18-year-old University of Virginia sophomore, was studying to major in global public health. Her academic interest reflected a passion for helping others and making a positive impact on global health issues. She wanted to help people. She wanted to change the world. Friends described her as smart, talented, and a go-getter. She was born in the UK, and her parents and her moved to Virginia when she was just five years old.
On September 13, 2014, she went out with a few friends to a party. The last place her friends saw her was at Camden Plaza, which is a courtyard near the University of Virginia campus. The last they heard from Hannah was through a text message that she sent to a friend around 1.20 a.m., explaining that she was lost. The text read, "'I'm trying to get to a party, I believe, and I am lost.'"
It's believed that she was attempting to attend a party at a friend's apartment in the downtown mall area of Charlottesville, but she never made it to her intended destination. And her friends and family were left with an unusual feeling once it was daylight on September 14th, 2014. She just seemed to vanish with her last text message saying she was lost. Fear and worry rushed over her friends and family.
From this point, she wasn't answering any calls or text messages and never came home. The following day on the 15th, she still hadn't been in contact with anyone, so the Charlottesville Police Department launched an investigation and search operation. This included reviewing the surveillance footage from that night, which became a key tool in the investigation. Without it, this case may never have been solved.
And it also brought another case to the surface that the perpetrator was involved in that was at the time unsolved. Once they reviewed the footage, they found Hannah walking out of an Irish pub and noticeably alone. This area was popular to go to, not necessarily the place to go for college kids, but it was still a popular area. None of her friends were with her that night.
It would have been about a 20-minute walk from campus if she walked. The timestamp on the surveillance footage read 1245 a.m., and they continued to follow her movements based on what they could find from the surveillance footage, which again was a very crucial tool to get the evidence that they needed on that night.
She was spotted running at approximately 1:08 a.m. and as they looked closer into the footage, they noticed a guy who was seen keeping a distance but following her. This guy is a large, heavyset man with dreadlocks, standing at least six feet in height. He was seen wearing light-colored shorts and a dark-colored top.
The chilling footage showed him following Hannah in downtown Charlottesville and later interacting with her at the Tempo restaurant. His distinctive appearance and clothing helped authorities identify and locate him as a person of interest in this case. Seeing the footage raised an immediate concern that she may be in danger. Honestly, how frightening for a young college student. Yeah, I mean, she's alone, alone.
She's lost. She texted her friends she's lost. She doesn't know where she is. She's trying to find this party. It most definitely would be. And seeing her running across the captured video along the sidewalk tells you that there's something happening. She just doesn't feel comfortable.
This prompted the police to find her quickly. Every second counts in a case like this. And the need to find this man who sparked investigators' interest early in this case was so very important.
And so getting the public involved was a step the police had to take. So flyers, they used social media campaigns that spread rapidly. Getting her face out there in case anyone has seen her, holding on to hope that she was okay. Although the man in the video gives awfully creepy indications that maybe he had bad intentions. But nothing is ever known for sure until they get a chance to speak with him.
Hey.
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