Suspect captured, but UVa student still missing

Published 10:17 am Thursday, September 25, 2014

GALVESTON, Texas — A man charged with abducting a missing University of Virginia sophomore has been captured in Texas and is awaiting extradition — but there is still no sign of the student, authorities said.

On Thursday morning, Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr., 32, appeared briefly before a Galveston County judge via a video link from jail to hear the charges against him. In Texas, he’s charged with being a fugitive from justice and with giving false information to an officer, in addition to a count of abduction with intent to defile in Virginia. Judge Mark Henry set bond at $1,500 on the false information charge but held Matthew without bond on the fugitive count.

Matthew — in a dark green jumpsuit, with his hands cuffed — signed several papers and told Henry that before his arrest in Texas he was not out on bond on any other charges.

Email newsletter signup

Matthew asked the judge a few short questions and expressed concern that his clothes were taken from him when he was booked into the Galveston County jail. “I should be able to have some kind of clothing,” he said.