CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- An Albemarle County Grand Jury issued two indictments against Jesse Matthew Jr. in the abduction and murder of Morgan Harrington, a Virginia Tech student who disappeared in 2009.
The two charges of first-degree murder and intent to defile, carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
"This is the verification that my daughter was actually murdered," said her mother Gil Harrington. "This is another step in the marathon we have ahead of us, but it also shows that there are consequences."
"It's hard to be happy, because [ultimately] you know your daughter is murdered," she told CBS 6 reporter Laura French.
Harrington disappeared outside John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, almost six years ago, while attending a Metallica concert on Oct. 17, 2009. Her bodywas discovered on a rural Albemarle County farm in January 2010.
In November 2014, police forensically linked Matthewto Harrington. Matthew faces a capital murder charge in the abduction and murder of second-year UVa. student Hannah Graham.
Graham disappeared Sept. 13, 2014. On Oct. 18, 2014, her body was discovered just over five miles from where Harrington’s body was found.
Matthew’s DNA was found on the black “Pantera” shirt Morgan Harrington wore the night she disappeared, according to a search warrant obtained by CBS 6 reporter Laura French.
Last year, sources confirmed with reporter Laura French that at least two local cab employees informed federal and state investigators that Matthewwas working as a cab driver the night Harringtondisappeared.
The cab that Matthew drove in 2009 was seized by authorities from a farm a year ago, as part of their active investigation. Those sources indicated Matthew was among the cab drivers who police interviewed after Harrington disappeared.
Career cab Driver Melvin Carter, who knew Matthew, said in a previous interview that he reached out to investigators five years ago after being questioned about local cab companies.
"He could have made an impression on her. Because what I heard from her mental state, she was upset. So she may have found someone who was loving and trusting and comfort her," Carter said.
Those close to Matthew in 2009 when Harrington disappeared, told CBS 6 News that they informed investigators that they would joke with their former co-worker that he resembled a sketch of the man linked to a 2005 rape in Fairfax -- and the man linked to Harrington. They said Matthew would at times brush it off. But at other times, they said Matthew would get visibly upset and disappear for hours.
In June 2015, Matthew entered an Alford plea in a September 2005 abduction, sexual assault and attempted murder in Fairfax, Virginia. He will serve life in prison for that crime.
He faces a capital murder charge in the death of Hannah Graham. That trial is set to begin in July 2016.
"The indictments result from the dedicated investigative efforts over the past six years by the Virginia State Police, Albemarle County Police, Charlottesville Police, University of Virginia Police, and the FBI," state police wrote on Facebook.
Matthew will appear in court on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
