This story first aired on Sept. 26, 2015. It was updated on June 11, 2016.The quaint, historic city of Charlottesville, Virginia, is home to the prestigious University of Virginia.Hannah Elizabeth Graham, 18, loved it here. When she went missing on Sept. 13 2014, she had just started her second year.
British-born Hannah Graham, 18, was described as vivacious, athletic and talented.
A few days later, her distraught parents, Sue and John Graham, appealed for help."This is every parent's worst nightmare. I am certain that everybody... knows that what happened to Hannah could happen to their child," Hannah's father, John Graham, addressed reporters at a press conference. "Please, please help us."The disappearance outraged the entire community, from fellow students to the police chief, Tim Longo."We are gonna continue our work, we are gonna continue to work relentlessly until we find Hannah Graham," he told reporters.WTVR reporter Laura French, a "48 Hours" consultant, has followed this story from day one."We knew at that time ... that she had gone out to dinner with friends that night and that ...you know, like most college students, she had gone to a couple parties," French told "48 Hours correspondent Susan Spencer. "We know that after she left that party no one had heard from her other than a couple of text messages ... and that text at 1:06 a.m. was, you know, 'I'm trying to get to a party,' I believe, and 'I'm lost.'""'I'm lost?'" Spencer asked."It wasn't completely out of character that she'd be lost," French explained. "...here she moved into off campus housing. School had just started ... we were just a few weeks into the school year, and you know you can lose your bearings especially in and out of that downtown mall area.""So this is the mall in Charlottesville, this the last place really where we see Hannah Graham?" Spencer asked French as they walked in the area."That's right, this is known as the downtown Charlottesville pedestrian mall and it is the last known image that we have of Hannah Graham on this mall," she replied."Popular place with the kids?" Spencer asked."You definitely see kids down here, but this is not what we would call 'the hang out,'" French replied.British-born Hannah Graham moved with her parents to Virginia when she was 5 years old. Her friend, Leila Nasser, remembers her as super smart, musically gifted, and with a dry sense of humor."...she's one of those people who just knew who she was. Very much a go-getter," Nasser said. "She was very confident and driven.""Hannah is - witty. ...And much smarter than any coach that was on the field," said her high school coach, Craig Maniglia.Just shy of 6 feet tall, Hannah was a standout on the softball field."... as time went on she moved herself up to her senior year when she became captain of the team," Maniglia continued.Vivacious, popular and talented. It's no surprise that Hannah Graham's disappearance exploded on social media. WTOP radio reporter Neal Augenstein, who worked with "48 Hours" on this investigation, was tweeting details almost by the minute."48 Hours" podcast: The Hannah Graham Story"We've been able to tell it as it's developing,"Augenstein told Spencer. "With Twitter and online ... you can tell the little bits ... that caught ... your attention ... and add color, and perspective, and context to a story."
