After over a month of distress due to the Sept. 13 disappearance of Hannah Graham, the UVA student’s remains were located Saturday, Oct. 18 in Albemarle, Virginia, eight miles away from where she was last seen. Discovered in a heavily wooded farm area, the body was sent in for DNA testing, and was later confirmed to be Graham by the Albemarle County Police Department and the Virginia Medical Examiner.

According to CNN, John and Sue Graham, Hannah’s parents, are broken up over the death of their daughter. They are deeply grateful for the help of the police departments involved in the case and are glad for this new information. Although they had hoped the search would reap a more positive outcome, the family is glad the case is progressing.

“Due to the tenacity and determination of [Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy] Longo, Hannah is coming home to us and we will be eternally grateful to him for this,” the parents commented in a CNN article.

Now that the mystery over Graham’s condition and whereabouts has been solved, the goal is to determine a punishment fit for the crime. Only one suspect has been indicted, 32-year-old Jesse Matthew. He has also been linked to the 2009 murder of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrison. Police are now looking to determine whether or not Matthews is linked to the additional murder and kidnapping of other women in the area. Matthew was identified on camera following Graham, who was leaving a bar at 2 a.m. on the last day she was seen. He was taken into custody on Sept. 24, and as the only person who has been linked to Graham’s death thus far, Matthew has been charged with abduction with the intent to defile.

“[We are] moving forward with the death investigation,” a county police officer said to a CNN reporter. “Our focus is on the investigation… We do ask that people continue to call in with tips or information.”

According to a CNN article, Matthew’s father, Jesse Matthew Sr., does not believe his son is the type to harm someone. 

“For a big man, he’s as gentle as they come,” Matthew Sr. said. “The only thing I could see, him, maybe trying to give the girl a ride or help her out. To kill or hurt somebody, that’s not my son.”

Matthew is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 4 for the case of Hannah Graham.