In this episode of Murder in the Black, we look at the case of Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. and the murders of Morgan Harrington and Hannah Graham.

This story is not just about how Matthew was eventually caught. It is about the years before that: the college allegations, the DNA that sat without a name attached to it, the missed opportunities, and the systems that treated each warning sign like it belonged in a separate folder.

Morgan Harrington disappeared in 2009 after leaving a Metallica concert in Charlottesville, Virginia. Years later, UVA student Hannah Graham disappeared after a night out in the same city. DNA evidence eventually connected Matthew to a 2005 Fairfax assault, Morgan's case, and Hannah's case.

The question at the center of this episode is not only what Jesse Matthew did. It is how many times he could have been stopped before another woman was harmed.

Because predators do not live in folders.

This episode discusses sexual assault allegations, abduction, homicide, missing persons cases, violence against women, and institutional failures around campus safety.

• Jesse Matthew's early background and college football years
• Sexual assault allegations at Liberty University and Christopher Newport University
• The 2005 Fairfax assault and unmatched DNA profile
• Morgan Harrington's disappearance after the 2009 Metallica concert
• The search for Morgan and the creation of Help Save the Next Girl
• Hannah Graham's 2014 disappearance in Charlottesville
• How CCTV helped identify Matthew as a suspect
• The DNA links between Fairfax, Morgan, and Hannah
• Matthew's arrest in Texas, guilty pleas, and life sentences
• The larger conversation around campus safety, DNA policy, and missed warning signs

After the main episode, I also cover two current stories:

• The death of Nateal Campbell, mother of NFL player Calais Campbell, and the charges against her son Ciarre Campbell
• The update in Joniah Walker's case after the Milwaukee teen, missing since 2022, was found safe

Jesse Matthew was eventually convicted in the murders of Morgan Harrington and Hannah Graham, but this case raises a bigger question: how many times could he have been stopped before another woman was harmed?

This episode looks at the college allegations, the 2005 Fairfax assault, the DNA links, the disappearances of Morgan and Hannah, and the institutional gaps that allowed warning signs to stay separated.

Because predators do not live in folders.

Content warning: sexual assault allegations, abduction, homicide, missing persons cases, and violence against women.

If you made it this far, thank you for sitting with these stories with me. Let me know your thoughts on the missed opportunities in this case, because I really want to hear how y'all feel about that.

For those of you who are like me and love to binge a story all the way through, episodes 6, 7, and 8 of What I Didn't See drop Sunday on the paid subscription, along with bonus journal entries with behind-the-scenes insight into Christina's thoughts.

Thank you for the support, the comments, the shares, and the way y'all continue to show up for this space. Like, follow, and share this episode with someone who follows true crime with care. I'll see y'all in the next one.

Research for this episode included public reporting from CNN, NBC News, NBC29, The Washington Post, CBS, WDBJ, and public case summaries related to Morgan Harrington, Hannah Graham, the 2005 Fairfax assault, and Jesse Matthew's convictions.

Content WarningIn This EpisodeTrue Crime in Current NewsShort Spotify DescriptionListener CTASource Note For Spotify

Lisa Eatmon was a Brooklyn mother, Army veteran, and expectant mom preparing to welcome her son, Jaden Marquis. In April 2005, Lisa was found in the Hudson River, and what first seemed unclear soon became a homicide investigation.

In this episode of Murder in the Black, we walk through Lisa’s life, the discovery in Manhattan, the evidence left behind at home, and the investigation that led detectives from phone records to a sanitation dock near the Hudson River.

We also reflect on warning signs that can appear in relationships when pregnancy, accountability, secrecy, and control collide.

Content warning: homicide, pregnancy loss, intimate partner violence, and grief involving a child losing a parent.

If you or someone you love feels unsafe, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

In this episode, we revisit the tragic case of Chiquita Tate, a rising Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney whose life was violently taken inside her own law office. Chiquita was brilliant, ambitious, and building a name for herself in the courtroom when her final night at work became the center of a murder investigation.

We walk through Chiquita’s life, the timeline of her last hours, the evidence found at the scene, and the courtroom battle that followed. From DNA and hair evidence to the missing wallet, blood evidence, possible staging, and the complicated personal history between Chiquita and her husband, Greg Harris, this case raises difficult questions about violence, control, justice, and legacy.

This episode also includes a brief update and reflection on the Alexis Crawford case, another heartbreaking story involving a young woman whose future was stolen.

Key Topics

• Chiquita Tate’s life, career, and rise as a criminal defense attorney
• The timeline of her final night in Baton Rouge
• The crime scene evidence, including DNA, hair, blood evidence, and the missing wallet
• How the prosecution and defense interpreted the same evidence differently
• The role of marriage, motive, life insurance, and possible separation plans
• Greg Harris’s trial, manslaughter conviction, sentencing, and appeals
• The lasting impact of workplace and intimate-partner violence
• Chiquita’s legacy beyond the crime scene

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and factual reporting note
01:06 - A Baton Rouge law office becomes a crime scene
02:04 - The murder of Chiquita Tate
03:02 - Chiquita’s background, ambition, and legal career
04:29 - Chiquita’s marriage to Greg Harris
09:26 - February 19, 2009: dinner, work, and her final hours
13:12 - Crime scene findings and early evidence
15:59 - The suspect list and growing focus on Greg Harris
17:31 - The discovery of Chiquita’s wallet
19:37 - Evidence from Greg and Chiquita’s home
22:17 - Possible motives: separation, control, and life insurance
24:03 - A tip that redirected investigators
26:41 - Sunglasses, DNA profiles, and forensic questions
29:18 - Court proceedings and trial strategy
36:16 - The verdict: manslaughter, not second-degree murder
37:20 - Sentencing, appeals, and legal aftermath
39:52 - Reflection on Chiquita’s life and legacy
42:51 - Update and reflection on the Alexis Crawford case
47:14 - Closing message and listener gratitude

Resources Mentioned

• DNA evidence and forensic interpretation
• Louisiana second-degree murder and manslaughter law
• Criminal appeals and post-conviction challenges
• The Alexis Crawford case
• Intimate-partner violence and workplace violence awareness

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Final Reflection

The heart of this story is not only the evidence. It is Chiquita Tate herself: a first-generation college graduate, a determined attorney, and a woman whose future was still unfolding. Her legacy reminds us to honor the lives behind the headlines and to keep speaking about violence that too often begins behind familiar doors.