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Police offer reward for missing UVA student

Police are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to discovery of missing UVA student; searching for second person of interest.

By Heather Records

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Police in Charlottesville, Va., are looking for a "person of interest" in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham.

Graham, 18, vanished early Saturday morning on her way home from a party.

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Thursday afternoon, police announced they want to speak to a man seen by eyewitnesses talking to Graham at the open air mall she walked through the night the she disappeared.

According to investigators, he is a black male in his late 20s to early 30s and about 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall. They say he weighs about 250 to 285 pounds. He is said to have a closely shaved head, a goatee as well as a "beer belly."

Also on Thursday, police released a video of a man following Graham. Police said that man showed up at the police station and told officers he saw another man put his arm around the teen. The man said it looked like he was trying to help her.

As the search continues for Graham, a candlelight vigil was scheduled to take place Thursday night on the University of Virginia campus.

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The university's student council president, Jalen Ross, issued a statement, encouraging students not to lose hope.

"It is this moment that we must not -- and will not -- lose hope. And so tonight we come together as friends, family, students, faculty, neighbors and citizens. We will join to demonstrate our ongoing support for Hannah's search and loved ones. We will join to celebrate the great unyielding hope that Hannah will come back to us," Ross said.

The city of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia are each offering $10,000 for information leading to Graham's whereabouts. Some residents and businesses have contributed to the total $30,000 reward.

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