Produced by Marcelena Spencer, Aimée deSimone, Josh Gelman, and Ruth Chenetz

This report originally aired on September 26, 2015, and received updates on June 11, 2016.

The charming and historic city of Charlottesville, Virginia, is known for housing the esteemed University of Virginia.

Hannah Elizabeth Graham, an 18-year-old student, cherished her time in this vibrant town. However, her life took a tragic turn when she went missing on September 13, 2014, shortly after beginning her second year of college.

In the days that followed her disappearance, her devastated parents, Sue and John Graham, made a heartfelt plea to the public for assistance in locating their daughter.

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare. I am sure that everyone understands that what happened to Hannah could happen to their child,” John Graham shared with the media during a press conference. “We implore you to help us.”

The community was deeply affected by Hannah’s disappearance, with reactions ranging from fellow students to Charlottesville’s police chief, Tim Longo.

“We will persist in our search, working tirelessly until we find Hannah Graham,” he assured reporters.

WTVR reporter Laura French, who has been closely following the story from its inception, provided insights into the situation.

“At that time, we knew she had gone out for dinner with friends and, like many college students, attended a few parties,” French explained to “48 Hours” correspondent Susan Spencer. “After leaving one party, there was no communication from her except for a few text messages, including one at 1:06 a.m. stating she was ‘trying to get to a party’ and that she was ‘lost.’”

“‘I’m lost?’” Spencer inquired.

“It wasn’t entirely out of character for her to feel disoriented,” French responded. “She had just moved into off-campus housing, and with the school year just starting, it’s easy to lose your way, especially in the downtown mall area.”

“So, this is the mall in Charlottesville, the last known place we saw Hannah Graham?” Spencer asked as they walked through the area.

“Exactly, this is the downtown Charlottesville pedestrian mall, which features the last recorded image of Hannah,” French confirmed.

“Is this a popular spot for students?” Spencer asked.

“You do see students here, but it wouldn’t be classified as a typical hangout,” French replied.

Originally from Britain, Hannah Graham moved to Virginia with her family when she was five. Her friend, Leila Nasser, described her as highly intelligent, musically talented, and possessing a dry sense of humor.

“She was someone who was very self-aware. A true go-getter,” Nasser remarked. “Confident and driven.”

“Hannah was witty and far smarter than any coach on the field,” said her high school coach, Craig Maniglia.

Standing just under six feet tall, Hannah excelled as a softball player, eventually becoming captain in her senior year.

Her vibrant personality and talents made her disappearance a topic of significant discussion on social media. WTOP radio reporter Neal Augenstein, who collaborated with “48 Hours” on this case, provided ongoing updates via Twitter.

“We’ve been able to narrate the story as it unfolds,” Augenstein noted to Spencer. “Through platforms like Twitter, we can share details that capture attention and provide depth and context to the narrative.”

In response to the situation, the police announced an increased reward of $100,000 for information leading to Hannah Graham’s safe return.

The case gained further intrigue as video footage emerged. Hannah was seen at a UVA event just ten days prior to her disappearance, contrasting sharply with the grainy surveillance images captured the night she went missing.

“The Hannah Graham case resonated deeply within Charlottesville because she was part of this community,” stated attorney and longtime resident Lloyd Snook, who has been closely monitoring the case.

“Her disappearance was reported within a day, and investigators were able to track her movements through various security cameras,” he explained. “She had been downtown, but then the trail went cold, and she vanished.”

Snook guided “48 Hours” through the footage of Hannah’s final known hours, depicting her as a typical young adult out on a Friday night.

“This is McGrady’s, a restaurant where you’ll see Hannah Graham enter from the lower left. I’ll pause it here because that stumble may be significant,” Spencer noted while reviewing the surveillance footage.

“She appears somewhat unsteady on her feet, both here and later in the video. She’s coming from the direction of the University of Virginia,” he responded.

“A few minutes later, she appears again. What do you think was happening?” Spencer inquired.

“My guess is that she stopped by McGrady’s to see if a friend was inside who might buy her a drink,” Snook speculated.

Investigators believe Hannah had been consuming alcohol that night, and she was next seen on video at a nearby gas station.

“At this point, she is running,” Spencer observed. “…what could that indicate?”

“It’s difficult to say,” Snook replied. “It’s a well-lit area and generally not considered dangerous.”

“The police have reviewed this footage, and it doesn’t seem like anyone is pursuing her,” Spencer noted.

“Correct,” Snook agreed. “She appears to be heading toward the mall.”

In a startling moment, just before Hannah reappears on security footage near a local pizzeria, a man is seen walking through the downtown mall.

“You’ll notice he has a distinctive appearance—he’s a large man with dreadlocks,” Snook pointed out. “It’s easy to see why people would remember him in the following half hour.”

After a brief disappearance from the camera’s view, Hannah is again seen alone, raising questions about her fate that night.