( CNN ) -- Authorities looking for Hannah Graham found human remains Saturday on an abandoned property eight miles from where the University of Virginia student was last seen five weeks ago , police said . Chesterfield County Sheriff 's Department members participating in the search made the discovery before noon in southern Albemarle County in central Virginia , according to Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo . Shortly thereafter , a detective relayed the news to Graham 's parents . `` These are human remains and forensic tests need to be conducted to determine the identification ... , '' Longo told reporters . `` But nonetheless we wanted to be quick and timely to share that information with the Graham family . '' The discovery comes 35 days after Graham was last spotted , on several surveillance cameras , in Charlottesville 's Downtown Mall area . That footage showed her leaving the Tempo Bar at around 2 a.m. on September 13 , as well as a man -- later identified by authorities as Jesse Matthew , 32 -- following her . On September 24 , Matthew was taken into custody while camping on a beach in Galveston , Texas , some 1,300 miles from Charlottesville . He is the only person detained in connection with Graham 's disappearance , charged with abduction with the intent to defile . He has also been linked by forensic evidence to the case of Morgan Harrington , a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who was last seen hitchhiking along U.S. 29 outside of Charlottesville in October 2009 . She was found dead on a nearby farm the following January . No arrests have been made in Harrington 's case , and the cause of her death still is under investigation . Police , though , did recently seize a cab owned by Matthew that he was driving in Charlottesville in 2009 , a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN . Matthew 's next court appearance in relation to Graham 's disappearance is scheduled for December 4 . Officials did n't say whether charges against anyone were imminent in light of Saturday 's discovery . Surviving the 'Murdered Child 's Club ' ' A great deal of work ahead ' Albemarle County Police Chief Steve Sellers did appeal to anyone who was in or knows the area in which the remains were found to contact authorities if they saw `` any suspicious activity '' or `` an individual fitting Jesse Matthew 's description in that area about that time . '' `` Today 's discovery is a significant development , and we have a great deal of work ahead of us , '' said Sellers , noting Graham 's case is now considered a `` death investigation . '' `` We can not and we will not jump to any conclusions . '' The 18-year-old Graham was in her second year at the University of Virginia -- a member of the ski team and making straight A 's , her parents say -- when she was last seen . `` She was extremely smart , very witty , very athletic , '' said Craig Maniglia , the coach of the high school softball team that Graham co-captained in Northern Virginia . Graham 's last contact with friends -- telling them she was lost and trying to find a party , according to CNN affiliate WVIR -- came via text message at 1:20 a.m. the morning of September 13 . Another Virginia family still seeking answers . Her disappearance prompted a massive search involving more than 1,200 volunteers , not to mention emotional appeals from officials like Longo and Graham 's parents . Sunday 's scheduled public search of Walnut Creek Park -- not far from where the remains were found -- was canceled , the Virginia Department of Emergency Management said in a statement . `` Authorities are focusing their attention on recent evidence , which limits law enforcement resources necessary to carry out a public search , '' the agency said . Social media commenters saddened . Earlier this week , John and Sue Graham pleaded for help finding their daughter , saying , `` It is heartbreaking for us that the person or persons who know where Hannah is have not come forward with that information . It is within their power ... to end this nightmare for us all . '' Her friends had n't relented , either . In a statement released to CNN , they asked 'that everyone in Charlottesville and surrounding areas be on the lookout for new clues . No clue is too small and every search of personal property , even if it does not yield a result , is helpful . '' Their efforts continued as recently as Saturday , with the `` Help Find Hannah Graham '' Facebook page posting pictures of various volunteers handing out ribbons to businesses in downtown Charlottesville . Later in the day , that page was full of heartfelt reactions from friends and strangers alike . One woman wrote , `` Rest in peace beautiful angel . '' And a man chimed in , about hearing the news : `` I wept as if she were family . '' Coy Barefoot , a member of the University of Virginia adjunct faculty and a local media personality , told CNN that Saturday 's discovery -- and the prospect it could contribute to breakthroughs in the cases of other missing women , such as Harrington -- stirred `` a mix of emotions here in Charlottesville . '' `` I have seen people crying . I have cried tears myself , '' said Barefoot . `` But you 're also , in the same moment , so relieved that there might be some closure for such a wounded family for such a wounded community . ''
NEW : Sheriff : Search for Hannah Graham called off in light of ` ` recent evidence '' NEW : Sheriff : Sadness and relief that there will be news in Charlottesville . Hannah Graham 's parents are informed ; the remains are still being ID 'd . The University of Virginia student was last seen early on September 13 .