Dean Byrant, 30, could face the death penalty if convicted of killing student Jacqueline Vandagriff, 24
THIS is the chilling moment a murdered student was seen drinking with her alleged killer at a bar the night before she died.
CCTV footage shows university fresher Jacqueline Vandagriff, 24, drinking and chatting with Charles Dean Byrant, 30, at a bar in Grapevine, Texas.
She was last seen leaving a bar with him around 11.30pm on September 13, while her dismembered and burnt body was discovered in a park at 6.30am the next day.
The footage shows the pair standing at the bar and chatting while a staff member busies herself nearby.
At one point, the couple both take a drink for the same cup before leaving together.
It comes as police begin investigating a series of posts sent from the victim and the accused’s social media accounts following the senseless killing.
After Jacqueline's body was found on September 14, someone posted an eerie message on her Twitter feed the next day, which read: “Never knew I could feel like this."
On the same day Bryant, who now faces the death penalty, posted this message on his Facebook page: "Full moon, let's see what trouble I can get into."
Court documents reveal that Jacqueline's smartphone was found near Bryant’s home on the day her body was discovered.
Police say she was found burning in a kiddie pool similar to a second one found at Bryant's home. His housemate told police they used to have two, reported.
Her burned remains were found in Grapevine after firefighters were called to a blaze in Acorn Woods Park at 6:30am last Wednesday.
Police Sergeant Robert Eberling said detectives used CCTV footage of the pair to identify Bryant and track him down.
He was arrested on Sunday after a state-wide search which included FBI officers and has been charged with capital murder with a $1 million bail.
The gym instructor was picked up by police near his house in Haslet in the outskirts of Fort Worth.
The Vandagriff family released a statement thanking the "extraordinary efforts" of investigators and well-wishers.
"We would also like to thank our friends, family and the friends of our daughter Jackie for all their support in this difficult time," the family said.
Ambitious Ms Vandigraff was in her first year at Texas Women's University in Denton, where she was studying nutrition.
A video CV uploaded by Jackie last year shows how eager she was to begin in her chosen career path.
The school’s Vice President for Student Life Monica Mendez-Grant paid tribute to Vandagriff in a statement.
"The death of a student affects the entire TWU community, and I know that all of us send our deepest sympathy to Jacqueline's family and friends", she said.
"Jacqueline exemplified the spirit of learning and service that is the hallmark of our TWU community.
"She lived her life with a desire to serve others through her interest in nutrition."
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