No New DNA Hits For Denison's Killer

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The black thong is distinctive in that it is adorned with pink hearts, white ribbons, and the image of the cartoon character, the Pink Panther.

On Mar. 13, 2008, Washoe County crime lab officials announced that their DNA backlog had been processed and DNA from the serial rapist who murdered Brianna Denison was not among the 3,000 samples recently tested.

In October 2007, Washoe County fell behind in processing DNA samples.  That's when the Nevada state legislature required that all convicted felons provide DNA for FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).  It costs approximately $150 to process each sample.  After a public appeal for funding, the county received $292,000 in donations.  This allowed the samples to be immediately sent and processed at labs in Las Vegas and Virginia.  However, to date, none of the samples from Washoe, nor the 500-plus oral swab DNA samples sent by Reno police, have matched the DNA of the serial sexual predator responsible for three attacks, including the abduction, rape and murder of Brianna Denison.

"To have a DNA hit on the attacker would have been a long shot since the backlog wasn't that old," says Brooke Keast, Deputy Sheriff and Public Information Officer for Washoe County Sheriff's Department.  "At the same time, it was worth the attempt to rule out the possibility.  We did have 30 hits and that's 30 crimes that can be solved", Keast added.   

The 30 hits are for crimes ranging from a very violent sexual assault to robbery and burglary.  The perpetrator of the violent sexual assault was already incarcerated for a different crime. 

Cops: Predator Has A Penchant For Underwear

Reno police revealed on March 6, 2008 that two pairs of underwear were left with co-ed Brianna Denison's body.  Four days after her discovery, police released information about a black thong, size small, with a Pink Panther cartoon and heart design.  It has the DNA of an unknown male and female.  However, authorities say the second pair of pink underwear was found intertwined with the black thong at the scene.  Cops say this second pair contains the DNA of Brianna, the suspected killer, and a female living in the house where Brianna was abducted.  That friend has positively confirmed that the underwear belongs to her.

The Reno Police Department also asked AMW to create a video that helps to summarize the case details while also delineating clues about the suspect.  This video has also been posted on the RPD website:

On Feb. 19, 2008, Reno authorities announced that a pair of black, thong-style underwear were discovered with the remains of 19-year-old college student, Brianna Denison.  Cops say the garment is not Brianna's and contains DNA of both an unknown female and an unknown male.  Authorities have ruled out the female DNA as belonging to Brianna, any of the previous female victims or any of the women living in the house where Brianna was abducted.  Law enforcement would not say whether it was intentionally placed, accidentally dropped or the circumstance of the placement.  However, they emphasize that the suspect left the underwear.  "There's no question that the offender left it behind," confirmed Lt. Robert McDonald.

In an exclusive interview with AMW, Reno authorities said that they believe that the serial rapist collects female underwear.  Revealing that the suspect took a pair of underwear from a previous victim, McDonald told AMW that police are "making a connection here that maybe this guy has some type of fetish for underwear" adding that "he certainly is wanting to keep a memory of what he is doing."  Cops working the case believe that the sexual serial predator on the loose in Reno is collecting female underwear as souvenirs and is a very dangerous man.

Police ask that a person who is missing the black thong underwear to come forward and possibly help provide additional clues in the search for Brianna's killer.

The underwear appears to be worn, is black in color, size small, and has three pink hearts and the head of the cartoon character, the Pink Panther. 

Manhunt Underway For Brianna's Killer

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19-year-old college student Brianna Denison was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered.

On February 16, 2008, the body of Brianna Denison was identified by Reno authorities after her remains were discovered in an undeveloped lot the day before.  An autopsy confirmed that the 19-year-old college student had been strangled and most likely left in the field for more than a week. 

Reno cops are now urging the Reno community to keep an eye out for possible suspects as the hunt for Brianna's killer intensifies.  Speaking with AMW on February 16, 2008, Brianna's family echoed the sentiment and asked the public to keep a watchful eye of those around them because "now we're on a manhunt."  Police say that family or friends of the killer may be noticing behavioral shifts or changes in his appearance which could be telling clues.  Furthermore, authorities tell AMW that they believe that Brianna's killer is a Reno native or is very familiar with the city which has put the community on high alert. 

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives established a positive link between the murder of Brianna Denison and two previous attacks on female students near the University of Nevada-Reno campus. Cops say DNA evidence found on Brianna's pillow matches DNA gathered after a Nov. 13 groping attack on a University of Nevada-Reno student.  It also connects a Dec. 16 kidnapping and rape of a UNR student who lived only a few blocks away from the home where Brianna was last seen.

Denison Case Connected To Others

Authorities also add that while an Oct. 2007 attack on the UNR campus is not linked forensically with the other three attacks, they believe that there are similarities in method of attack and circumstance. In the Oct. incident, police say the suspect attempted to sexually assault a female student as she was walking to her vehicle in the southeast corner, first floor of the Brian Whalen parking structure of the UNR campus.  Speaking with AMW on Feb. 18, 2008, Reno authorities say that the suspect seems to be attacking petite, females with straight, long hair and that the severity and violence of each attack seems to be escalating. 

In the Nov. 13 incident, a 21-year-old UNR student was walking through an apartment parking lot at 401 College Drive, when an unknown male assailant approached her from behind and put her in a chokehold. The suspect dragged the victim between cars, pushed her to the ground and groped her. As she fought and yelled, he told her not to scream. The victim continued to scream and fought her attacker. Even though the assailant warned the victim to stop screaming, the assault stopped after the suspect kicked the victim in the head and arm and ran away after dropping a couple of unopened Trojan-brand condoms.

AMW learned exclusive information about the woman involved in one of the attacks. A source close to the investigation tells AMW that the assailant told the Dec. 16 victim, a foreign student from Taiwan, that, "If you look at me, if you tell the police, I will kill you." Authorities say the 22-year-old was abducted after parking her car outside her home when an unknown assailant grabbed her after she parked her car on the 1400 block of Terrace Drive.

According to police, the assailant grabbed the female from behind, forced her to the ground and attempted to choke her with her right arm. He then placed his right hand over her nose and mouth which caused her to pass out. When she began to regain consciousness, the suspect forced her into the front passenger seat. The suspect slowly drove to a location 3 to 4 minutes away where he forced her to perform sexual acts. After the sexual attack and a brutal beating, he drove her back to her residence where he dumped her off and threatened "he might be back."

Police strongly believe that the serial sexual predator did return on Jan. 19, 2008, the evening before Brianna's kidnapping, and attempted to break into the Dec. 16 victim's residence.  Authorities say that in the January incident, someone attempted to enter the victim's home by breaking off a door knob at the rear of the residence.  The victim was at home at the time and called 9-1-1, but the suspect left before police arrived.

Neither of the previous victims saw the attacker's face. Police say the victims of the earlier attacks were interviewed again after the DNA matches were made, and that a more detailed description of the suspect was developed.

Cops Release Clues

The serial sexual predator is described as a white male, 28 to 40 years old, long face with a square chin, around 5'6", brown hair, and physically strong, but not muscular. He has a belly that is not excessively large but firm, an "innie" belly button, and a shaved pubic region. He also has a light colored hair on his arms and facial hair about a quarter to half an inch long that was soft. The assailant spoke with no regional accent and did not smell of alcohol, smoke, or cologne.

At the time of the Dec. 16 attack, cops say he wore a red short-sleeve shirt, with a medium-blue colored neckline. The shirt was a silk/rayon/polyester blend and may have had an embroidered word on the upper left breast area. He wore a long-sleeved shirt underneath. He also wore pants that reminded the victim of basketball pants made of smooth material with an elastic waistband with no zipper.

Cops say that despite having her face covered with her hooded sweatshirt, the victim was also able to provide details about the attacker's vehicle. It is described as a small truck with an extended cab, a dome above the windshield and an automatic transmission. The vehicle is tall enough that it requires taking a step up for entry. The victim also noticed a floor-mounted console that opened in the front, that the radio had a blue and red LED read out, and that the front bucket style seats were covered with soft, dark, possibly velour upholstery.  The victim did not notice a bench seat in the rear cab area.  She also claimed that there was a baby shoe on the front seat floor board.

Police tell AMW that the assailant's DNA has not yielded any hits in any law enforcement databases and he is not a known registered sex offender. Furthermore, authorities say that the attacker may not have a violent criminal history and his behavior could be a surprise to those closest to him.

Authorities say that since the attacks occurred in a close proximity to one another, during similar times of day and with similar methods, the attacker may be someone who frequents, lives or works in the area.  Police tell AMW that the suspect most likely blends in the community and may appear to be very normal.  They ask members of the community to examine the clues carefully, as the suspect could possibly be someone's boyfriend, husband, brother or son. 
 

-By Robert Brown and Denise Poon, AMW Staff

Wanted For:

• Sexual Assault , Reno , NV ; Dec 2007
• Homicide , Reno , NV ; Jan 20, 2008

(Information valid as of November 26, 2008)

Associated Persons:

Brianna Denison
The month-long search for Brianna Denison ended tragically on Feb. 15, 2008, when Reno police discovered the 19-year-old's remains.
Missing Person
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Reno Cops: Arrest Made In Brianna Denison Murder

James Biela, 27, was arrested on Nov. 25, 2008 after cops linked the Sparks, Nev. man to the murder of Brianna Denison and a Dec. 2007 sexual assault.
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Reno, Nev. police have confirmed to America's Most Wanted that they have arrested a man, James Michael Biela, in connection with the Jan. 2008 kidnapping and murder of college student Brianna Denison.

Police say James Michael Biela, 27, of Sparks, was arrested Tuesday night and booked on suspicion of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault.

In a press conference on Nov. 26, 2008, authorities from the Reno Police Dept., Washoe County, the Reno District Attorney's office, the FBI and the United States Marshals Service gathered to announce the details of the arrest.

Cops say at 5:30 p.m. on Nov, 25, James Biela was arrested as he picked up his 4-year-old son from day camp. 

Biela had been under surveillance for the days prior,m and stands charged with the murder of Brianna Denison and the kidnapping and sexual assault of another female victim from a Dec. 2007 incident.

According to police, Biela left town in March to take a job in Washington during which time he sold his Toyota extended cab pickup truck -- the vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description. 

The vehicle was sold in Idaho and was later recovered by Couer D'Alene police. Cop say Biela's girlfriend visited him in September and found women's underwear in his vehicle, prompting her to become suspicious. 

When Biela's girlfriend confided in a friend, police say that person called the Secret Witness hotline.  That tip was called in on November 1, 2008 and ultimately led authorities to Biela.

In the press conference, police said that they asked Biela's girlfriend to allow a DNA sample to be taken from Biela's son.  When she agreed, cops used that sample to directly link to crime scene DNA left by Biela in the Brianna Denison case and the December 2007 case.

Cops say that Nov. 1 was their first contact and interview with James Biela.  Biela has a prior criminal history, although police did not elaborate as to what charges he had faced in the past.  Police also noted that currently he's only a suspect in the Denison case and the December 2007 incident at this time.

Police said that Biela was a construction worker and pipe fitter by trade.

Authorities tell AMW that Biela was arraigned this morning and was denied bail.  A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 10, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.