Police Link Reno Attacks To Brianna Denison Murder

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Investigators discovered the remains of 19-year-old college student Brianna Denison on Feb. 15, 2008.

Authorities in Reno, Nev. have established a positive link between the murder of 19-year-old Brianna Denison and two incidents involving 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 and 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. 

Police also are considering that an October attack on a female student in a University of Reno parking lot may be linked to the series through method of operation and circumstance.  Cops tell AMW that they believe the suspect's string of attacks to be escalating in severity.  Lt. Robert McDonald of the Reno Police Department told AMW that the suspect seems to be acting from a position of dominance and power and that all the female victims have the same profile:  petite females with long, straight hair.

AMW has learned exclusive information about the woman involved in two prior 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 see my face, if you tell the police, I will kill you." Authorities say the 22-year-old was abducted 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 attack, he drove her back to her residence where he dumped her off and threatened "he might be back."

Police believe that this December attack is linked to an attempted burglary at the same residence on Jan. 19, 2008, the day before Brianna Denison went missing. 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. 

Police say that DNA evidence links the Nov. 13 fondling and sexual assault of another UNR student in the same neighborhood to and Brianna's disappearance. 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 leaving behind a few unopened Trojan-brand condoms. 

Police Release Clues About Suspect

None of the previous victims saw the attacker's face. But Commander Ron Holladay of the Reno Police Department said 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.

Police have now released extensive clues about the attacker. He is described as a white male, 28 to 40 years old, long face with a square chin, around 5'6"-6'0", 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.

Speaking with AMW on Feb. 18, 2008, Reno authorities say that the suspect also has very tan hands and forearms, a pale stomach, and light colored body hair. 

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 an extended cab pick-up truck or SUV with a dome above the windshield and an automatic transmission. The vehicle is tall enough that it requires a step to gain 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 seats were cloth. 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.

Before Brianna's body was found, police searched around Reno, including along the Truckee River and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The first week, a police dog was unable to help detectives and a search of the neighborhood turned up nothing. Police are collected voluntary DNA samples from men in the area.

In the weeks after Brianna went missing, hundreds of volunteers gathered daily at the "Brianna Search Operations Center," based in a local casino. National non-profit support and search organizations assisted with organizing volunteers with fliers and blue ribbons that say "Got Bri." The volunteers went out in the cold, often stormy weather everyday and methodically, in line formation, search a designated grid.

Dawn Gibbons, Nevada's First Lady joined hundreds of other volunteers, who combed the neighborhoods and rugged terrain north of the University campus. Gibbons was part of a 14-member team looking for clues, clothing and evidence that might help find answers about Brianna's disappearance.

Gibbons' son Jimmy, attended Reno High School with Brianna.  "As a mother of a child nearly the same age as Brianna, my heart goes out to the entire Denison family," Gibbons told AMW. "I continue to be impressed by the overwhelming community support and many volunteers dedicated to the ongoing search efforts. This tragic case has touched the hearts of so many across the state."

The Reno community rallied behind the search effort. A Denison photo has been featured on casino marquees, fliers and businesses around town.  Volunteers held large signs with photos of Denison that read, "Please come home Brianna!" and "Let's Rally for Brianna." UNR officials send out daily safety emails and give presentations on personal safety to students.

During the searches, Lauren Denison, Brianna's aunt, told AMW that, "Our rallying cry is, if the abductor sees this, open your heart and give her back to us.  We want this God-awful person to be aware that he is not only putting a great deal of hurt on Brianna, her family, and friends, but also the people who know him.  Please just give her back and run off if you need to.  Bring Brianna back to us."

Tragically on February 16, 2008, Reno authorities announced that an autopsy confirmed that  female remains found in the city's south side are that of Brianna Denison. 

Cops Running Down Leads

Brianna Denison, a sophomore at Santa Barbara City College in Calif., returned to her hometown of Reno, Nev. for winter break. On Jan. 19, 2008, she joined some friends at a Reno area 'SWAT' party. SWAT parties cater to young adults seeking out travel destinations involving snowboarding, skiing, surfing, and other action sports. From there, she and a friend, KT Hunter, went on to the Sands Regency Hotel Casino to attend a hip-hop concert.

After leaving the casino, police say Brianna returned to Hunter's home at 1395 MacKay Court at around 4 a.m., and was reportedly last seen falling asleep on a couch. The residence is in an area close to the University of Nevada, and is populated mostly by college students living off-campus. That was the last time anyone saw the 19-year-old child psychology student.

Earlier that night, Jessica Deal, who was also staying at the MacKay Court residence, solicited a ride from an unknown male. Deal arrived home safe and sound, and police say that the journey was without incident. Investigators believed that the driver of the vehicle may have had critical information about Brianna, but on Jan. 23, 2008, the man came forward and was cleared by Reno police of any involvement.

Lt. Robert McDonald of the Reno Police Department stressed that there were no signs of forced entry and no signs of a struggle in the home. Cops say that the glass-paned front door of the residence was unlocked and other residents say that the door -- just a couple feet away from where Brianna was sleeping -- may have been left slightly open. Authorities tell AMW that the suspect must have been quick and quiet as to not awake Hunter's pet black-and-white Chihuahua, Chi-Chi, who was sleeping in the adjacent room with KT Hunter and Jessica Deal.

Brianna left behind her ID, wallet, cell phone, and may not have been wearing shoes. Also missing is a stuffed two-foot-tall teddy bear that Brianna had fallen asleep with to prop up her pillow. The brown stuffed bear has a white belly with a printed rainbow and multi-colored balloons. Police say Brianna was last seen wearing a white tank top with pink angel wings, rhinestones, and the word 'Bindi' on the back. She may also have been wearing light blue or pink sweatpants. Brianna is described as 5 feet tall, 98 lbs., with long dark brown hair, blue eyes, nose piercing on the right side, and a noticeable scar on her left knee.

Police tell AMW that Brianna's boyfriend sent her multiple text messages around the time of her disappearance, but have not divulged what the subject of the messages were. Cops say that he is not a suspect and that he has remained in Oregon since before Brianna went missing.

In the days since she vanished, Brianna's friends and family have appealed for her safe return, and a 24-hour tip line has been set up to gather information on one of Reno's largest investigative cases to date.  On January 22, 2008, the FBI joined Reno authorities in a massive search of the area around 1395 MacKay Court and nearby Rancho San Rafael Park. Volunteers have been aided by police helicopters and K-9 units. As of Jan. 22, 2008, search dogs failed to pick up any indication of Brianna and Reno police were fearful of losing her scent as snowstorm activity approached.

The Regional Sex Offender Unit, which includes officers from Reno and Sparks Police Departments and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, interviewed 100 registered sex offenders living within a mile of the MacKay Court residence. Authorities have also contacted as many as 1,700 sex offenders registered in Washoe County.

Washoe County fell behind in processing DNA samples in October of 2007, when the Nevada state legislature required that all convicted felons provide DNA for the FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).  Disappointed that the suspect's DNA has not match information in the existing law enforcement database, local business leaders and the Denison family appealed to the community to raise funds so that some 3,000 samples of known offenders in Washoe County can be analyzed in a timely manner. 

Within five days, local casinos, business owners and private citizens from around the country donated over $165,000.  "It was really unbelievable," said Brooke Keast, Deputy Sheriff and Public Information Officer for Washoe County Sheriff's Department.  "The community and business leaders are the heart and soul of this fundraising effort.  An elderly woman from Georgia on a fixed income, called and was very emotional because Brianna reminded her of her two granddaughters.  She wanted to send us a donation to do something for Brianna."  With the donated funds, Keast estimates it will take about 30 days to complete the DNA processing.   

In the third week of searching for Brianna Denison, Reno police continued to follow-up on more than 1,000 tips and leads.  Volunteers based in donated local casino space went out every day searching, or re-searching, areas defined by police or where snow has melted.  Volunteer teams of 20 riders on horses and 70 hounds spent one week canvassing a large area of the city. 

Local restaurants donated meals daily to the search command center.  Businesses and community members have been making donations and raising funds for the "Bring Bri Back Foundation."

By Denise Poon and Robert Brown, AMW Staff

Associated Persons:

Suspected Brianna Denison Killer
A manhunt is underway in Reno, Nev. for the serial rapist who killed Brianna Denison.
Fugitive
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Television Airings:

• »April 26, 2008
• »March 8, 2008
• »February 2, 2008
• »January 26, 2008

Female Remains Found In Reno Confirmed As Brianna