Recovered; Feb 15, 2008

A month-long search for missing college student, Brianna Denison, has come to a close, Reno authorities say. According to police, an autopsy has confirmed that a dead woman found on Feb. 15 in a vacant field in the city's south side is Brianna Denison and that she died of strangulation. The remains were discovered 8 miles away from where the 19-year-old was last seen on January 20, 2008. Until recently, the field had been covered in snow and authorities believe that the body had been there for more than a week.

Investigators are operating on the belief that Reno has a serial rapist on their hands since Denison's case was linked by DNA to two other sexually motivated attacks dating back to November of 2007. Lt. Robert McDonald of the Reno Police Dept. told AMW that Brianna's case confirms that the suspect is familiar with, or living in, Reno. He also stressed that the suspect's behavior and appearance may have changed in the recent weeks which would be noticeable to those close to him. Speaking with AMW on February 16, 2008, Brianna's family echoed the sentiment and urged the public to keep a watchful eye of those around them because "now we're on a manhunt."