Cops Link Missing Reno Teen With Old Case

DNA Evidence Similar To Sex Assault On College Student Last December

(CBS/AP)  Police said Sunday a DNA link between the disappearance of a 19-year-old woman and the December sexual assault of a college student leads them to believe a sole attacker was responsible for both cases.

DNA taken from the scene where Brianna Denison was last seen Jan. 20 matches DNA gathered after the Dec. 16 sexual assault of a University of Nevada-Reno student who lived several blocks away, police commander Ron Holladay said.

Police believe a white male in his 30s is responsible for Denison's disappearance and the attack, Holladay said.

The attacker is presumed to be someone from the area, police say. Circumstances of the case, including the time of day and the locations of the crimes lead investigators to believe the person in question knows the area or at least knows their way around, reports CBS News Early Show correspondent Jeff Glor.

"Our chances of capturing the suspect are exponentially increased now because of the DNA," he said. "We believe that the person may be in the area. It's still my hope that Brianna is alive, and we're expending every resource possible to get her back safely."

Holladay said the victim of the earlier attack was interviewed again after the DNA match was made and that a more detailed description of the suspect was developed.

That victim was abducted outside her home on Dec. 16, taken to another location and sexually assaulted, then brought home by her attacker, Holladay said. She also was the victim of a Jan. 19 attempted burglary at her home that may be connected to the attacker, Holladay said.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the Nov. 13 fondling of another UNR student in the same neighborhood could be tied to the other cases, he said.

"The time of day and the close proximity of the locations would lead us to believe that the person either frequents this area, perhaps works in this area or at least knows their way around this area," Holladay said, adding Denison's abduction and the December crimes occurred between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

Crime lab technicians have determined a small stain on a pillow at the house where Denison vanished is the blood of Denison, a student at Santa Barbara (Calif.) City College, who was visiting her hometown over winter break.

Holladay said the blood could indicate someone used the pillow to restrain Denison or to try to suffocate her.

"People who know the suspect may not believe that he is capable of committing this type of crime and he may not necessarily have a violent criminal history," he said.

On Monday, police plan to search for Denison around Reno, including along the Truckee River and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Denison's family said they're still holding out hope she'll be found alive. They have offered a $100,000 reward in the case.

"As more days go by, we are getting anxious," her aunt, Lauren Denison, told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "But we are going to keep searching until we find Brianna and bring her home."

Last week, a police dog was unable to help detectives and a search of the neighborhood turned up nothing.

Holladay said investigators now are more optimistic.

"We're hopeful we'll be able to locate the person and bring the case to a successful conclusion," he said. "There's a chance he fled the area, but if he's in the area we hope the public helps us find him. The nature of the crimes are increasing in volatility."

Investigators think someone entered through an unlocked door of the house rented by a Denison friend and three others. Denison, who was sleeping on a couch near a door, was last heard from at 4:20 a.m.

A Denison photo has been featured on casino marquees, fliers and businesses around town.

UNR officials have given presentations on personal safety to students since Denison's disappearance.

[irisheyes555]

The Reno Gazette also said the suspect may be someone who people would never suspect, may not have a previous arrest record, and perhaps someone whose behavior has changed very recently. And yes, this information needs to get out!!!!

[ktfaith11]

Why oh why has CBS chosen to bury this story? To me, getting this description out should be of a more urgent nature than many of the other items on the home page right now. If this suspect is holding Brianna, the media could help locate him before it''s too late. Someone outside of Reno (an in-law maybe) might recognize this description.

[Krazcarl]

Eccellent police work {as you all know I''m not a fan} now catch that sack of manure and string him up in the town sqare. If any of you folks have any info call police he will do it again I bet my life savings.

[ktfaith11]

Here is the full description of the suspect and his vehicle as printed in the Reno Gazette Journal. With the baby shoe in the truck, sounds like a description a wife someplace might recognize.

White male, 28-40 years old.

Long face with a square chin, facial hair about a quarter to a half an inch long below his chin that was soft and not prickly like stubble; brown hair; shaved pubic area.

Slightly taller than 5-foot-6

Firm stomach with an "innie" belly button.

Strong but not overly muscular

No accent when he spoke

No alcohol or cigarettes on his breath; no cologne

He wore a red short-sleeve shirt of a jersey material described as silk/nylon or polyester, with a medium blue neckline and possible embroidery on the upper left breast area. He wore a shirt underneath extended to his wrists.

He wore smooth pants with an elastic waist similar to basketball warmups.

THE VEHICLE
An extended cab pickup or sport-utility vehicle with a dome light above the windshield and a step to get inside.
Floor-mounted, skinny console that opens in front. The LED read-out on the radio was blue and red, the vehicle had cloth seats and an automatic transmission.
A baby shoe was on the front seat floor board, and white pieces of paper about eight and one half by 11 inches with typing on them were on the floorboard of the front seat.