Man Arrested in Brianna Denison Murder Case
Wednesday November 26, 2008
A 27-year-old Sparks, Nevada man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault in the case of Brianna Denison. The arrest of James Michael Biela ends a 10-month investigation into the death of the 19-year-old college student who disappeared while sleeping on a friend's sofa in January.
Police said the break in the case came via a tip through the Secret Witness program.
The tip from the witness led investigators to match a DNA sample from Biela's 4-year-old daughter to DNA in the Denison case and others.
Biela (pictured above) was arrested Tuesday night and a DNA sample was taken from him. Denison's family members told reporters today that Biela's DNA matched that found at the scene where Denison's body was found.
Sources said Biela was a pipe fitter who worked on construction projects at the University of Nevada Reno at the time of the sexual assaults. Family members said Biela was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.
During the investigation, authorities said that DNA evidence found in the Denison case linked her killer to at least two other sexual attacks on women near the university from October to December 2007.
Disappeared in the Middle of the Night
On Jan. 19, 2008, Santa Barbara City College student Brianna Denison (left) was home in Reno, Nevada, on winter break and went out partying with friends Saturday night. She spent the night on their couch. When Denison's friends woke the next morning she had disappeared, leaving her personal items behind.
She was last seen around 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20. She slept on a couch near an unlocked glass door using a two-foot teddy bear as an extra pillow. The next morning, she and the teddy bear was gone, but her clothes, purse and cell phone were still there.
After a massive search, her body was found Feb. 15 in a field in south Reno.
Wednesday November 26, 2008
A 27-year-old Sparks, Nevada man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault in the case of Brianna Denison. The arrest of James Michael Biela ends a 10-month investigation into the death of the 19-year-old college student who disappeared while sleeping on a friend's sofa in January.
Police said the break in the case came via a tip through the Secret Witness program.
The tip from the witness led investigators to match a DNA sample from Biela's 4-year-old daughter to DNA in the Denison case and others.
Biela (pictured above) was arrested Tuesday night and a DNA sample was taken from him. Denison's family members told reporters today that Biela's DNA matched that found at the scene where Denison's body was found.
Sources said Biela was a pipe fitter who worked on construction projects at the University of Nevada Reno at the time of the sexual assaults. Family members said Biela was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.
During the investigation, authorities said that DNA evidence found in the Denison case linked her killer to at least two other sexual attacks on women near the university from October to December 2007.
Disappeared in the Middle of the Night
On Jan. 19, 2008, Santa Barbara City College student Brianna Denison (left) was home in Reno, Nevada, on winter break and went out partying with friends Saturday night. She spent the night on their couch. When Denison's friends woke the next morning she had disappeared, leaving her personal items behind.
She was last seen around 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20. She slept on a couch near an unlocked glass door using a two-foot teddy bear as an extra pillow. The next morning, she and the teddy bear was gone, but her clothes, purse and cell phone were still there.
After a massive search, her body was found Feb. 15 in a field in south Reno.
