RENO " Already linked to the December sexual assault of a woman in Reno, police said Thursday they now have DNA evidence that also ties the suspected abduction of Brianna Denison to an attack in the same neighborhood in November.
Police also released a composite sketch of a suspected rapist in a previously unreported attack in the area in October that investigators said is "not inconsistent" with the descriptions in the other three cases.
The developments stem from an "exponential increase" in information flowing into police tip lines since investigators released a description on Monday of a suspect in a December kidnapping and sexual assault also near campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, Reno Police Commander Ron Holladay said.
Police said DNA helped link that crime to evidence collected at the Reno home where the 19-year-old Denison last was seen in the early morning hours of Jan. 20.
On Thursday, Holladay said they now have connected all three attacks with DNA and were investigating the October rape of a woman who came forward on Wednesday to report she was attacked at gunpoint in a UNR parking garage within 100 yards of a campus police station.
UNR Police Chief Adam Garcia said the woman decided to contact authorities as a result of extensive media coverage of Denison's disappearance.
Dennison, 19, a freshman at Santa Barbara City College in California, was last seen in the early morning hours of Jan. 20 at a friend's home near the UNR campus.
A Reno High School graduate, she was back home visiting friends and family during winter break.
Police aren't releasing any details on the DNA matchups, but Holladay said the evidence collected at the scene of the November attack included unopened packages of condoms.
In that case, a female victim was battered and sexually groped on Nov. 13, about 6 p.m., Holladay said.
On Dec. 16, another female victim was battered, kidnapped, sexually assaulted and then brought back home by the suspect, he said.
On Jan. 19, the night before Denison last was seen, an unknown suspect returned the home of the victim of the December attack and unsuccessfully attempted to break in, police said.
Police with search dogs and hundreds of volunteers have combed the area daily since Denison's disappearance with no sign of her.
Crime lab technicians earlier determined a small stain on a pillow at the house where Denison vanished is the blood of Denison.
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.
Investigation timeline:
- November 13, 2007, 5:55 p.m. - The female victim was battered
and sexually groped in the 400 Block of College Drive, Reno
- December 16, 2007, 2:00 a.m. - The female victim was battered,
kidnapped from the 1400 Block of North Virginia St. Reno, sexually
assaulted, and then brought home by the suspect.
- January 19, 2008, 5:00 a.m. - An unknown suspect
unsuccessfully attempted to break into the residence of the victim of
the December attack.
- January 20, 2008, 4:30 a.m. - Brianna Denison goes missing
from 1395 Mackay Court, Reno.
Suspect description:
- Suspect vehicle: Extended cab pick-up truck or SUV, dome light
above the windshield, tall enough that it requires a step up to gain
entry, floor-mounted console that was described as "fairly skinny"
that opens in front, blue and red LED read-out on the radio, cloth
seats, automatic transmission. There was a baby shoe on the front seat
floor board. There were 8 1/2" x 11" white pieces of paper with
typing on the floor board of the front seat.
- Suspect: White male, approximately 28 - 40 years, long face
with a square chin, taller than 5'6" but not excessively so, very
strong but not with a significantly muscular build, a belly that was
described as not excessively large and firm but not flabby, an
"innie" belly button, shaved pubic region, a light covering of
hair on his arms, no jewelry or a watch, facial hair about a quarter to
a half an inch long below his chin and was soft and not prickly as
stubble normally is, unknown if he had a mustache, brown head hair of
undetermined style, normal speech with no accent or regional dialect, no
smoker's breath, no alcohol, no bad breath, no cologne or
after-shave.
- Suspect clothing at the time of the Kidnap/Sexual assault: red
(not maroon) short sleeve shirt described as being made of material
similar in feel to a Fubu jersey-type shirt (silk/rayon/polyester type)
with a medium blue-colored neckline, short printed (possibly
embroidered) word on the upper left breast area, another shirt
underneath with wrist-length sleeves, unknown color pants - regular
length - not jeans. The pants reminded the victim of basketball pants
as the material was smooth but they made no noise when he moved and they
had an elastic waist band and no zipper.
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