By: Las Vegas Now Staff
Some significant developments in Reno in the investigation of the suspected kidnapping of Brianna Denison.
Policy say DNA evidence has now linked her case to two other attacks late last year on women in the same neighborhood near the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.
In addition, they say they’re investigating another 2007 case that could be related. That one involves the alleged rape of a woman who came forward for the first time yesterday to say she was assaulted at gunpoint in October in a parking garage just south of the Lawlor Events Center.
Police have released a composite sketch of a suspected rapist in the previously unreported attack. Commander Ron Holladay says it is by no means a perfect match but that it is “not inconsistent” with the descriptions in the other three cases.
Holladay says 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.
Police already had linked the December case to the suspected abduction of the 19-year-old Denison, who last was seen on January 20th. They now also have additional DNA evidence to tie those to a separate attack in November.
The latest woman described him as 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 white male with light brown or dirty blond hair. He had a slender to medium build and was wearing a dark-hooded pullover sweat shirt, athletic-type nylon sweat pants with black stripes and white tennis shoes.
The woman described the weapon as a black and silver handgun, the first time police have reported the use of a gun in any of the attacks.
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.
The Trojan brand, lubricated, “very sensitive” condoms are wrapped in a purple package. Holladay says they are “fairly unique” because they first were put into circulation in October or November of last year.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
