RENO – Police said Sunday a positive DNA link has been established between the Jan. 20 abduction of a college student from a Reno home and a December sexual assault of another student who lived a few blocks away.

At a late afternoon news conference, Reno police commander Ron Holladay said investigators think the same white male in his 30s is responsible for the earlier assault and last week's kidnapping of Brianna Denison, 19, from a friend's house near the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

"Our chances of capturing the suspect are exponentially increased now because of the DNA," Holladay said. "He probably lives 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 a DNA sample obtained from the scene of Denison's disappearance matched one found at the scene of the earlier assault.

He said the victim of the earlier case was interviewed again after the match was made and a more detailed description of the suspect was developed.

That victim, a UNR student, was kidnapped outside her home on Dec. 16 and sexually assaulted. She also was the victim of a Jan. 19 attempted burglary at her home that may be connected to the same suspect, Holladay said.

A Nov. 13 fondling of another UNR student who was walking in the same neighborhood remains under investigation and may be linked to the other cases, Holladay said.

"The close proximity of the cases would lead us to believe he knows his way around the area," the commander 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 City College in Santa Barbara, Calif., who was visiting her hometown over winter break when she vanished.

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," the commander said.

Police said they plan to expand a ground search Monday 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 for information 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."

Until Sunday's announcement, detectives working the case around the clock had experienced frustration. A police dog had failed to pick up Denison's scent outside the house 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 the suspect entered through an unlocked door of the house rented by a Denison friend and three others. Only her friend was at home when Denison 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 abduction.