The arrest of a Sparks man as a suspect in the January kidnapping, rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman is now drawing interest out of state.
Investigators in Columbus, Ohio announced Friday that they are looking to Brianna Denison accused murderer, James Biela, as having a possible connection to as many as seven sexual assault cases in their area.
Authorities in Ohio say they have video surveillance of their suspect from an ATM when he used one of his victim's credit card but haven't named Biela as a formal suspect.
Construction worker, 27-year-old Biela was arrested Tuesday night on murder kidnapping, and rape charges while he was picking his son up from preschool on Corporate Blvd.
Brianna Denison was kidnapped from a home near the University of Nevada on Jan. 20. Police recovered her body from a field in south Reno on Feb. 15.
A Secret Witness tip led to the discovery of evidence that made Biela a suspect. More than 2,200 tips flooded into the confidential line.
Biela's girlfriend, who has a 4-year-old child with him, discovered a pair of underwear in his pickup truck according to police. She told a friend, and police say that friend called Secret Witness on Nov. 1.
Court documents say, "Biela respectfully declined to prove a DNA sample and indicated that he had not been involved in the murder of Brianna Denison and that his girlfriend" could provide him with an alibi.
Biela's girlfriend, according to court documents, contacted police saying that she could not account for his whereabouts in the early morning hours of Dec. 16 or Jan. 20. She then allowed investigators to test their son's DNA.
The DNA in subsequent tests was a "direct link" to the Denison case, Poehlman said. Police say the DNA evidence also links Biela to another sexual assault and kidnapping near the University campus in December.
Reno police say that Biela was not in the Reno area during their entire investigation. In March he moved to Washington. Police say he sold his Toyota pickup truck, which matched their initial suspect description, in Idaho. Police have since recovered that car.
In September, court documents state that Biela moved back to Nevada.
As of Monday, Dec. 1, officials in the United States Marine Corps confirmed Biela served in the Marines as an ammunitions technician. His service dates were Oct. 18, 1999 to Jan. 26, 2001. He was awarded the "Good Conduct" award in 2000. He was discharged from the Second Support Battalion based out of Camp LeJeune, NC. The Marine Corps cannot confirm reports that Biela was dishonorably discharged. A Marine Corps official said only Biela could discuss discharges. He enlisted in Spokane, they said.
News 4 spoke with Joseph Biela - the suspect's father - on November 26. Joseph, who said he knew nothing of his son's arrest until he saw it on television Wednesday morning - said his son was kicked out of the Marine Corps for drug use and an ongoing drug problem. Joseph Biela said he had not spoken with his son for about a year.
Joseph says he's sorry for Denison's family, and shared some information about his son's past.
District Attorney Dick Gammick has assigned the prosecution of this case to his Deputy D.A. Elliot Sattler. Gammick says he will pursue the toughest penalty and that "the death penalty is always an option" in a first degree murder case.
Lauren Denison spoke on behalf of the Denison family at a police press conference Wednesday morning. She was the founder of the Bring Bri Justice foundation. She thanked law enforcement for their hard work and the community for its support.
The community along with people from across the country raised more than $300,000 to test a DNA backlog when Denison's body was first discovered. Police say DNA has played an important role in this case.
The Northern Nevada community is expressing a sense of relief now that a suspect is in custody. Enrollment in self defense classes increased and residents, especially on and around the University campus were on high alert following Denison's disappearance. The University of Nevada released a statement Wednesday saying they are grateful for the arrest and hope it will bring peace to the Denison family.
A preliminary hearing for Biela is set for Dec. 10.
