| In Loving Memory Of Brianna Denison aka ( Breezy ) March 29 , 1988 - January 2008 * R.I.P. * |
| All I Have To Offer Here I am , I don’t even know you Still it breaks my heart you’re gone I’m not sure where you are tonight But I hope you’re safe and warm My prayers are all I have to offer But I’ll pray them all for you May God give you peace inside And bring you home real soon Just the pain of not knowing Is causing your family so much pain Wondering where is their little girl And will they hold you ever again Lord I ask this from my heart We need a miracle to save a life Please bring Brianna back safe And dry the teardrops from our eyes Written January 29 , 2008 For Brianna Denison ( Missing ) By Steve M ( Me ) |
| ( UPDATE FEBRUARY 16 , 2008 ) It is with very deep sadness , that today I must turn this missing person page for Brianna Denison into a memorial. Missing since January 20 , 2008. Brianna's body was discoverd yesterday. it is yet another tragic and senseless loss of another one of our promising young women , who was taken way too soon. My heart and prayers go out to her family , and friends |
| RPD press release saying body is Brianna RENO POLICE DEPARTMENT Posted: 2/16/2008 An autopsy has determined the remains of a female discovered in a Southwest Reno field Friday are those of 19 year-old Brianna Denison who was abducted from a friend's residence in Reno in the early morning hours of January 20. Police said the official cause and manner of death was due to strangulation making this a murder investigation. Police also estimated the full autopsy report would not be completed for several weeks due to pending protocols that include toxicology and other tests. An employee of a business at a light industrial complex discovered the remains in an adjacent brush covered field on the south side of Sandhill Drive between Double R Boulevard and Prototype Drive, and reported the finding at about 12:13 p.m. Friday. Responding Reno Police Patrol officers found the remains about six minutes later and began to cordon off and secure the area around the site, estimated at about 2- 3 acre. The site is located about eight miles south of the residence from which Denison was abducted. |
| Playing In The Background Heaven by Hayley Westenra |
| Make a Donation In lieu of flowers, your donations to the Bring Bri Back Foundation will help us bring her killer to justice. To make a cash donation, please send your check payable to: "Bring Bri Back" Mail to: Bring Bri Back Foundation PO Box 10892 Reno, NV 89510 |
| Thank you - Organizations Helping America's Most Wanted KlassKids Foundation Laura Recovery Center Reno Gazette Journal The FBI The Milk Carton Project |
| From the Zunino Denison Family On March 29, 1988 Bridgette and Jeffrey Denison were given the incredible gift of their daughter Brianna. On January 20, 2008 she became the daughter of our entire community. On behalf of Brianna’s mother Bridgette, her brother Brighton, the entire Denison and Zunino family: We want to thank the Reno Police Department for all of their support, the community of Reno, the devoted volunteers, searchers, the media and everyone involved in the search for Bri. This is a difficult time. We ask first that every woman be diligent about their own safety and that each and every one of you protect the women and children in your community. We ask once again that if there is anyone out there with information, we beg you to come forward. Now is the time. And finally, we want to say that we are grateful for many things. Grateful for all of your actions, thoughts and prayers. Grateful for the gift of Brianna in all of our lives. Grateful for the joy that she brought us and for the cherished memories of her that are a source of comfort. Memories that give us strength to see beyond our sorrow, sustaining us in spite of our grief. Please don’t forget Brianna…. |
Our Heartfelt thanks to everyone that helped A-1 Radiator Repair Action Embroidery Ad Spec Adam Van Antwerp Albright, Persing, and Assoc. All the men and women who have walked on searches Allegra Printing Amy Brazil Taylor Angelina Capurro Anglegraphics Ann Conlin, Reno Area Triathletes Aquarius Arezou Saeedi Armstrong Teasdale Law Firm Art Images Artist Cleaners Associated General Contractors AVI Resort Bart and Leigh Scott Ben and Susan Farahi Beverly Champagne Blue Moon Advertising Bob, Donna and Lori Rossi Boomtown Boss Signs C & M Food Distributors Candice Gleed Carlene Cannon Cathy Dohr Christopher and Jaimie Dianda Christopher Blanton Productions Circus Circus, Reno Colleen Capurro Community Service Fund Corey Sanders, EVP of Operations, MGM/Mirage Cortina Restaurant Costco Dan and Mary Phy Dan Kahl, KAHL Office Furniture David and Betty Gross Dawn Davis Dean Miles Dermody Foundation Design Lab Desiree Bowlan Dickson Realty Digi Print-David Spillers Dolce Salon Dorinda and Holly Rust Doug Seymour and Family DP Partners Dyna Graphics EDAWN Edward and Carolyn Jones Eldorado Casino Resort Emigrant Storage, Bill and Lavon Manke Erina Reeves Eva Lonska-Diaz, Director of Catering, Circus Reno Express Graphics Fast Signs FBI Franco Bread Frank Baldwin, Circus Circus Reno Frank Baldwin, General Manager, Circus Reno Franz Weber, TTEE and Jannett Zermain-Weber, TTEE Friends and Family of Bridgette Denison Fuel Promotions Fuel Screen Printing Gary Patrick Gene and Susa Mattiuzzo Girl Scout Troop #572 Grafics Unlimited Grand Sierra Resort Guy and Heidi Gansert Hacienda Restaurant Hanseliesel Reeves Harold and Arlene Crandall Harrah's at Laughlin Harrah's at Tahoe Harvey and Lori Roberts Harvey's Home Depot Horizon Casino Huffman & Carpenter Hyatt Regency at Tahoe Identitape Corp. Instant Sign Service ITS Logistics J.C. Paper Jack and Toni Lemos Jain Lemos Jennifer Bushman Jennifer Cunningham, Director of Sales/Marketing, Circus Reno Jim and Lisa Zaccheo John and Catherine Farahi John Ascuaga's Nugget John Boyd John Huffaker Jordan Reghetti Joyce Epperson Julie's Sign Shop Karen Burns-Brown Kathie Fralick Kelli Williams Kenneth and Reatha Thran Kinkos Calfornia Ave Store Kinkos Neil Rd Store Kinkos on California KOLO ABC New Channel 8 KREN News 27 Krispy Kreme Donuts KRNV NBC News Channel 4 Lavender Ridge Lezlie Kookenboo Linda and Danielle DeTomaso Linda Russ Lisa Mueller Local/National News Sources Lori Fralick Lorna Chance Lorraine Baird, Director of Human Resources, Circus Reno Louis A Bonaldi, M.D. Lowes Lydia Bria Lynn Duby Mandalay Bay Marcel Schaerer, Intl Pofessional Dev. Services Margie Lear Mark Best Electric Megan Dortch and the UNR Basketball Fans Mendocino Friends Michael and Susan Galliani Michael and Tammy Dermody Michael Mack, Colliers International Luxury Properties Mike Jauron, Sierra Office Solutions Minor Advertising MontBlue Casino Montreux Golf and Country Club Morgan & Gordon Zack My Favorite Muffin and Bagel Café Nevada Blue Nevada Center for Dermatology Norman and Roen Mallory Nothing To It Culinary Center O'Gara Orthodonics Oliver and Christine Garrison Palace Station Casino Palais de Jade Panettoni Development Company, Inc. Parents of Lenz Elementary Paul Lagomarsino, MD Pete and Althea Claudianos Plato’s Closet Pluto’s Port-o-Subs Postnet Price Choppers Wrist Bands - Debi Quality Images Raley's Randy and Jeanne Powell Real Estate Marketing Network Reno Mazda & Kia Reno News and Review Reno Police Department Reno Rodeo Foundation Ribbon Volunteers Richard and Delores Lemos Richard and Ellen Olson Rick and Kelli Campbell Rick Bell, RB Technologies Rick Gibbs Rick Shamhart, Vintage, A Wine Shop Sandra Boyle Save Mart Supermarkets Scott & Kristy Pearson Scott Hurley, Bel Air Studios Service Business Network Sheri Coleman, Aveir Technologies Sierra Business Networks Sierra Nevada Constuction, Inc. Sign Service Sign-a-rama Silver Screen Printing Silverman, Decaria & Dattelman, CHTD Starbucks at 5th and Nevada Steven and Ann Weiss Stonefield Subway Sandwich Shop Susan Meuschke and Charles Peck Sven and Stacy Sorensen Sydney Benger/Ensemble Real Estate Services Terrance Lanni, Chairman & CEO, MGM/Mirage The Atlantis Casino Resort The Center for Plastic Surgery Staff The Cheese Board and Wine Seller The Drummer Family The Golden Nugget, Laughlin The Golden Nugget, Reno The Grill at Quail Corners, Sam Frankovich The Hickok Family The Mirage The Nevada Museum of Art The Palms Casino The Peppermill The Poudrier Family The Resort at Redhawk The Riverside The Riviera The Sahara The Sanctuary The Showalter Family The Silver Legacy Resort The Stousland Family The Tom Davies Family The Venetian The Weise Family Thunder Valley Tink Thran and Family Tom, Kitty and Adam Augustine Town & Country Electric Trader Joe's Tropicana Truly Magnussen-West Viola Catering WalMart Wayne and Lynn Marschall Wild Island/Wild Waters Woodburn and Wedge, Attorneys at Law |
| Denison thought of other people first, friends say RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Posted: 2/23/2008 The thing people remember most about Brianna Denison is her smile, beaming like a searchlight, seeking out close friends as well as the stranger in the corner of a room. "She was a free spirit, and she was also selfless and went out of her way to make everyone feel really comfortable," said Nicole Bridges, 20, who met Denison in Reno High School and remained friends with her after graduation in 2006. "I was with her three nights before she disappeared, and we were with some people she didn't know, but that didn't matter. She talked to them, joked with them, as though she had known them all her life. There was nothing superficial about her, nothing conceited, she absolutely was the kind of person who would go up to someone alone at a party and try to make them feel like they belonged. "She gave everyone a chance." Denison, 19, was abducted Jan. 20 from a friend's house near the University of Nevada, Reno, where she had fallen asleep on a couch after a night out in downtown Reno. Her body was found last week in a south Reno field. Police are searching for the man who kidnapped, assaulted and strangled her. Her memorial service is scheduled today at 7 p.m. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Blue ribbons and posters are displayed on utility poles, storefronts and homes throughout the Truckee Meadows. She smiles from hundreds of windows and Web sites. "She was so beautiful, that smile, those pearly whites," said Harland Feest, 19, who dated Denison in high school and remained friends with her long after. "She cared about people. If she didn't hear from you in a while, she'd call to see how you were doing. She'd take you to lunch when you were feeling down. ... I can't believe she's gone." 'What a Wonderful World' Denison's short life began March 29, 1988. Her parents took her home from the hospital in a limousine. The car stereo played Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World." Her mother, Bridgette, called her "Breezy," because, she said, Brianna was "such a breath of fresh air." Her father, Jeff, died when she was 6. Denison's aunt, Rena Denison-Terry, said it was Brianna who made sure the families kept together through the tragedy. "She made it her mission, as little as she was," Denison-Terry told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "She wanted to know her father's family, and she needed to be with us. She was so smart at age 6 that she knew it was an important part of her identity and she didn't want to lose it. "She was one tough chick." She spent her childhood in Reno and in her mother's hometown of Mendocino, Calif. She loved to travel, and had been to New York, Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, Egypt, Hungary, Austria and France. She spent a year in Rome with her family. Even as a little girl she had a mischievous sense of humor, family members said. She usually called her grandfather, Bob Zumino, "Papa." But every once in a while she'd say, out of nowhere, "Hi Bob!" just to watch her grandfather's reaction. Even as a little girl, she wrote notes to family members on their birthdays and special occasions. About 400 students were in her class at Reno High School, but Denison stood out. "She absolutely got along with anyone," Feest said. "She knew everyone, across all the different cliques. But she also had close friends, and you knew she meant to have those friends for life." Bridges said she lost touch with Denison last year, but when the two reconnected there was no awkward conversation. "We just picked up where we left off," she said. Denison liked hip-hop music, Britney Spears, "chick flicks," and dancing, friends said. She wanted to be a child psychologist and was majoring in psychology at Santa Barbara City College at the time of her death, "I don't think she could have picked a better field," Bridges said. "She loved children and wanted to help people." Last summer, when the Hawken wildfire scorched northwest Reno, Denison went running out of her home in flip-flops, carrying tumblers of water and lemonade for the firefighters. Nobody thought it was out of character. 'Everyone was in shock' Ali Weiss, 20, met Denison at Santa Barbara City College when she was randomly assigned as her roommate. "My first impression was that she was a sweet little innocent girl and very kind-hearted," Weiss said. She said the first impression lasted, but Denison was no wallflower. "She could be loud and she could be goofy," Weiss said. "She was fun." She said Denison could usually be found in her dorm room with her nose in a book or making flashcards as study aids. "School was her priority," Weiss said. Friends called her "Bri" or "Brizzle." Last year, Denison put in 135 hours at Kinko's Early Learning Center working with children and monitoring their progress. "She would come home with these little boxes and things the kids made for her and she'd talk about the children she was working with," Weiss said. "She so wanted to help children." Julie Smith, an assistant professor of early childhood education at Santa Barbara City College, said Denison was "really good at building relationships with children. She loved giving back." Smith said Denison was driven by the memory of losing her own father at such an early age. She wanted to do trauma and grief counseling for children. "She came in and talked to me several times," Smith said. "She was driven to help children with grief and loss issues. ... Some students go through college and don't make a big impression. Not Brianna. She had a real strong connection with students and staff." During winter break, Denison came back to Reno and reconnected with old friends. She invited several of them to join her at a concert event Jan. 19 at the Sands Hotel Casino. She wasn't immune to the slings and arrows that all teenagers face: The day she was abducted, a boyfriend had broken up with her and sent her a mean text message, Denison-Terry told the AP. "It was just breaking-up kind of stuff," she said. But Brianna Denison was determined to move forward, have fun. "She never let anyone bring her down," Weiss said. "She wasn't confrontational. If something bad happened, she'd let it go. She never wanted to hurt anyone or even make them feel uncomfortable." "Keep her spirit alive" In Reno, Denison came to her friend's house on MacKay Court and was last seen at 4:30 a.m. Jan. 20. In the morning there was a spot of blood on the couch where she had slept. Word of her disappearance spread with light speed through text messages, the Internet and cell phones. "I didn't believe she had been kidnapped, then I found out about the blood on the pillow," Feest said. "Then I didn't know what to think. I was in shock. Everyone was in shock." But her friends said they did just what Denison would have done if one of them had gone missing. They walked for miles putting up posters and blue ribbons. They held vigils. They prayed. When her body was found last week in a field in south Reno, they gathered at the site. They brought ribbons and teddy bears and photos. They wept among the dry weeds and they scattered rose petals at the spot where the body of their friend had lain. "We blasted Britney Spears (songs)," Bridges said. Other friends came to pay their respects. Neighbor Donna Parker, who said Denison had consoled her after the death of her daughter, Amanda, in June, put flowers at the site. Strangers placed stuffed animals and hugged Denison's friends. Her family said she brought the community together. The effort to find her killer continues. Her friends and those who have come to know Denison after her death are wearing blue ribbons and changing the "Bring Brianna Back" signs to read "Bring Brianna Justice." Bridges, Feest and other friends of Denison have gotten tattoos with the word "Bri" within a blue ribbon. Their sadness is mixed with anger. "It's so tragic her life was cut short like this, so senseless," Weiss said. "... We have to keep her spirit alive." Bridges said Denison had a life worth celebrating. She said friends will continue to help find her killer. "We want to keep awareness high," she said. "There's so much that still needs to be done. She helped so many people and touched so many lives. How could anyone kill her and toss her to the curb? "I can't believe anyone could have such a cold heart." |
| Police Arrest Suspect in Sex Assault Slaying and murder of Reno Teen Brianna Denison Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Police arrested a suspect in the kidnapping, rape and killing of Reno teenager Brianna Denison, ending an exhaustive 10-month-long manhunt for the college student's alleged murderer. James Michael Biela, 27, of Sparks, Nev., was taken into custody about 9 p.m. Tuesday and booked at the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault, authorities said. He is being held without bail. Denison, 19, was abducted while she was sleeping at a friend's house during winter break in January. 2008. Police said a secret witness and DNA were crucial to cracking the case. The suspect who was taken into custody at Stepping Stones Children's Center in Reno, provided a DNA sample that matched evidence collected at the scene where Denison's body was found in February. Police said they collected DNA evidence at the crime scene that linked the suspect to Denison's murder and at least two other sexually-motivated attacks on women on or near the campus between October and December of 2007. The district attorney vowed to fight for the maximum sentence possible. Denison, a sophomore at Santa Barbara City College in California, was kidnapped about 4:30 a.m. Jan. 20 , 2008 as she slept in the living room of a friend's rented home near the University of Nevada's Reno campus. The teen had likely been visible through a glass door, according to police. Her body was found in near a business park in south Reno on Feb. 15 after a massive search. An autopsy determined she had been raped and strangled and left there about a week earlier. Investigators said from the beginning they believed the suspect, who taunted police by leaving two pair of intertwined women's panties at the site where Denison's body was found, lived nearby. Public records show the suspect has lived in the Reno area since 2002. Denison graduated from Reno High School in 2006. She was visiting her hometown during winter break when she was kidnapped and killed. |
| I have covered the suspects name with a white box. He's a coward and monster. I refuse to publish the names of these misfits of society on my site. It is a place to pay tribute to those who deserve to be remembered and honored on my site such as Brianna. May she rest in peace |
