Disappearance linked to another case
Daniel Farahi said he’s had a crush on Brianna Denison since he was in diapers.Now he just wants the girl from next door to come home.
“There are few people in this world who genuinely care about others, and she is one of those people,” said Farahi, a 19-year-old student at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Farahi flew home last weekend to attend a rally for Denison, who went missing Jan. 20.
Police are still searching for Denison, 19, who disappeared from a friend’s house on Mackay Court and College Drive.
Police released a report Sunday stating that DNA genetic samples found at the house Denison was staying at have been linked to a prior sexual assault and kidnapping that happened in December. In that case, a UNR student was kidnapped and sexually assaulted while she was walking home around 2 a.m. Dec. 16.
The police have interviewed the student again to see if she knows any information that can be used to find Denison, Reno police said.
Police are investigating whether an attempted sexual assault last November is also linked to the two cases.
Police said they believe the suspect is between 28 and 40 years old, has a long face with a square chin, brown hair and is taller than 5 feet 6 inches. He is believed to have an extended pickup truck or SUV. At the time of the kidnapping and sexual assault in December, he was wearing a red short-sleeved shirt and pants.
Also, a stain found on a pillow Denison was using has been identified as Denison’s blood, police said.
Denison, a Reno native and Reno High School graduate, was possibly wearing light blue or pink sweat pants and a white tank top. A student at Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, Calif., Denison has long dark brown hair and blue eyes and is approximately 5 feet tall and weighs 98 pounds, police said.
Lauren Denison, Denison’s aunt, said the link to the previous case is bittersweet.
“We’re grateful we’ve finally heard something, since something is better than nothing,” Lauren Denison said. “At the same time, we’re also upset because of who it’s been linked to.”
Since Denison’s disappearance, the FBI has joined the investigation and her disappearance has gained national media attention. Friends and family have held two rallies for Denison, hoping to spread the word about her case.
At a rally for Denison last week, Lauren Denison said the family has been doing all they can to get the word out there that she’s missing.
“We’re trying to stay positive,” Lauren Denison said. “We want our girl back with us.”
During the rally – which friends refused to call a vigil – chants of “Let’s rally for Bri” and “Please come home Brianna” filled the Silver and Blue Room in the Lawlor Events Center.
As friends walked around the room, dressed in shirts with Denison’s face, they talked of how she’ll be coming home soon.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s coming home,” Farahi said Monday night. “The only question is when.”
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