Police have in custody a man suspected of kidnapping and killing Brianna Denison. The arrest ends a lengthy manhunt for the Reno teenager’s murderer who is also believed to be a serial rapist.

Police officials said the man they believe is the killer is James Michael Biela, 27, of Sparks, Nev. Police officers got a hold of him at about 9 p.m. Tuesday and he is now at the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, murder and sexual assault.

"This man is dangerous," Reno Police Lt. Robert McDonald said back in February according to ABC News.

"There is nothing more dangerous I can think of as a predator who prowls at night and looks for crimes of opportunity. And he's preying on women who are substantially smaller and weaker than he is."

Brianna Denison, 19, was abducted while sleeping at a friend’s home near the University of Nevada during the winter break in January. She had likely been visible through a glass door, police officials said. Although there was a dog in the house, Brianna’s friends didn’t her its barks, as it should if some stranger would have entered the house.


Denison had graduated and she was visiting.

A DNA sample from Biela matches evidence found at the scene where the dead body of the Reno student was found. Brianna Denison was abducted on January 20 and police found her corpse in February on a field and a pair of panties that did not belong to the victim were also found there.

"Can you believe it?" Denison’s aunt, Lauren, told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"The police said the DNA came back, and it's him. ... This is what we have been waiting for.

Police investigators said the DNA evidence found at the scene where the student’s body was found linked the murderer to at least two other sexual attacks on women on or near the campus between October and December of 2007. Investigators said that a secret witness played a major role in catching Biela, who has lived in the Reno area since 2002.

Police said a news conference was scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. EST.