Reno search focuses on sex offenders

Reno area law enforcement officials Wednesday were questioning nearly 100 registered sex offenders reported to be living near the area where a missing woman was believed to be abducted.

Brianna Denison, a 19-year-old Santa Barbara City College Student from Mendocino, has been missing since Sunday.

The Regional Sex Offender Unit, which includes Reno and Sparks police as well as Washoe County sheriff's deputies, was focusing on sex offenders who live within a mile of the Mackay Court residence where Denison was staying before she disappeared.

That was part of a larger effort to contact more than 1,700 sex offenders registered in Washoe County.

"We're continuing to be out in the field and the sex offender unit is also working on this," said Steve Frady, public information officer for the Reno police and fire departments.

Authorities expressed frustration with the search.

"From our perspective, we don't have any credible leads in which to follow up at this point," University of Nevada, Reno Police Chief Adam Garcia said Wednesday night.

"Basically, Brianna has disappeared. She has fallen off the face of the Earth," he told a Reno radio station.

Denison, who grew up in the town of Mendocino, was last seen at about 4 a.m. Sunday when she went to sleep on her friend's couch after attending a rap concert.

Reno police said stains thought to be blood were left on a pillow she was using, and that her purse, cell phone and clothing were all left undisturbed.

The couch where she slept was next to an unlocked sliding-glass door, police said.

A two-hour search using police dogs late Tuesday in the neighborhood where Denison disappeared was unsuccessful. The search, the second involving dogs since Sunday, was called off after temperatures dropped and snow began to fall.

Denison was in Reno visiting her family during a winter school break. She routinely kept in contact with her family, but has not been heard from since her disappearance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

You can reach Staff Writer

Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@

pressdemocrat.com.