Even with a suspect in custody for the murder of Brianna Denison, Denison's family's mission isn't over.
Family friend Jennifer Bushman said Denison's family views the case against 27-year-old James Michael Biela of Sparks as open and shut. However, Bushman said the community must remain vigilant.
"This is going to happen again, just because he was caught doesn't mean that there isn't someone right behind him that's ready to try to do this," Bushman said.
Bushman said the Bring Bri Justice Foundation will continue working to promote safety awareness -- including holding events at the University of Nevada Reno. Denison was taken from a home on MacKay Court near UNR on January 20.
The foundation will also work to get funding for DNA testing and to establish a DNA registry, Bushman said.
Before Biela was arrested, authorities compared a DNA sample from the location Brianna was last seen alive with a backlog of samples taken from felons. Although the law requires DNA samples are gathered from felons, processing the samples is not currently government-funded. Donations poured in to process a backlog of samples, but none matched the sample from Denison's killer. However, Bushman said processing the samples did create breakthroughs in other cases.
"There were over 27 cases that were solved because of this because of the money that was raised here as well as the awareness in places like Wyoming and Colorado."
A tip called in to Secret Witness led police to Biela, a resident of Allegrini Drive in the Spanish Springs neighborhood. Police said he refused to provide a DNA sample. However, police said a DNA sample was taken from Biela's 4-year-old son -- and tests revealed a link with the killer. RPD said Biela was then forced to provide a DNA sample, which matched DNA from the crime scene.
Bushman said she believes Denison's family was made aware of the arrest and the identity of the suspect Tuesday evening almost immediately after the arrest occurred. She said the family is relieved, but struggling.
"They were very, very strong, now with a couple days to be able to gain some perspective on the weight and the gravity of what's happened they're struggling a little bit for sure," Bushman said.
District Attorney Richard Gammick said the death penalty may be sought in the case. Biela has requested a public defender. He was arrested Tuesday on charges of murder, first degree kidnapping and sexual assault. The kidnapping and sexual assault charges stem from another attack on a woman near UNR -- one police said DNA evidence revealed was committed by the same person who killed Denison. In the absence of a plea deal, Bushman said Denison's family is preparing for a trial.
"I think they've been knowing that it's gonna be a very difficult process, we're hopeful though that he sees that the evidence is mounting against him... The one thing that he can do now that's right is to make this an easy process for this family," Bushman said.
The Bring Bri Justice Foundation continues operating out of the Smithridge shopping plaza near Meadowood Mall in Reno. Donations for the foundation's safety and legislative efforts are needed, according to Bushman.