The murder of Angela Brosso
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona · 1992
Overview
Angela Brosso, a 22-year-old woman, vanished during an evening bicycle ride along the Arizona Canal in Phoenix on November 8, 1992, the eve of her 22nd birthday. Her decapitated body was found the next day near the canal path, and her head was recovered from the canal eleven days later. DNA tied the killing to the September 1993 murder of 17-year-old Melanie Bernas along the same canal, and in 2014 forensic genetic genealogy narrowed the unknown attacker to the surname Miller. An undercover DNA sting led to the January 2015 arrest of Bryan Patrick Miller, a local figure known as the Zombie Hunter, who was convicted of both murders in 2023 and sentenced to death.
How it was solved
DNA recovered from both victims was confirmed in 2000 to come from the same man, but the profile produced no hit when uploaded to the FBI's national CODIS database, and the case stalled. In 2014 forensic genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick used Y-DNA analysis of the crime-scene profile and public genealogy data to determine that the killer descended from a male line carrying the surname Miller, narrowing the field to a handful of men. Phoenix detectives focused on Bryan Patrick Miller, a man they had previously interviewed, and in early January 2015 Detective Clark Schwartzkopf posed as a security recruiter and met Miller at a Chili's restaurant, collecting his DNA from a discarded glass and silverware. The Phoenix crime lab matched that sample to the DNA left on both Brosso and Bernas, and Miller was arrested on January 13, 2015.
Sources
- Bryan Patrick Miller
“2014: Colleen M. Fitzpatrick helped narrow suspects to five men with surname Miller; January 2015: Police covertly collected DNA sample at a Chili's restaurant, which matched both murders.”
- The case against the Zombie Hunter
“Fatally stabbed in back, sexually assaulted, decapitated; head showed minimal decomposition, suggesting storage before disposal.”
- Phoenix canal murders: Bryan Patrick Miller sentenced to death
“Killed: November 8, 1992 (eve of her 22nd birthday). Head discovered: 11 days later in the Arizona Canal next to the bike path. Bench trial began: October 3, 2022. Guilty verdict: April 11, 2023. Death sentence: June 7, 2023.”
- Bryan Patrick Miller Sentenced to Death
“Two death sentences plus 24 years for kidnapping and attempted sexual assault. It has taken decades of rigorous work by the Phoenix Police Department and the Phoenix Crime Lab to achieve justice.”
- DNA, genealogy led to arrest in Phoenix canal murders case
“I came up with six matches to the name, Miller. Bryan Patrick Miller was arrested on January 13, 2015, and charged with both murders.”
- Detective details plan to get DNA from Phoenix Canal Murders suspect during trial
“I came up with an idea that I would recruit Mr. Miller as a security person... if he'd be interested in working as a security guard. DNA was collected from silverware and a drinking glass used during the meal at Chili's; less than two weeks later, Miller was in custody.”
- Bryan Patrick Miller Kills Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas
“In 2000, advances in technology confirmed the investigators' suspicions that the DNA left on both women's bodies matched to the same killer. The unknown attacker's DNA was uploaded to CODIS, but there were no matches.”
- Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas Murders: How Did They Die? Who Killed Them?
“Lived in apartment near Cactus Road and Interstate 17 with boyfriend Joe Krakowiecki. Disappeared November 8, 1992 during evening bike ride along Arizona Canal; head discovered 11 days later in Arizona Canal by Metrocenter. Employed as trainer at Syntellect Inc.”