48 Hours “Unmasking the Zombie Hunter” October 21 2023 Recap & Preview
“48 HOURS” presents a gripping report on the use of a Chili’s restaurant in catching a murderer who had posed as a comic book hero fighting zombies. The case revolves around the unsolved murders of two young women in Phoenix, Arizona, which occurred ten months apart in 1992 and 1993. Despite finding matching DNA evidence on both victims, the case remained unsolved for over two decades. However, advancements in technology led to a breakthrough, identifying a person of interest.
In this episode, correspondent Peter Van Sant details the case, highlighting the innovative method employed to track down the killer. Angela Brosso, 21, and Melanie Bernas, 17, were both tragically killed while riding their bikes along the Phoenix Canal, leading to the murders being known as the Phoenix Canal Murders. It wasn’t until 21 years later, thanks to DNA and genetic genealogy, that investigators honed in on Bryan Patrick Miller, a 42-year-old divorced father who raised his teenage daughter. What made Miller’s case unique was his alter ego, the “Zombie Hunter,” a local celebrity known for appearing in parades and festivals, equipped with a larger-than-life Gatling gun to fight off zombies. Detectives, in need of a DNA sample, embarked on a mission that would take them to a local Chili’s restaurant to make or rule out Miller as a suspect. This episode, titled “Unmasking the Zombie Hunter,” will air on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ on Saturday, October 21.
What Happened to Angela Brosso, Melanie Bernas & Bryan Patrick Miller?
Bryan Patrick Miller, who had referred to himself as the “Zombie Hunter,” was sentenced to death by a judge for sexually attacking and fatally stabbing two young women in separate incidents in Phoenix during the early 1990s. Miller was convicted in April on charges including two counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and attempted sexual assault. He had chosen to forgo a jury trial, and Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Cohen found him guilty of killing Angela Brosso in November 1992 and 17-year-old Melanie Bernas in September 1993. The judge had previously ruled that Miller was eligible for the death penalty.
Both victims, Angela Brosso and Melanie Bernas, disappeared while riding their bicycles along the Arizona Canal in north Phoenix. Authorities believe the assailant knocked Brosso off her bicycle, stabbed her, and dragged her off the trail. Her decapitated, naked body was later discovered near a bike trail. Approximately ten months after Brosso’s murder, Bernas’ body was found floating in the canal, although she was not decapitated. Her bicycle was missing.
DNA evidence collected after both crimes pointed to the same suspect, leading to Miller’s arrest in January 2015. Miller consistently denied any involvement in the murders but admitted to living in the vicinity of the crimes and riding his bike on paths in the area. After years of evaluation, Miller was deemed mentally competent to stand trial.
During the trial’s sentencing phase, Miller’s defense sought leniency, advocating for a life prison sentence. However, prosecutors argued that the death penalty was warranted, emphasizing the particularly brutal nature of the murders, driven by Miller’s sexual sadism. Judge Cohen ultimately ruled in favor of the death penalty, citing the severity of the crimes and Miller’s evasion of capture for over two decades. Miller, who had not previously spoken in court, expressed that he wasn’t seeking sympathy and acknowledged the pain endured by the victims’ families and friends.
