Dateline NBC “On the Hunt for The Zombie Hunter” October 27 2023 Recap & Preview
Dateline presents an exclusive two-hour episode titled “On the Hunt for The Zombie Hunter,” scheduled to air on Friday, October 27 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. This gripping story delves into the unsolved murders of two young women near a Phoenix canal in the early 1990s, a case that remained a mystery for over two decades until a dedicated team of cold case detectives took it on. The episode explores how innovative techniques and advancements in forensic genealogy were instrumental in unveiling the identity of the killer.
The episode is reported by the renowned Keith Morrison and features interviews with key individuals connected to the case, including former Phoenix Police Department Sergeant Troy Hillman, defense attorney RJ Parker, forensic genealogist Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, co-workers of the victims, and others.
This intriguing investigation unfolds in Phoenix, Arizona, shedding light on a long-standing mystery that has finally seen progress thanks to the dedication of cold case detectives and cutting-edge forensic techniques.
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.
In 1994, investigators received a tip suggesting Miller owned a teal bodysuit similar to the one Melanie was found in, but no action was taken.
The case remained unsolved until 2011 when a cold case detective, Clark Schwartzkopf, began working on it. In 2014, forensic genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick used DNA from the crime scenes to identify the surname Miller as a potential lead. Bryan Patrick Miller, with a prior record for the Celeste Bentley stabbing, became a suspect.
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.
Miller, now on death row in Arizona, maintains his innocence and expresses concerns about prison conditions and the death penalty.
