This summer, the Phoenix Police Department has launched a new initiative to bring attention to cold case homicides. "Hot Desert, Cold Cases" will be a series of videos and other posts on the department's social media profiles, highlighting cold cases. In addition, Silent Witness is upping the reward for information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the suspect/s of the crime. The reward will be $5,000 for the first four cold cases.
The series continues with the murder of Brianna Wells.
On December 29, 2014, the body of Brianna Wells was found in a south Phoenix alley near Mobile Lane and 18th Place. Brianna had been shot multiple times and then dumped there.
Her two best friends Hannah and Bridget, also teenagers at the time, are still reeling from the incident.
"It keeps me up at night," Bridget said. "It's just like scary that someone could take the life of a 17 year old girl and just get away with it."
"It's just unfair," Hannah added.
The two went to Marcos de Niza High School with Brianna, and would spend a lot of time out of school together, too. They had sleepovers, watched 80s movies, ate chinese food, and could often be found at local parks.
"I remember waking up that morning and going on Facebook and that's how I found out," Bridget recalled of Brianna's death. "No one told us. And I remember seeing it, thinking it was a joke."
The two describe Brianna as protective, loyal, goofy, and playful. She enjoyed journaling, and loved animals. They said she spent time volunteering at an animal shelter, and one day, she wanted to be a police K9 officer. A dream that tragically, would never come true.
Phoenix Police Officer Michael Coddington was a homicide detective during the time of Brianna's killing. He responded to the scene that December morning and said, though you try to remain emotionless on these calls, this one had an impact.
"I remember thinking that here's this young girl, deceased, lying in the alley, just left for dead," Officer Coddington said. "What's sad is it's an alley. It's where trash is at."
Police interviewed neighbors, family, friends, and followed up on other leads, but the search continues for the person or persons responsible for shooting Brianna.
Officer Coddington is no longer in homicide. He now works as a recruit training officer at the Phoenix Police Academy. But, he says, he still thinks about this case.
"They're never going to get Brianna back," Officer Coddington said. "But, you hope that you can give them at least some closure knowing that who is responsible for her death can be brought to justice."
If you have any information regarding this case, contact Silent Witness at 480-Witness, or leave an anonymous tip on the Silent Witness website. You will remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward.
Republished courtesy of the Phoenix Police Department.