San Francisco police are putting up a $175,000 reward for information that could finally solve the 2001 killing of Paula Brien, a 25-year-old mother of two. The department reissued a crime bulletin earlier this month and posted an update on its Facebook page yesterday, as part of a renewed push to uncover answers that have eluded investigators for years.
What the police say
The department's crime bulletin, reissued last Tuesday and posted to Facebook yesterday, offers up to $175,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and filing of charges in the case, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The notice lists the case number as 010 725 646 and urges anyone with relevant information to contact detectives.
Case background
According to the SFPD, Paula Brien was last seen shortly before midnight on June 18, 2001, outside a bar near Sixth and Mission streets. Less than two hours later, she was found deceased near 455 Harriet Street. She was 25 at the time and a mother of two, and family members have said the loss has left them still searching for answers, as reported by KTVU. The department previously posted a reward for the case in 2022, according to its online listing.
Person of interest and vehicle
The reissued bulletin includes a composite and a detailed description of a person of interest: a white male roughly 5'11" to 6'1", around 200 pounds, and aged about 35 to 40 in 2001, with short dark hair and deep-set eyes. Investigators note tattoos, including a partial skull on the right arm and green-inked markings on the other arm, and say the man spoke with an East Coast accent. The bulletin also notes he was reportedly seen driving a bright red two-door Nissan/Toyota GTS from the early to mid-1990s and may have served time in federal prison, per the San Francisco Police Department.
How to tip investigators
Anyone with information is asked to contact Homicide Cold Case Investigator Daniel Cunningham at 415-553-9515, Investigator Daniel Dedet at 415-553-1450, or the Department Operations Center at 415-553-1071. Anonymous tips may be left on the SFPD 24-hour tip line at 415-575-4444 or sent via text to TIP411 by beginning the message with "SFPD," according to the SFPD.
Why the renewed push now
Local reporting shows the department has increased the reward over time to generate fresh leads, and that detectives told reporters last year they had developed new avenues of inquiry, per KTVU. Patch likewise noted the case was re-publicized in 2022 when a $100,000 reward was first offered to prompt witnesses to come forward.
The renewed bulletin and higher reward reflect an effort by investigators and the Brien family to push cold leads back into public view, and authorities say any piece of information, no matter how small, could help move the case toward identification and prosecution.
