Cold Case Homicide

On Tuesday, July 16, 1985, a 5:40 a.m., Virginia Beach fire fighters responded to a report of a care fire in a field off First Colonial Road on Bayville Farms. A badly burned body was found inside the charred vehicle.

An autopsy indicated that the body was that of Raffaella Brillo Bryant and that she had been strangled before the fire.

Bryant was last seen leaving work at the Lemon Tree Restaurant on 18th Street and Atlantic Avenue at 12:20 a.m. that morning. She was scheduled to pick up her 2 1/2-year-old child from a baby sitter. Her purse was found on Shore Drive, a mile west of Atlantic, with money and jewelry inside.

Bryant drove a brownish-green Dodge Swinger with Pennsylvania license plates, which were on the car found burning in the field.

Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP .

Callers remain anonymous and could receive a reward of up to a $1,000 if their information leads to an arrest.