The latest development in the high-profile case of missing Tennessee college student Holly Bobo saw the arrest of a man police suspect is responsible for a number of violent crimes.

The arrest piqued the interest of a number of media outlets because the man who police brought into custody lived near the college student. Police would not tell media whether or not the man was being questioned in connection with the case of the missing woman, who is a cousin to country music singer Whitney Duncan.

The recent arrestee was a 53-year-old registered sex offender who was living in western Tennessee near the 20-year-old student. Police have taken him into custody on allegations of kidnapping, sexual battery and attempted rape.

Supporters of the missing woman and her family are offering large sums of money for her safe return home or information leading to it.

Authorities are offering $85,000 to anyone who has solid information on the woman's disappearance and $250,000 for her safe return home. The amounts were dramatically increased thanks to contributions from an anonymous donor.

The nursing student has been missing since April 13, 2011 when she was last spotted in a wooded area, accompanied by a man with camouflage clothing near her Parsons, Tennessee home.

On the day of her disappearance, a nearby neighbor heard the sound of a woman screaming at around 7:30 a.m. That neighbor called 911.

Bobo's brother, who was in her house at the time, also phoned authorities and told police he saw a camouflage-clad man accompanying his sister into the wooded area.

Police have since chased down hundreds of leads, but have come up empty.

Source: Huffington Post: "Holly Bobo Update: Reward Increased And Sex Offender Arrested Nearby," Feb. 3, 2012