A prisoner already serving four life sentences is now facing an additional murder charge after his wife died during an overnight visit inside a California prison. The case has intensified scrutiny over the safety of family visits at correctional facilities.
The inmate, 54-year-old David Brinson, has been incarcerated since 1993 after being convicted of killing four men during a robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In November of last year, Brinson’s wife, 62-year-old Stephanie Diane Dowells, traveled to Mule Creek State Prison for an overnight stay. Tragically, she never returned home.
Dowells, a hairdresser from Inglewood, California, lived with her son and his family. Friends and relatives described her as a warm and dedicated woman, devoted to both her loved ones and her work.
On the night of November 13, Brinson alerted prison staff just before 2:00 a.m., claiming his wife had suddenly collapsed and was unresponsive in their unit. Despite immediate efforts to save her life, officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that Dowells was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.
Investigators later ruled her death a homicide, caused by strangulation — a revelation that shifted the entire course of the case. Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe confirmed to PEOPLE that Brinson has now been formally charged with his wife’s murder.
Dowells’ family, represented by attorney Michael Oppenheimer, released a statement expressing both grief and determination: “While nothing can bring Stephanie back to her family, this is the first step towards getting justice for her brutal murder.”
“We thank the District Attorney for doing the right thing. This and other murders should have never happened and could have been prevented by the State of California.”
Her son, Armand Torres, and his wife, Nataly Jimenez, voiced their growing suspicions after Brinson’s accounts of the night appeared inconsistent. Speaking to NBC News, Jimenez recalled: “He would say, you know, she passed out on the floor, or she was passed out on the bed.”
Under California law, certain inmates may qualify for family visits, which take place in apartment-style housing units on prison grounds. These visits typically last 30 to 40 hours and are granted only to prisoners who meet strict eligibility requirements. In a statement, the corrections department emphasized: “The family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved. Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered.”
Dowells’ death was not an isolated incident. Just months earlier, on July 1, 47-year-old Tania Thomas was found unconscious during a family visit with inmate Anthony Curry at the same prison. Curry was later charged with her murder and has pleaded not guilty.
The back-to-back tragedies have raised urgent questions about whether correctional facilities are adequately safeguarding visitors.
District Attorney Riebe said the decision to prosecute Brinson was based on both prison reports and the autopsy results, which provided sufficient evidence to proceed.
Brinson is scheduled to be arraigned on September 19. He has not yet entered a plea, but prosecutors expect court proceedings to reveal more about the disturbing case.
