JUST IN: Woman Killed During Overnight Visit to Husband in California Prison

Nationwide — Stephanie Diane Dowells, a 62-year-old African American woman from California, tragically died while visiting her husband during an overnight stay at Mule Creek State Prison in November 2024.

Authorities revealed that her husband, David Brinson, allegedly strangled her, leading to his indictment on a murder charge.

On November 13, 2024, at about 2 a.m., Brinson reportedly called prison staff claiming his wife had fainted. Officers immediately attempted resuscitation and contacted emergency services, but Dowells was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.

An autopsy later confirmed that she died from strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide. On August 13, 2025, Brinson, 55, was formally charged with murder, according to Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe. He is expected to be arraigned on September 19 but has yet to enter a plea.

Dowells, a hairdresser from Inglewood, lived with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. While her family declined direct comment, their attorney, Michael Oppenheimer, expressed gratitude to prosecutors for pursuing the case, describing her death as preventable.

Brinson has been serving four consecutive life sentences without parole since 1993 after being convicted of murdering four men during a robbery.

Dowells’ death marks the second incident of a woman being killed during a family visit at Mule Creek State Prison in 2024. Earlier in July, Tania Thomas, 47, was killed by her husband, Anthony Curry, who is now facing murder charges while serving time for attempted second-degree murder and carjacking.

District Attorney Riebe noted that these two cases are the first violent incidents during family visits at the facility that he has encountered in over 25 years in office.