Prisoner Serving Life for 4 Murders Charged in Wife’s Death During Visit

David Brinson, 55, a California inmate serving four consecutive life terms in connection with a 1993 quadruple murder, has now been charged with the murder of his wife, Stephanie Diane Dowells. She died in prison.

The charge stems from the November 2024 incident at Mule Creek State Prison, where Dowells, 62, was discovered unresponsive during an overnight family visit.

Midnight Prison Call, Frightening Reality

In the early hours of November 13, Brinson alerted prison staff that his wife had “passed out.” Medical teams responded immediately and called 911, but despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.

An autopsy subsequently determined her death was a homicide by strangulation—a grim revelation that shattered the assumption of natural causes.

A Life of Violence Ends in Suspicion

Brinson’s criminal background includes the brutal murders of four men during a robbery in 1993, which earned him his four life sentences.

His history has raised questions among authorities and the public alike about how a woman could be left alone with a known violent offender in a supposedly supervised setting.

A Horror Repeats Itself

This case is disturbingly similar to another recent incident at the same prison. In July 2024, Tania Thomas, 47, was also strangled during an overnight visit with her husband, another inmate.

Her death prompted scrutiny of visitation policies, yet despite voices urging change, another tragedy followed four months later.

Investigations and Legal Steps

Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe confirmed the indictment on August 13 and announced that Brinson would be arraigned on September 19. He has not entered a plea.

Meanwhile, prison officials and the DA’s office continue investigating, and the case has ignited renewed debate over the safeguards—or lack thereof—surrounding family visits for inmates with violent histories.

Families Demand Change

Dowells’s family, like Thomas’s, is demanding answers—and change. Her son, Armand Torres, expressed outrage that such a dangerous situation was permitted.

By contrast, Brinson’s wife had supported his rehabilitation efforts—he reportedly studied while incarcerated, read the Bible with her, and she hoped for his redemption. Now, the community and both families are left grappling with grief, questions, and calls for stricter oversight.

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