A California inmate already serving four life sentences now faces a new murder charge after his wife died during an overnight visit at Mule Creek State Prison. The case has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of family visitation programs.
The prisoner, 54-year-old David Brinson, was convicted in 1993 of killing four men during a robbery and has been incarcerated ever since. Last November, his wife, 62-year-old Stephanie Diane Dowells, visited him for a scheduled overnight stay. Tragically, she never returned home.
Brinson alerted staff just before 2 a.m., claiming Dowells had suddenly collapsed. Despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead less than an hour later. Investigators later determined her death was caused by strangulation, and prosecutors have now charged Brinson with her murder.
Dowells’ grieving family called the charges a first step toward justice, while also criticizing the state for failing to prevent such tragedies. The case follows another similar incident at the same prison, fueling questions about whether family visits are adequately monitored. Brinson is scheduled to be arraigned September 19.
