The wife of a California inmate serving a life sentence for four murders died during a family visit last year — and now he is accused of killing her.
David Brinson, 55, has been charged with murder in the November 2024 death of his wife, Stephanie Diane Dowells, 62, according to Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe, who spoke with PEOPLE.
On November 13, 2024, just after 2 a.m., Brinson called prison staff and said his wife had collapsed, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported. Officers tried to save her and called 911, but Dowells was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m. Her death was later ruled a homicide caused by strangulation.
Dowells, who worked as a hairdresser, lived in Inglewood, California, with her son, daughter-in-law, and young grandson.
Brinson has been in prison since 1993, when he was convicted of killing four men during a robbery. He is serving four life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Dowells’ family declined to speak publicly but shared a statement through their attorney, Michael Oppenheimer, who told PEOPLE:
“While nothing can bring Stephanie back to her family, this is the first step toward justice for her brutal murder. We thank the District Attorney for doing the right thing. This and other murders should never have happened and could have been prevented by the State of California.”
Brinson has not entered a plea yet. His arraignment is scheduled for September 19, Riebe confirmed.
Dowells’ death marked the second killing during a family visit at Mule Creek State Prison in a matter of months.
In July 2024, Tania Thomas, 47, was killed while visiting her husband, Anthony Curry, at the same prison. Curry, who is serving a life sentence for attempted second-degree murder plus 13 years for carjacking, was charged with murder in her death. He has pleaded not guilty, according to the Department of Corrections.
District Attorney Riebe said the deaths of Dowells and Thomas were the first violent incidents during family visits at Mule Creek that he has seen in over 25 years in office.
