A woman was tragically killed during a conjugal visit with her incarcerated husband, a convicted mass murderer, after encouraging him to reform through Bible study.
Stephanie Dowells, 62, died while visiting David Brinson, 54, at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California, in November 2024.
In the early hours of November 13, Brinson called prison officers to report that Dowells had passed out. Despite life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead about an hour later. Authorities later confirmed she had been strangled.
Dowells had been actively encouraging Brinson’s rehabilitation, urging him to pursue education and faith-based activities. Her family is now questioning how such a tragedy was allowed to happen, with her son, Armand Torres, holding the prison accountable for her death.
Brinson, who is serving four consecutive life sentences for a 1990 robbery-turned-murder in Los Angeles, was transferred to the California Health Care Facility in Stockton following the incident. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated that conjugal visits are a privilege granted only to inmates with sustained good behavior, but Dowells’ death remains under investigation, and no charges have yet been filed against Brinson.
Dowells, a hairstylist and small business owner in Los Angeles, was remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, and community pillar. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help her family cover funeral expenses, describing her as a woman of faith who dedicated her life to uplifting others.
