Officials look into death of Stephanie Brinson, who’s second person in a year to die during family visit at Ione facility

Summary

Stephanie Diane Dowells, 62, was strangled during an overnight visit with her husband, David Brinson, at Mule Creek state prison in California.

Brinson, serving life without parole for four murders, claimed Dowells passed out, but authorities ruled her death a homicide.

This marks the second strangulation death during a family visit at the prison in a year; Tania Thomas was killed in July 2024 while visiting inmate Anthony Curry. Investigations are ongoing.

California is one of four states allowing family visits to maintain positive relationships.

  • Shawdow194
    9•12 days ago

    You can have incontrovertable (facts) in a case

    Laws and rulings by themselves are objective, and by definition are contentious

    • @Dagwood222@lemm.ee
      -8•12 days ago

      Now you’re just arguing the definition of the word I used and ignoring the actual facts.

      You have a person who we are completely certain committed the crime.

      • @moody@lemmings.world
        7•12 days ago

        We may feel certain of things, but we weren’t there to witness anything. We didn’t see anything happen, and are only learning of the details after they’ve been filtered through several people. We don’t know anything about motive, potential external threats, anything really. All we know is that this woman was strangled, and it is likely he did it.

      • Shawdow194
        3•12 days ago

        Now you are doing a what if scenario, we can do “what ifs” all day…

        There is no case that exists right now where it is 100% without a doubt certain that a crime has been commited by an individual Again, no legal system is 100% irrefutable

        • @Dagwood222@lemm.ee
          -2•12 days ago

          There is no case that exists right now where it is 100% without a doubt certain that a crime has been committed

          This one seems to be 100% certain.

          • @beejboytyson@lemmy.world
            1•12 days ago

            Lemme get this straight. You want the people who made this decision the same power to decide if people live or die.

            Make it make sense

            • @Dagwood222@lemm.ee
              -3•12 days ago

              There is no case that exists right now where it is 100% without a doubt certain that a crime has been committed

              This one seems to be 100% certain.

              Which part confuses you?

              Shawdow’s point is that there are cases where the facts aren’t clear.

              I pointed out in this case it’s certain what happened.