The death of a 62-year-old woman during a family visitation at Mule Creek State Prison has been ruled a homicide by the Amador County Sheriff’s Office.
Stephanie Diane Brinson, also known as Stephanie Dowells, was found unresponsive in a private visitation unit on November 13, 2024, while visiting her incarcerated husband, David Brinson.
Brinson, 54, is serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for four counts of murder.
Despite his conviction, he was eligible for extended family visitation privileges, which take place in private apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and can last between 30 to 40 hours.
Authorities report that Brinson himself called officers to report that his wife had passed out. Emergency personnel responded, but despite resuscitation efforts, she was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m. The coroner later determined that she had been strangled.
While the Amador County Sheriff’s Office has ruled her death a homicide in a recent update on the situation, no charges have been filed as the investigation remains ongoing.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has confirmed that its internal probe is still in progress, and the Amador County District Attorney’s Office has stated it is awaiting the completion of the criminal investigation before making any prosecutorial decisions.
Brinson’s death has raised concerns about the safety and oversight of extended family visits within California’s prison system. Her family, still reeling from the loss, has expressed deep frustration and questions about the policies allowing inmates convicted of violent crimes to have private, unsupervised visitation privileges.
Brinson, a hairstylist and small business owner from Southern California, was well-known in her community and described as a caring and devoted person.
Her tragic death has ignited discussions about whether CDCR’s family visitation program should be reevaluated, particularly for inmates serving life sentences for violent offenses.
Authorities have urged the public to stay tuned for further updates as they determine the circumstances surrounding Brinson’s death.
