West
California woman strangled to death while on overnight prison visit with quadruple murder convict husband
A 62-year-old grandmother was killed while having an overnight “conjugal visit” with her convicted murderer husband at a California prison, according to reports.
David Brinson, 54, was found guilty of killing four men in 1993 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole, court records show.
In November, Brinson had an unsupervised visit with wife Stephanie Dowells, 62, at Mule Creek State Prison in Northern California, FOX 40 reported.
Brinson claimed to prison officials she had passed out, but the Amador County Coroner said this week her death was a homicide and determined she had been strangled. No one has been charged in the killing, KCRA-TV reported.
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David Brinson, 54, was found guilty of killing four men in 1993 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole, court records show. (CDCR)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Amador County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
“How could they just let this happen? I just don’t get it,” Dowells’ son, Armand Torres, told KCRA-TV. “My mom was just left alone, and she called for help, I’m sure, and there’s nothing she could do.
“Given the history that this guy has, we kind of wanted to know how is it even possible for them to be unsupervised?”
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Brinson has been housed at Mule Creek State Prison in California since 1994. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The CDCR told KCRA, “Family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved. Only those who demonstrate sustained good behavior and meet specific program requirements are considered. These visits are designed to support positive family connections and successful rehabilitation.”
Brinson was on a family visit with his wife Stephanie Dowells when she was strangled to death. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The prison’s operations manual says prisoners on a family visit must present themselves four times in 24 hours and unscheduled checks can be made at any time, but “every effort shall be made to ensure the privacy of the inmate and their visitor(s),” according to KCRA.
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Twenty-nine people were busted with fake IDs inside a sushi restaurant on California’s Central Coast on April 23, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
Undercover agents with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control busted the underage drinkers at HaHa Sushi and Ramen on the 1000 block of Olive Street. Inside the restaurant, agents saw “a large group of youthful-appearing individuals” ordering and drinking alcohol, the San Luis Obispo Police Department said.
“In accordance with state law, agents contacted and identified the members of the group, discovering no one was 21 years old and every person was in possession of a fake identification card,” police said.
During the investigation, 29 people were cited and released for possession of a fake ID. Six of these suspects were arrested for being minors in possession of alcohol. All of the suspects were cited and released from custody at the restaurant.
“Preventing the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors helps increase public safety by reducing DUI arrests and collisions,” the San Luis Obispo Police Department said. “Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a much higher risk of being involved in a collision than older drivers. About 25% of fatal crashes involve underage drinking, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”
Northern Colorado finally hit with spring snowstorm
A much-needed soggy storm brought a mix of rain and snow to the Fort Collins, Windsor and Loveland, Colo., area May 5, 2026.
A 5-year-old New Mexico girl survived more than 30 hours trapped in a truck that crashed and killed her parents on May 1 in southern Colorado, according to first responders.
The Upper Pine River Fire Protection called it “both a tragedy and a miracle” for the girl in a Facebook post.
The vehicle was not discovered until May 2, according to a Colorado State Patrol news release. Police believed the blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup went off the south shoulder of Highway 160 near milepost 104, just east of Bayfield, around 6 a.m. on May 1, rolled over an unknown number of times and came to rest on its roof.
CSP said three occupants were in the truck. Devante Griffin, 25, the driver, and Klariza Tarango, 24, both of Farmington, New Mexico, were pronounced dead at the scene. A 5-year-old girl, identified in media reports as their daughter. was taken to an area hospital for injuries and has been released to family.
What caused the crash?
Colorado State Patrol were still investigating the accident on May 5. A news release said “impairment and excessive speed are not being investigated as factors leading to this crash” at this time.
It also said no charges are expected to be filed in the case.
Why did nobody see the truck sooner?
CSP said in the release that the location was not visible from the road.
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.
Kilauea began a new episode of lava fountaining at its summit today, prompting an ashfall advisory for parts of Hawaii Island.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Episode 46 started at 8:17 a.m. inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with activity confined to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The volcano remains at watch alert level and orange aviation color code, indicating heightened unrest with increased potential for eruption hazards.
The National Weather Service issued an ashfall advisory through 8 p.m. for areas downwind of the summit, including Volcano and Mountain View.
Light and variable winds shifting southeast are expected to carry volcanic gas and ash across the summit region and toward the north and northwest areas.
Tephra, including ash and Pele’s hair, is most likely within about 3 miles of the vents, but lighter material can travel much farther.
Officials said impacts are expected to be limited, though ash particles can irritate eyes and lungs, especially for those with respiratory conditions.
Residents are urged to limit exposure by staying indoors when possible, closing windows and doors and wearing masks and eye protection if going outside.
People with water catchment systems should cover and disconnect them to prevent contamination.
Anyone observing ashfall is encouraged to report conditions to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at hawaiiash.science/report_form.
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