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A prison inmate serving a life sentence for a quadruple murder allegedly strangled his wife to death during a conjugal visit last year, per USA Today.
The alleged killing unfolded on November 13, when 62-year-old Stephanie Diane Brinson was visiting her husband, David Brinson, who was convicted in 1993 for the murders of four men during a Los Angeles County robbery, at Mule Creek State Prison. The convicted quadruple murderer had been granted an extended conjugal visit, where immediate family members and spouses are allowed 30 to 40 hours in a private, apartment-style section within the prison.
Around 2 a.m. on November 13, Brinson alerted guards that his wife had allegedly "passed out" during her overnight visit. Officers performed life-saving measures on Stephanie, but she was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.
A coroner ruled that Stephanie died by strangulation during her time at the prison. No one else was present except her husband, California sheriff's officials confirmed.
It's unclear how Brinson was granted a conjugal visit after being sentenced to four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the quadruple murder. Death row inmates and individuals convicted of sex offenses are typically barred from these types of visits.
“How could they just let this happen? I just don’t get it,” Armand Torres, Stephanie's son, said of prison officials. “We’re just devastated.”
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation released a statement in the wake of Stephanie's death, addressing how incarcerated persons are granted family visits.
“Family visits are a privilege, and incarcerated persons must apply and meet strict eligibility criteria to be approved,” the statement reads. “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 is currently being held at the state prison system's healthcare facility in Stockton and hasn't been charged in connection to his wife's death. In a statement, the Amador County district attorney said his office is waiting for a full report from the corrections department and a completed autopsy before pursuing charges.
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