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Two women were allegedly strangled to death during separate overnight family visits at the same California prison, per PEOPLE.
47-year-old Tania Thomas was found unconscious in July 2024 in a family visiting unit at Mule Creek State Prison, where she was visiting her domestic partner, Anthony Curry.
Curry was previously sentenced to life for attempted second-degree murder with an enhancement of intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury. He also faced 13 years in prison for carjacking with an enhancement of using a firearm.
The Mull Creek State Prison inmate was charged with murder in connection to Thomas' death during their July conjugal visit.
Reports of Thomas' killing come after news that Stephanie Dianne Dowells was also strangled to death by her partner at the same prison in November.
Dowells 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 when the alleged killing unfolded. 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 Dowells, but she was pronounced dead at 2:51 a.m.
A coroner ruled that Dowells died by strangulation during her time at the prison. No one else was present except her husband, California sheriff's officials confirmed.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation released a statement in the wake of Dowells' 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.”
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