Second woman dies from strangulation during family visit at California prison

In November 2023, in California, Stephanie Dowells was killed during an overnight family visit with her husband at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione. This incident marked the second strangulation death at this facility within four months, following the death of Tania Thomas in July 2023. After Dowells' tragic death, the Amador County district attorney reported that her death was ruled a homicide. Both women were visiting husbands convicted of serious crimes during their family visits, raising questions about the eligibility of inmates for such visits, particularly those with violent pasts. The families involved expressed significant concern regarding the safety protocols in place. They called for a suspension of family visits until effective measures could be implemented to prevent further tragedies. In response, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has not yet provided sufficient data to address the growing concerns about the safety risks associated with family visits at prisons. While the department maintains that such visits take place within secure environments, both families insist that allowing convicted murderers to have private visits poses a danger to their loved ones and should be reconsidered.