It turns out that the tragic death of 62-year-old Stephanie Dowells at Mule Creek State Prison in November wasn’t the first murder to happen during a conjugal visit at the facility. In fact, just a few months before Dowells’ death, another woman was killed in a similar manner during a conjugal visit.
In July 2024, Anania Vanessa Corpuz Thomas was strangled by her husband, Anthony Curry, during their visit. She was found unconscious in the family visiting unit, and prison staff were called to the scene. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Thomas was later pronounced dead.
“It’s just tragic what happened,” Thomas’ cousin, Jeanine Rojo, told KCRA 3. “For her to be taken away this way, it’s gut-wrenching.”
Thomas, a single mother whose son is now serving in the Air Force, had been close to her family, and Rojo is now speaking out after Dowells’ death, hoping to spark real change at the prison.
“I was sick to my stomach, and I was in tears,” Rojo said, reflecting on Dowells’ murder. “I’m not against conjugal visits,” she added, “but you know, there’s already been two murders at Mule Creek. What can be done to prevent this from happening again?”
Rojo suggested more prison guards for safety checks or other measures to help avoid another tragedy.
Both Dowells’ and Thomas’ husbands had violent criminal backgrounds. Curry, who has been in custody since 2008, was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for the attempted murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend in 1999. He shot her in the head, leaving her permanently blind and partially paralyzed. Curry was also sentenced to 13 years for carjacking with a firearm.
Rojo, who didn’t even know her cousin was meeting with Curry for conjugal visits, is now questioning why inmates with such violent histories are allowed unsupervised visits.
“With that history of severe violence, why are they being allowed to have these visits unsupervised?” Rojo asked.
The CDCR’s guidelines specify that inmates convicted of sex offenses or on Death Row, or those undergoing the reception process, are prohibited from conjugal visits. However, there is no mention of violent crimes in the rules, and the department’s website states that all incarcerated individuals are eligible for visits unless they’ve lost the privilege due to disciplinary action.
In response to the two deaths, CDCR officials said, “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.”
