Iowa Man Gets Life Sentences for Killing Missing 10-Year-Old Girl
An Iowa man, Henry Earl Dinkins, has been sentenced to two life terms for the tragic killing of a 10-year-old girl named Breasia Terrell. This devastating incident happened after the young girl went missing for eight long months, and her remains were eventually discovered in a pond.
Justice and Restitution
Dinkins will also have to pay $150,000 in restitution to Breasia Terrell’s mother. The disappearance of the little girl in July 2020 prompted extensive searches by numerous volunteers and law enforcement agencies. Finally, in March 2021, her body was found by fishermen in a rural area north of Davenport.
Guilty Verdict
Judge Henry Latham had found Henry Earl Dinkins, who is 51 years old, guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the case. The life sentences imposed on him come without the possibility of parole.
Tragic Allegations
Prosecutors alleged that Dinkins kidnapped and fatally shot Breasia Terrell. She had been spending the night with her half-brother and his father, who was Dinkins.
Troubling Past
Dinkins is a registered sex offender, with a conviction for third-degree sexual abuse dating back to 1990 when he was just 17 years old.
Key Role of the Brother
Judge Latham emphasized the critical role played by Breasia Terrell’s brother, who was only 8 years old when she disappeared. Dinkins’ own son provided investigators with vital details. He revealed that his father had purchased bleach at Walmart and had taken him to a location that matched the description of where Terrell’s body was later found.
Changing Venue
The trial was originally moved to Cedar Rapids after a change of venue was granted by the Iowa Supreme Court. However, shortly before the trial began, Dinkins opted for a judge to hear his case, leading to a relocation of the trial back to the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport.