A registered sex offender kidnapped and shot to death a 10-year-old Iowa girl by the name of Breasia Terrell — who was also his son’s half-sister.
Authorities announced that Henry Dinkins has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in the death of Breasia, whose disappearance last July prompted an extensive search and investigation.
An autopsy confirmed that human remains discovered by fishermen in a rural area north of Davenport — were Breasia. Dinkins, who is 48-years-old, has been in and out of prison.
Breasia — who was last seen in the early hours of July 10 at a Davenport apartment complex — staying the night with her half brother and his father, Dinkins.
A criminal complaint alleges that Dinkins removed Breasia from the apartment “without consent or authority, or by deception, to secretly confine and inflict serious injury” on her.
“As a result of the kidnapping, (Breasia) was murdered,” the complaint said, adding how Dinkins “shot her with a firearm causing her death.”
Scott County Attorney Michael Walton the case was “an intensive, nine-month investigation involving numerous agencies.”
“While announcing charges is a significant step in this case, it is important to understand that bringing forth charges is not the end of the legal process but just the beginning,” he said.
Detectives with the Davenport Police Department led the investigation and received assistance from the FBI — which announced a $10,000 reward for information in the case in December.
Investigators had asked anyone with information about Dinkins’ whereabouts on July 9-10 to come forward, sharing photos of a maroon Chevy Impala along with other vehicles associated with him.
Davenport Police Capt. Brent Biggs said Breasia’s mother had been “supportive and cooperative” with investigators throughout the case. “We cannot imagine the grief and pain she must experience,” he said.
He was arrested days after Breasia’s disappearance on charges that he violated sex offender registry requirements by failing to tell authorities that he had been living in the apartment with his girlfriend for weeks.
Authorities also state how he violated the terms of his parole by having contact with minors. He has been jailed in Clinton County while awaiting trial on those charges.
Dinkins was convicted in 2004 of a sex offender registry violation and has a long criminal history that includes multiple offenses for driving while intoxicated and drug possession.
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