Where is Dana Rivers now? Transgender triple murderer accused of 'preying on inmates' in California women's prison
CHOWCHILLA, CALIFORNIA: In a chilling case that has sparked controversy over California's incarceration policies, transgender triple murderer Dana Rivers, 68, is facing accusations of "preying on inmates" and receiving "special treatment" in a women's prison. Rivers, formerly known as David Chester Warfield before transitioning to female, committed a heinous crime in November 2016, brutally shooting and stabbing a lesbian couple, Charlotte Reed and Patricia Wright, along with their 19-year-old adopted son, Benny Diambu-Wright.
Where is Dana Rivers now?
Recently, at her sentencing, Judge Scott Patton described the killings as "the most depraved crime" he had encountered in his 33-year tenure in the criminal justice system. However, a 2021 California law allows criminals to request placement based on their gender identity, resulting in Rivers being housed at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California, as she received gender affirmative surgeries in 2000.
Multiple inmates at the facility have reported that Rivers has been causing disruptions and attempting to exert control over other women, claiming she is entitled to "special treatment" due to the state's transgender-friendly policies. "Rivers has been a problem since (she) rolled in the door," one inmate told the Washington Free Beacon. "(She) is trying to control the women, saying (she) gets to bypass everything — special treatment." She has been accused of leering at fellow inmates to make them uncomfortable and boasting about the controversial transgender policies that allow her to be housed in the women's prison. Some inmates have even claimed that Rivers forces them to push her around in a wheelchair as part of her alleged attempts to wield influence.
Controversial incarceration policy
The lenient policy introduced by California has raised concerns about the safety of female prisoners, leading to criticism from inmates and staff alike. One former inmate, Tomiekia Johnson, was terminated from her job after filing a complaint against the prison's implementation of the policy. "I think it's a slap in the face," she told the Free Beacon as Rivers was moved into the same housing unit as her. Johnson had previously filed a complaint against the California law as her fellow inmate claimed Rivers was "staring at my butt." Johnson continued, "As much as they know I’ve been vocal about being housed with predators, and how much they target me, and how much it’s a known fact that they harass me and provoke me, for them to put him in the building with me is beyond negligent," adding, "I feel betrayed by the prison for doing this."
Amie Ichikawa, a former inmate who now runs Women II Women, a support group for female prisoners, lamented the impact of such policies on rehabilitation efforts, asserting that prisons should offer a safe space for personal growth, not harbor potential predators like Rivers. "Overall, the whole vibe is, how are we supposed to rehabilitate and recover from these traumas when we’re housed with the same kind of people we were trying to get away from?" Ichikawa questioned, adding "You thought prison would at least allow you to leave that behind while you work on yourself—meaning [leave behind] domestic abusers and woman beaters." Rivers' ability to request placement at the women's prison was facilitated by Senate Bill 132, passed in 2021, which allowed inmates to choose their prison based on their gender identity. At the time of its passage, only around 1% of California's prison population reportedly identified as transgender.
Grisly murders
Dana Rivers' horrifying crime in 2016 was fueled by revenge after she was banned from a female-only lesbian festival. In a fit of rage, she shot Charlotte Reed multiple times and stabbed her 40 times. She then proceeded to shoot Patricia Wright and fatally stab her, before killing their adopted son Benny Diambu-Wright. Police discovered Rivers at the scene, covered in blood and carrying dangerous weapons and ammunition, attempting to flee on a motorcycle.
The triple murderer spent five years in custody until she was found guilty of the murders in 2021. Earlier, Dana Rivers was a respected transgender activist who gained national attention in 1999 after being fired from her teaching job for transitioning genders and advocating for gender self-determination among students. The subsequent lawsuit against the school resulted in a $150,000 settlement.
As California faces criticism for its contentious incarceration policies, other states, including Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts, have also passed similar laws. Regardless, the issues of safety and rehabilitation of female inmates remain at the forefront of the debate as authorities grapple with issues of housing transgender inmates in women's facilities.
