DAVENPORT, Iowa — Editor's Note: This article is a live blog style, so the latest information is at the top. It may be best to read upwards from each time stamp if you wish to go chronologically for a recap.
Day 3 | Monday, Aug. 14
6:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14
Court adjourned around 5 p.m.
3:27 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14
Andrea Culberson, Dinkins' girlfriend at the time Breasia went missing, took the stand.
1:36 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14
The state resumed direct examination of Aishia Lankford after lunch break.
The state began questioning Lankford on the call she received from Dinkins on July 10th at 8:08 a.m. That call went unanswered. Call log showed multiple calls made by Lankford to Dinkins after that missed call. Those three calls went unanswered by Dinkins.
10:43 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14
Aishia Lankford, Breasia's mother took the stand.
The state presented a phone log from Lankford's cellphone.
Lankford stated she sees multiple outbound calls but no inbound calls.
Lankford stated the plans would be DL would stay with Dinkins for three to five days, and called or texted around 11 am on the 9th to let her know he was on his way for DL.
Lankford recalled telling Dinkins she got off work and was going to jump in the shower and head their way to drop off clothes. Lankford testified her mother informed her Breasia went with DL and Dinkins but she was not alarmed at the time.
Lankford told the state she packed clothes for both children, including pajamas.
The morning Breasia went missing she informed law enforcement the type of shoes she possibly was wearing, including flip-flops.
Lankford testified the apartment Dinkins and his then-girlfriend resided in, none of her children had been to or were familiar with. The state questioned Breasia's and DL's sleep patterns: Lankford said they all went out like a light and she had never sleepwalked.
The state asked Lankford if either of the children had a cellphone which she responded no, saying she needed to communicate through Dinkins's phone.
Lankford testified that after she dropped of her children's clothes on July 9th, she had to pull over on her way home because it was raining so hard she could not see.
The state asked Lankford to reach a text log between her and Dinkins.
Lankford testified that at 8:08 am on July 10th Dinkins called her saying he just woke up and asked if Breasia was with her. Lankford said she was not. She asked if Dinkins had called the police where she alleged he said he was on his way to make a report.
Lankford called the Davenport police where they told her no one had made a report.
The state played the 911 call Lankford made after discovering Breasia was missing.
9:36 am. Monday, Aug. 14
Henry Dinkins entered the courtroom wearing a short-sleeved button-up shirt.
The state calls Dinkins's biological son “DL” back to the stand.
DL said the morning Breasia went missing. Henry Dinkins took him to the Chevy Impala where he fell asleep. When he woke up they arrived at a man's house where Dinkins began drinking. After leaving that house, they went to Walmart. DL waited in the car while Henry was in the store. That’s when DL said he put the battery Dinkins had removed the battery from his phone. DL put the battery back in to play a game but took it back out when Dinkins returned to the car with bleach.
After leaving Walmart, DL said Dinkins took them down a dirt path. DL described Dinkins stepping out of the car and pouring bleach into bushes before putting the empty bleach containers back in the car. When DL asked Dinkins what they were doing, he said they were joyriding.
The state questioned DL if he went to Dinkins RV. DL said yes, Dinkins had a bloody knife he poured bleach on, entered the RV with it and did not return with the knife.
DL stated Dinkins went “half fishing” after the encounter before going to meet DL and Breasia’s mother. The state questioned DL if Dinkins called his mother, where DL stated they had a phone call but could not recall who called who first. DL stated Dinkins and his mother met in a Mcdonalds' parking lot where he left with his mother and she made a police report.
Cross-examination began at 10:10 on DL.
The defense questioned DL on why visiting an alleged man's house is just now being discussed. When asked who went to that house, DL testified Breasia and himself went to the house and played games inside, while Dinkins drank outside.
The defense paused: asking DL if he just stated Breasia was still alive and with him during the morning hours of her disappearance. DL stated yes.
The defense asked DL why so many aspects were just being brought up now in court, questioning if he just answers things in the way he wants. DL responded yes.
DL stated he witnessed Henry Dinkins shoot Breasia.
Redirect began by State, who clarified DL was speaking about the day prior to Breasia's disappearance, when he spoke about the two playing video games at Dinkins friend's house.
Day 2 | Friday, Aug. 11
4:25 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11
Breasia's younger brother D.L. takes the stand as a witness for the State. D.L. is now 11 years old. He is recounting the events of July 10, the day that he and his sister went to Dinkins' apartment he shared with his girlfriend Andrea Culberson in Davenport. D.L. recalls seeing Dinkins stare into the back room where he and Breasia were, shortly before going to bed. He felt a kick at some point in the night but fell back asleep. When he woke up, Breasia and Henry were not there. Andrea was also up, looking out the windows for Henry.
Court adjourned shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday. Judge Latham says that the court will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.
3:20 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11
FBI agent Richard Fennern discussed when data was picked up from Dinkins’ cell phone. Around 7 a.m. on July 10, there was a “burst of activity” on the phone when the phone appeared in a new area in Clinton and then where Breasia’s body was found. Those cell tower hits allowed investigators to later canvas that area for video related to the case.
1:38 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11
Court returned from a lunch break. Davenport firefighter Dustin Garner took the stand. The State presented images Garner took from Breasia’s mother, Aishia Lankford’s phone. Those images displayed a conversation between Henry Dinkins and Lankford. The photograph showed a message from Dinkins’ phone that stated “Goodnight Mom.”
Garner stated that Lankford was willing to hand over her phone and her call log. Garner stated on July 10, 2020, he was sent to Lankford’s mother’s house to pick up two bags of clothing. Garner photographed both bags and turned them over to evidence.
Garner escorted a maroon Chevy Impala to Davenport Public Works where they removed the gas tank. Garner said this was to assess the amount of gas left, to see the distance the Impala traveled.
Once the Chevy Impala was raised, Garner stated he noticed mud and grass stuck under the vehicle. Garner said this struck him as odd, as the Chevy Impala had to be driven off-road to get mud and soil in the undercarriage.
11:22-11:50 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
Upon Fritz's response to the human remains, she was instructed to photograph branches around the remains. When the state asked why, Fritz said the branches seemed to be cut around the remains, meaning the possibility of an intentional disturbance.
On March 22nd, 2021 Fritz was dispatched to Clinton County after Sgt. Peiffer asked Fritz to respond to human remains being found.
On July 20th, 2020 Fritz was asked to dispatch to the evidence processing area to swab the exterior areas of Henry Dinkins' maroon Chevy Impala.
Fritz found chemical reactions on the toilet, mattress, sink, and bathtub in the apartment. She swabbed each surface for evidence.
The state questioned Fritz on how she tested areas for possible blood. Fritz said she used a chemical used to search for blood evidence that reacts with iron in blood to turn areas blue.
Fritz said she took photographs and collected evidence at River Meadows apartment number 8 (Dinkins' then residence with then-girlfriend, Andrea Culberson) on July 17th, 2020.
Civilian Crime Scene Technician for Davenport Police Department, Alicia Fritz took the stand.
10:52-11:22 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
Brief break.
10:33 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
The state addressed the matter of the bloody white t-shirt in the Clinton homicide case the defense brought up during cross. The state asked Sgt. Peiffer to describe the clothing found along with Breasia's remains. Sgt. Peiffer said it was a white 4XL t-shirt: unlike the child size 10 t-shirt discovered in the Clinton murder suspect's car.
State asked Sgt. Peiffer to describe what he saw on the video surveillance at the Quik Stop during the 3 a.m. hour of July 10. Sgt. Peiffer described the maroon Chevy Impala parked by the gas pump. While Dinkins checked out, he noted Dinkins continued checking back outside towards the car and left in a hurry, without taking change from the cashier.
State began redirect examination of Sgt. Peiffer.
9:55-10:33 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
The defense stated that within a week, Henry Dinkins' pictures were put into the public view and remained there until Breasia's remains were found, making him a suspect. Sgt. Peiffer agreed with the defense.
Sgt. Peiffer agreed with the defense's statement that no blood of Breasia was found in the investigation, particularly in the Chevy Impala.
The defense brought up a homicide investigation in Clinton 10 days after Breasia's disappearance. Sgt. Peiffer said he was aware of that investigation. Defense brought up a bloody, child-size 10 white t-shirt that was discovered in the back of that Clinton, Iowa suspect's car. Sgt. Peiffer stated he was aware of this.
Henry Dinkin’s defense questioned Sgt. Peiffer on why Henry Dinkins was the focus instead of his girlfriend at the time, Andrea Culberson. Sgt. Peiffer answered Dinkins was the sole person responsible for Breasia at the time. Again, the defense asked why their main focus was on Dinkins when other players were involved. Sgt. Peiffer replied, when a 10-year-old is missing and there is no sense of alarm, when a young child is missing in an unfamiliar area – and the person responsible for her made no actions but to drive around, the police were alarmed.
Defense began cross-examination on Sgt. Peiffer.
9:16-9:55 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
Through video surveillance, Sgt. Peiffer discovered Henry Dinkins exiting the maroon Chevy Impala at a Clinton, Iowa Walmart where he purchased two bottles of Clorox bleach. Sgt. Peiffer detailed bleach can be used to conceal evidence at crime scenes.
Sgt. Peiffer discussed the use of cellphone towers during the investigation. Henry Dinkins's cellphone made brief contact with a cellphone tower in Camanche, Iowa. Sgt. Peiffer said little data was exchanged at that contact point -- meaning the phone was turned on but not used.
State asked Sgt. Peiffer to speak about the weather conditions on July 10, 2020. He said the weather was stormy during the search of the maroon Chevy Impala. When searched, they discovered mud stuck to the bottom, despite Dinkins being documented driving that vehicle only in dry areas.
State presented images of vehicles associated with Henry Dinkins including his motorhome, maroon Chevy Impala and a black Chevy Camaro.
State called Sgt. Peiffer back to the stand. State presented an image of the area next to Kunau Implement Co. where Breasia's remains were recovered. The photo presented was taken in July of 2023 -- showing the vegetation covering areas. Sgt. Peiffer deemed the photograph is similar to what the area would've looked like when Breasia went missing on July 10th 2020.
Court came back in session at 9:15 a.m.
Henry Dinkins entered the court room in a gold button-up shirt.
Day 1 | Thursday, Aug. 10
4:20 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
Court adjourned for the day, set to reconvene at 9 a.m. Friday.
1:45-4:20 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
Sgt. Peiffer resumes and completes his testimony.
2:02 p.m.- Communications Specialist with the Davenport Police Department Mona Varela takes the stand.
2:25 p.m.- Christopher Mayer, Davenport Police Department
Short break from 2:50 p.m. to 3:14 p.m.
3:15 p.m.- Jill Foster, former lead crime scene technician with Davenport Police Department, testified for just over one hour.
12:05-1:40 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
Court was in recess for lunch.
11:14 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
The State calls its first witness, Sgt. Geoffrey Peiffer with the Davenport Police Department.
Sgt. Peiffer testified that though missing child cases are not uncommon in Scott County, they are resolved pretty quickly; citing instances of children hiding within homes or teenagers running off with friends. When SA Cunninghman asked Sgt. Peiffer if this case felt like another missing child case, Sgt. Peiffer replied "no".
Despite an objection from Dinkin's defense, SA Cunningham submitted a legend into evidence: asking Sgt. Peiffer to elaborate on ways vehicles could travel throughout the area. The legend highlighted multiple areas of construction, that give reason for possible detours used during the time.
10:54 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
State's Attorney Cunningham concludes her opening statement. Dinkins' defense states they will reserve the right to decline their opening statement, opting to discuss during evidence. SA Cunninghman asked that one witness be called before lunch, as to take advantage of a witness that needs to catch a flight. Court is in recess for 15 minutes.
9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
Henry Dinkins walks into the Scott County courthouse. He is dressed in street clothes, wearing a black, collared button-down shirt.
Judge Henry Latham is presiding over the bench trial. He arrives in the courtroom. Scott County State's Attorney Kelly Cunningham began her opening statements, laying out the state's case, at 9:42 a.m.
Case background:
On July 9, 2020, Breasia spent the night with her half-brother, D.L, at Dinkins' Davenport apartment. Dinkins is the father of D.L., who came home the next morning, but Breasia did not.
Breasia was reported missing on July 10. Her remains were found several months later in Clinton County by two fishermen.
On May 5, 2021, then-Scott County Attorney Mike Walton announced Dinkins was being charged with the killing of Breasia, on or around July 10, 2020.
On June 16, 2021, Dinkins pled not guilty to Terrell's murder.
Due to pretrial publicity, Dinkins successfully requested to have his trial moved to a different county on March 25, 2022.
On April 20, 2023, the Iowa Supreme Court made the decision to move the trial to Linn County.
Dinkins also changed lawyers following a breakdown of the attorney-client relationship.