Breasia Terrell Bio: Age, Childhood, Case Update, Family 2026….

Breasia Da’Mareya Terrell was a 10-year-old girl from Davenport, Iowa, whose disappearance in July 2020 led to an extensive search involving her family, hundreds of community volunteers, local and state authorities, the FBI, and other agencies.Authorities found her remains in rural Clinton County in March 2021 and later confirmed that multiple gunshot wounds caused her death. A court convicted Henry Earl Dinkins of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping and sentenced him to two life terms without parole.

But Breasia’s story is larger than the criminal case surrounding her death. Before she became the subject of a major missing-child investigation, she was a daughter, sister, student, basketball player, friend and member of the Davenport community. Her obituary described her as creative, ambitious, independent and a “truth-teller,” while classmates, teachers and coaches remembered her for her personality, smile and love of basketball.

Her life, disappearance, the investigation that followed, and the memorials created in her honor have made Breasia Terrell a deeply remembered figure in Davenport and the surrounding Iowa communities.

Quick Info About Breasia Terrell:

Early Life and Childhood

Breasia was born on December 4, 2009, in Davenport, Iowa. She grew up in the Davenport area and was part of a family that included her mother, siblings and extended relatives. Her obituary identifies her mother as Aishia Lankford and her father as Nicholas Hall.

Information about Breasia’s childhood is important because much of the public record about her has understandably focused on what happened to her in 2020 and the criminal proceedings that followed. The surviving biographical record, however, provides a picture of a child with ordinary interests and a distinctive personality.

Her obituary describes her as a creative, wise, ambitious and independent young girl. It also remembers her as a “truth-teller” who had an ability to uplift other people and make them smile.

Those descriptions are reinforced by memories shared by members of her school community. Former teachers, friends and coaches remembered Breasia as a happy child and enthusiastic basketball player. Her basketball coach, speaking at a 2022 memorial gathering, described her as someone who brought energy to the court.

Breasia’s Interests

Breasia enjoyed several activities associated with childhood and school life.

Her obituary specifically mentions:

• Basketball
• Fishing
• Coloring
• Watching TikTok videos

Basketball appears to have been particularly important to her identity. Friends and coaches later incorporated basketball imagery into memorials, and many of the painted rocks placed in her school memorial garden featured basketball designs.

Her favorite color was purple, another detail that became part of the way her community remembered her. Purple decorations appeared at memorial events, and a cousin incorporated the color into a memorial rock at Monroe Elementary.

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Family

Breasia’s family has remained central to the public record surrounding her life and disappearance.

Her mother, Aishia Lankford, was the person who reported Breasia missing. She remained involved throughout the investigation and later testified during the criminal trial. Davenport Police publicly recognized her cooperation with investigators during the investigation into Breasia’s disappearance and death.

Breasia’s obituary lists her siblings as Detorious Lankford and Cardale Smith Jr. It also identifies several other relatives, including her stepmother, aunts, uncles and grandmother.

Her father is identified in the obituary as Nicholas Hall, who had died before Breasia.

Breasia and Her Younger Half-Brother

One of the most important family relationships in the later criminal investigation was Breasia’s relationship with her younger half-brother, identified in court reporting by the initials D.L. because he was a minor.

Breasia and D.L. were together during the overnight stay immediately preceding her disappearance. D.L. later became a significant witness during Henry Dinkins’ trial.

Because D.L. was a child when the events occurred, responsible reporting generally identifies him by his initials rather than publishing his full name.

Education and School Life

Breasia attended elementary school in Davenport. Her obituary identifies Jackson Elementary School as the school she attended.

Other contemporary and later reporting connects her strongly with Monroe Elementary, whose students, teachers and coaches participated in memorial activities for her. The available public sources do not establish a complete, authoritative timeline explaining the relationship between the two school references, so it is safest not to assume an undocumented transfer history.

What is clear is that Breasia had a meaningful connection with her school community.

She was remembered by classmates as a friend and by coaches as a basketball teammate. In 2022, former teachers, friends and coaches gathered at Monroe Elementary while completing a memorial garden dedicated to her. Students painted rocks for the garden, with designs including butterflies, flowers, hearts, purple decorations and basketballs.

The school memorial shows that people remembered Breasia not only because of the tragedy surrounding her death but also because of the meaningful relationships she formed during her life.

Basketball and the School Community

Basketball was one of the strongest recurring themes in memories of Breasia.

Her coach, Kristyn McIntire, remembered her as a child who loved playing the game and brought energy to the basketball court. The school memorial incorporated basketball because it was one of the activities associated with Breasia.

That detail is significant in understanding her childhood. A biography focused only on the criminal case would miss an important part of the way classmates and adults who knew her understood her.

The memorial garden at Monroe Elementary included a bench, cross, wind chimes and landscaping, while students created personal messages and artwork. The project was a collaboration involving the school, Breasia’s family and local organizations including One Eighty and Project 15:12.

What Happened to Breasia Terrell?

Breasia was reported missing on July 10, 2020, in Davenport, Iowa.

According to Davenport Police, she was last seen during the early morning hours of July 10 near the 2700 block of East 53rd Street. She had been staying overnight with her younger half-brother at an apartment associated with Henry Dinkins and his girlfriend, Andrea Culberson.

The disappearance immediately prompted a major investigation.

Authorities appealed to the public for information, and the case quickly developed into a large community search. Investigators followed leads, conducted interviews and executed search warrants while local, state and federal agencies became involved. Davenport Police later said investigators had spent thousands of hours working on the case.

The AMBER Alert

An Iowa AMBER Alert was issued on July 15, 2020, five days after Breasia was reported missing.

At the time, law enforcement provided identifying information about the 10-year-old and asked the public to assist in locating her. The alert significantly broadened public awareness of the case.

The search expanded beyond Davenport. On July 16, authorities announced that the search had moved into Clinton County after receiving new information. Agencies involved included Davenport Police, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, FBI, Iowa State Patrol and other local emergency-management and public-safety organizations.

The Search for Breasia

The search became a major community effort.

Davenport Police later said that hundreds of community members volunteered and that more than 20 public-safety agencies assisted in the search and investigation. The agencies included the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, FBI, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.

The case also generated public tips and organized search operations.

In the first days and weeks after Breasia disappeared, volunteers and authorities searched areas in and around Davenport and Clinton County. The investigation included aerial support and other specialized resources.

The scale of the response reflected both the urgency of the disappearance and the community’s determination to find her.

Henry Dinkins Becomes a Person of Interest

On July 14, 2020, Davenport Police identified Henry E. Dinkins as a person of interest in the case. Police sought information about his movements around the period when Breasia disappeared.

Dinkins was already in custody on an unrelated matter when the investigation began. Davenport Police later charged him in May 2021 with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

When authorities announced the charges, Davenport Police and the Scott County Attorney’s Office emphasized that the charge represented an accusation and that Dinkins remained entitled to a fair trial.

When Were Breasia Terrell’s Remains Found?

The search continued for months.

On March 22, 2021, people in the area who were fishing discovered human remains in rural Clinton County near DeWitt, Iowa. The remains were subsequently identified as Breasia’s. Davenport Police publicly confirmed the identification on March 31, 2021.

The discovery brought an end to the uncertainty over Breasia’s whereabouts, but it also transformed the missing-child investigation into a confirmed homicide investigation.

The official public record is clearest on these dates:

The City of Davenport maintains an archive of official releases documenting the investigation and its major developments.

Cause of Breasia Terrell’s Death

During the 2023 trial, a medical examiner testified that Breasia’s manner of death was homicide and that the cause was multiple gunshot wounds.

This finding was presented as part of the state’s case against Dinkins.

Because Breasia was a child, detailed descriptions of the injuries are not necessary to understand her biography. The important verified point is that medical-examiner testimony established homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

The Criminal Case Against Henry Dinkins

Davenport Police and the Scott County Attorney’s Office announced the charges against Dinkins on May 5, 2021.

He was charged with:

• First-degree murder
• First-degree kidnapping

The official police announcement noted that investigators had worked on the case for approximately ten months and had spent thousands of hours following leads, interviewing people and executing search warrants.

The Trial

Dinkins’ case eventually went to trial in 2023.

The proceeding was a bench trial, meaning the judge rather than a jury determined whether the defendant was guilty.

The trial began in August 2023. It had initially been moved to Cedar Rapids following a change-of-venue decision, but the proceedings returned to Davenport after Dinkins chose to have the case decided by a judge.

Judge Henry Latham presided over the case.

The prosecution presented testimony and evidence from multiple categories of witnesses, including:

• Davenport police officers
• FBI personnel
• crime-scene technicians
• forensic specialists
• forensic anthropologists
• Breasia’s mother
• Breasia’s younger half-brother
• Andrea Culberson, Dinkins’ former girlfriend

The evidence included testimony about movements, cell-phone records, forensic evidence and circumstances surrounding the discovery of Breasia’s remains.

The Testimony of Breasia’s Younger Half-Brother

D.L., who was eight years old when Breasia disappeared, became one of the most significant witnesses in the case.

During the trial, he testified about events surrounding the disappearance and described seeing Dinkins shoot Breasia. He also testified about accompanying Dinkins to a Walmart and about events involving bleach and a rural area.

However, an important distinction must be made when describing the verdict.

Judge Latham ultimately said that he found D.L.’s testimony broadly significant and described the boy as instrumental to solving the case, but he did not find the specific claim that D.L. saw Dinkins shoot Breasia credible. The judge nevertheless found other portions of D.L.’s testimony credible and said the state’s evidence overwhelmingly supported the guilty findings.

This distinction is important because it prevents the trial record from being oversimplified.

The conviction was not based simply on a judicial finding that D.L.’s account of personally witnessing the shooting was true. The judge considered the testimony alongside the broader body of evidence presented during the trial.

The Verdict

On September 15, 2023, Judge Henry Latham found Henry Dinkins guilty of:

• First-degree murder
• First-degree kidnapping

The verdict followed roughly two and a half weeks of bench-trial proceedings.

The courtroom was filled with members of Breasia’s family, many of whom wore purple in her memory.

The verdict brought the criminal trial to an end after more than three years of investigation and legal proceedings.

Sentencing

On October 11, 2023, Dinkins was sentenced to two life terms in prison without parole.

He was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to Breasia’s mother.

The sentence reflected the seriousness of the convictions for first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

As of 2026, Iowa’s Department of Public Safety states that Dinkins is serving those two life sentences.

The 2026 Legal Development Involving Henry Dinkins

A separate legal development involving Dinkins occurred in April 2026.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced that Dinkins faced a second-degree sexual abuse charge in a separate 2003 case involving a five-year-old child identified by the initials A.T. According to the state, investigators did not file charges at the time but reopened the case in 2023.

This case is separate from Breasia Terrell’s murder and kidnapping case.

It is also important to distinguish a criminal charge from a conviction. The Iowa Department of Public Safety explicitly states that a criminal charge is an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Therefore, the 2003 allegation should not be presented as an established fact about Dinkins.

Breasia Terrell’s Memorials

Breasia’s death had a lasting impact on the Davenport community.

One of the most significant memorials was created at Monroe Elementary School, where classmates, teachers and coaches gathered in 2022 to remember her.

The memorial garden included:

• A memorial bench
• A cross
• Wind chimes
• Landscaping
• A tree
• Student-painted rocks
• Purple decorations
• Basketball designs
• Personal messages from classmates

The project involved Monroe Elementary, Breasia’s family and local organizations including One Eighty and Project 15:12.

The individual contributions from students made the memorial especially personal. Children created designs representing their memories of Breasia, including butterflies, hearts, flowers and basketballs.

Purple as a Symbol of Remembrance

Purple became closely associated with public memorials for Breasia because it was her favorite color.

At a 2021 remembrance event, community members gathered at Lindsay Park for a candlelight vigil and dedicated a tree in her memory. Purple decorations, teddy bears, basketballs and crosses were visible among the memorial items.

The following year, the Norbert F. Beckey Bridge in Muscatine was illuminated in purple in her memory.

The repeated use of purple illustrates how a simple personal detail about Breasia became a lasting symbol through which people remembered her.

Remembering Breasia as a Child

Perhaps the most important part of Breasia Terrell’s legacy is the way people who knew her remembered her.

Her obituary emphasizes her personality rather than the circumstances of her death. It describes a child who could make people smile and who was known for being creative, ambitious, independent and truthful.

Her school community remembered:

• A friend
• A classmate
• A basketball teammate
• A smiling child
• Someone who enjoyed playing the sport
• Someone whose presence mattered to classmates and teachers

At the memorial garden, the objects selected by children were not primarily about the criminal case. They represented the things associated with Breasia’s everyday life: friendship, basketball, color, creativity and memories.

That distinction matters when considering her legacy.

Breasia’s public story is inevitably connected to a serious criminal case, but her identity was not defined by that case while she was alive. She was a child growing up in Davenport, attending school, playing basketball, spending time with family and enjoying ordinary childhood interests.

Community Response

The response to Breasia’s disappearance demonstrated the scale of concern within Davenport and neighboring communities.

Hundreds of residents participated in searches, while more than 20 public-safety agencies assisted investigators. The FBI, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Clinton County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies involved.

Family Resources also provided support for people affected by the disappearance and helped coordinate assistance for Breasia’s family during the search.

After her remains were found, the community response shifted from the search for a missing child to remembrance and mourning.

Memorial trees, vigils, school projects and public displays allowed people to preserve Breasia’s memory while also providing places for grieving family members, friends and community members.

The Significance of the Case in Davenport

The Breasia Terrell investigation became one of the most prominent missing-child and homicide cases in the Davenport area in recent years.

Several features made the case particularly significant:

• Breasia was only 10 years old.
• Her disappearance generated an AMBER Alert.
• Hundreds of residents joined search efforts.
• Multiple local, state and federal agencies became involved.
• Her remains were not discovered for approximately eight months.
• The investigation eventually resulted in a first-degree murder and kidnapping trial.
• The trial was decided by a judge rather than a jury.
• The case produced extensive forensic and witness evidence.
• Dinkins was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
• The community created enduring memorials to Breasia.

The case also illustrates the difficulty of long-running missing-person investigations. The initial search did not immediately locate Breasia, and the investigation continued through months of uncertainty before the discovery of her remains.

A Life Remembered Beyond the Case

A complete biography of Breasia Terrell cannot be limited to the dates of her disappearance and death.

The available personal record shows a child with a family, school life and interests. She liked basketball, fishing, coloring and watching TikTok videos. She was remembered for her creativity and independence. Her community remembered her smile and enthusiasm on the basketball court.

Those details provide the human context behind the name that appears in police records, court documents and news reports.

They also explain why her memorials emphasize basketball, purple, butterflies, flowers, trees and personal messages from children who knew her.

FAQs

Who was Breasia Terrell?

Breasia Da’Mareya Terrell was a 10-year-old girl from Davenport, Iowa, born December 4, 2009. She attended elementary school and enjoyed basketball, fishing, coloring, and watching TikTok videos. She disappeared in July 2020, and authorities found her remains in Clinton County in March 2021.

How old was Breasia Terrell?

Breasia was 10 years old when she disappeared and died in 2020. She was born on December 4, 2009.

When did Breasia Terrell disappear?

Breasia’s family reported her missing on July 10, 2020. Davenport Police said witnesses last saw her during the early morning hours near the 2700 block of East 53rd Street in Davenport.

What happened to Breasia Terrell?

Breasia disappeared on July 10, 2020, prompting a major search and an Iowa AMBER Alert. Authorities found her remains in rural Clinton County near DeWitt on March 22, 2021. A medical examiner later determined that multiple gunshot wounds caused her death.

Who was convicted in Breasia Terrell’s death?

Henry Earl Dinkins received convictions for first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping on September 15, 2023, after a bench trial before Judge Henry Latham. On October 11, 2023, the court sentenced him to two life terms without parole and ordered him to pay $150,000 in restitution to Breasia’s mother.

What is the latest development involving Henry Dinkins?

In April 2026, Iowa authorities announced a separate charge of second-degree sexual abuse involving a 2003 case unrelated to Breasia Terrell’s murder. The charge remains an allegation and should not be confused with Dinkins’ convictions in Breasia’s case.

Timeline of Breasia Terrell’s Life and Case

The timeline is based primarily on Davenport Police, Iowa public-safety records and court reporting.

Breasia Terrell’s Legacy

Breasia Terrell’s legacy lives most strongly through the people and places that knew her.

Breasia’s family remembered her as a daughter and sister. Terrell’s classmates remembered her as a friend. Breasia Terrell’s coaches remembered her as a basketball player. Her school community created a permanent place for reflection, while Davenport residents who joined the search remembered their efforts to bring her home.

The memorial garden at Monroe Elementary holds particular significance because children and adults who knew Breasia helped shape it. Instead of focusing only on the circumstances of her death, the garden celebrates the interests and relationships that shaped her life.

Her favorite color, purple, became a recognizable symbol of remembrance. Basketball also became a recurring memorial image, reflecting one of the activities she loved.

Preserving these memories matters because Breasia was only 10 years old. She still had much of her life ahead of her when she died.

Breasia never had the opportunity to build a professional career, business portfolio, list of awards, or adult accomplishments. Those categories do not belong in her biography simply because they appear in biographies of public figures. Instead, her story centers on the life she lived: her childhood in Davenport, her family, her school, her friendships, her interests, and the impression she made on the people around her.

Conclusion

Breasia Terrell was a Davenport, Iowa, child whose life ended at age 10, but the public record contains more than the circumstances of her disappearance and death.

She was born on December 4, 2009. She attended elementary school, played basketball, enjoyed fishing and coloring, and family and friends remembered her as creative, independent, ambitious, and capable of making people smile.

Her disappearance on July 10, 2020, triggered an extensive search involving hundreds of community volunteers and numerous law-enforcement agencies. Authorities issued an AMBER Alert, expanded the search into Clinton County, and continued investigating for months before they found Breasia’s remains near DeWitt in March 2021.

The subsequent criminal investigation led to Henry Earl Dinkins’ conviction for first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. He received two life sentences without parole in October 2023.

Yet the most enduring part of Breasia’s story may lie outside the courtroom. Her family, classmates, teachers, coaches, and members of the Davenport community created memorials that preserve details of who she was: a child who loved basketball, a friend with a memorable smile, and a young girl whose favorite color was purple.

Remembering Breasia in these terms gives her biography the context it deserves. The criminal case explains what happened to her, while her family, school, and community help explain who she was.