A bench trial is underway in Scott County for the man accused of killing the 10-year-old girl in July 2020.
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Day 2 | Friday, Aug. 11
9:16-9:55 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
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.
State presented images of vehicles associate with Henry Dinkins: including his motorhome, maroon Chevy Impala and a black Chevy Camaro.
State asked Sgt. Peiffer to speak to the weather conditions during July 10th 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.
Sgt. Peiffer discussed the use of cellphone towers during the investigation. Henry Dinkins 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.
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.
9:55-10:33 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
Defense began cross examination on Sgt. Peiffer.
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.
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 tshirt was discovered in the back of that Clinton, Iowa suspects' car. Sgt. Peiffer stated he was aware of this.
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 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.
10:33 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11
State began redirect examination of Sgt. Peiffer.
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.
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.
11:22-11:50 a.m. Friday, Aug 11
Civilian Crime Scene Technician for Davenport Police Department, Alicia Fritz took the stand.
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.
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 found chemical reactions on the toilet, mattress, sink, and bathtub in the apartment. She swabbed each surface for evidence.
On July 20th, 2020 Fritz was asked to dispatch to evidence processing area to swab the exterior areas of Henry Dinkins' maroon Chevy Impala.
On March 22nd, 2021 Fritz was dispatched to Clinton County after Sgt. Peiffer asked Fritz to respond to human remains being found.
Upon Fritz 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.
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.
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.
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.
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