Vanished: The Tragic Case of Bri Asia Terrell

Prologue: The Night She Disappeared

On the night of July 9th, 2020, the city of Davenport, Iowa, was quiet. In a modest apartment, 10-year-old Bri Asia Terrell was supposed to be safe, spending the night with her half-brother DL and his father, Henry Dinkin, at the home of Henry’s girlfriend, Andrea Culberson. Bri Asia’s mother, Aisha Langford, had dropped her off, trusting that her daughter would be cared for.

But by sunrise, everything changed.

Act I: The Alarm

Aisha was at work when she got the call that would shatter her world. Henry sounded frantic. He didn’t know how long Bri Asia had been gone. He didn’t know where she was. He didn’t know what she was wearing. He hadn’t called her. He hadn’t called the police.

Aisha rushed to the apartment, still wearing her work uniform. She was met by Henry, Andrea, and DL. Emotions ran high. Aisha’s panic was palpable. Henry was defensive and confused. DL was quiet, his eyes wide.

The police arrived and began their investigation. Body-worn cameras captured the chaos: Aisha and Henry arguing, officers trying to keep the peace while gathering information. The apartment was searched. There was no sign of forced entry. No one had seen Bri Asia leave. The door was reportedly locked, but nobody could say for sure.

Act II: The Search Begins

Bri Asia was a small child, hearing and vision impaired. She was not known to wander off. Aisha insisted her daughter was afraid of the dark and would never leave on her own. The community rallied instantly. Flyers were posted, balloon launches organized, volunteers canvassed the area. The police conducted a massive search, knocking on doors, questioning neighbors, and checking surveillance footage.

But nobody had seen anything. No witnesses. No clues.

Act III: Suspicion and Interrogation

Henry Dinkin became the focus of the investigation. He was the last adult to see Bri Asia. His story was inconsistent. He claimed Bri Asia must have wandered off, but Aisha and the police didn’t believe it.

Henry was questioned at the station. He seemed cooperative, but his behavior was odd. He offered to show his phone to investigators but refused to give them the password. He parked his car blocks away from the police station, a move that seemed designed to avoid detection.

Henry insisted he was just trying to help. But the police were unconvinced. His criminal history—convicted of sexual assault as a teenager—added to the suspicion.

Act IV: DL’s Story

DL, Bri Asia’s half-brother, was eight years old. He idolized his father but was deeply affected by his sister’s disappearance. When questioned, DL described the night: playing video games, eating dinner, going to bed. He remembered his father being in the bedroom with Bri Asia, rather than with him in the living room.

DL recalled his father taking him on errands the next morning, including a trip to buy cigarettes. He mentioned fishing trips, but could not recall seeing fishing poles. Then DL shared a shocking detail: he saw his father with bleach and a knife, washing the blade with bleach and a rag.

Police searched Henry’s motor home and found bleach and a machete, supporting DL’s account.

Act V: The Mother’s Despair

As days passed, Aisha’s anguish grew. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t think of anything but her missing daughter. The pain was raw, unfiltered. She blamed herself for letting Bri Asia stay the night. She blamed Henry for not watching her. She blamed the world for not finding her.

The police kept searching. The leads were few. The hope was fading.

Act VI: Shifting Focus

After nearly two weeks, investigators realized this was no longer just a missing child case. It was a potential homicide. They needed more evidence to tie Henry to Bri Asia’s disappearance.

DL was questioned again. He remembered locking the front door before bed. He remembered his father kicking him awake and seeing Henry and Bri Asia walking down the stairs in the early morning light. He heard Bri Asia’s voice. He peeked from the bedroom to make sure his father wasn’t hurting his sister.

DL was scared. His father told him not to tell the police about the trailer. He told DL not to say anything.

Act VII: Surveillance and Timeline

Detectives pulled surveillance footage from gas stations and stores. They saw Henry buying Clorox bleach at a Walmart 30 miles away early in the morning. They tracked his movements: leaving the apartment at 3:30 a.m., stopping for gas, returning after sunrise, gathering DL, and driving away.

DL described a dirt road where Henry got stuck and needed help from fishermen. Police found the motor home near Credit Island Park, next to an overflow lagoon.

Act VIII: The Breakthrough

In March 2021, eight months after Bri Asia disappeared, fishermen discovered a skull near a pond outside Dewitt, Iowa. The pond was overgrown, hidden from view. The winter thaw revealed what had been concealed.

An autopsy confirmed the remains were Bri Asia Terrell. She had been shot in the jaw, spine, and shoulder. Investigators found chunks of mud on Henry’s car matching soil samples from the pond area.

A witness came forward, recalling how he pulled a maroon Impala—Henry’s car—out of the ditch near the pond early that morning.

Act IX: The Trial

In August 2023, Henry Dinkin was set to go to trial. He waived his right to a jury, opting for a bench trial before a judge.

The prosecution presented overwhelming circumstantial evidence: Henry’s criminal history, his suspicious behavior, the timeline, the purchase of bleach, the mud on his car, and DL’s testimony. Andrea Culberson testified about Henry’s strange actions that night—leaving the apartment, returning in different clothes, collecting something from the closet.

DL, now 11, took the stand. He described accompanying his father the morning Bri Asia disappeared, seeing Henry pour bleach by bushes, and witnessing Henry destroy evidence. During cross-examination, DL claimed to have seen Henry shoot his sister, but the defense argued this was impossible based on the timeline and evidence.

The defense focused on the lack of physical evidence: no DNA from Bri Asia on Henry or his clothes, no blood in the car or RV, and no definitive proof that bleach was used.

Act X: The Verdict

After two weeks of testimony, the judge issued his verdict: guilty on all counts. Henry Dinkin was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The judge’s words were clear: “It is unconscionable that you would take such actions to murder a 10-year-old child who was entrusted to your care. You have no conscience or remorse for your actions.”

Act XI: The Aftermath

Aisha Langford spoke at the sentencing, her pain evident. “You didn’t just take away my baby’s life. You took away everything from me—my family, sense of security, laughter, health, and potential. You took my baby girl from me and just gunned her down like she was nothing and left her and never said a word at all.”

The damage to the family was immeasurable. DL had lost his sister and his father. The trauma would last a lifetime.

Act XII: Community Impact

Bri Asia’s case shook Davenport and the surrounding communities. The outpouring of support was unprecedented—balloon launches, vigils, and memorials. The story was covered nationwide, a chilling reminder of the dangers children face.

The police department reviewed its procedures, emphasizing the importance of immediate action in missing child cases. Community groups advocated for better background checks and safety protocols for children.

Act XIII: Reflection and Healing

Three years after Bri Asia was found, the pain remains. Closure is elusive. Justice was served, but peace and understanding are harder to find.

Aisha continues to grieve, but she finds comfort in the community’s support. DL receives counseling, trying to process the unimaginable loss. Andrea Culberson moved away, hoping for a fresh start.

Bri Asia is remembered as an inspirational child, loved by her friends and family. Her story is a warning—a call to vigilance, compassion, and action.

Epilogue: Lessons Learned

The tragic case of Bri Asia Terrell is a testament to the power of community, the importance of thorough investigation, and the enduring pain of loss. It is a story of trust betrayed, innocence shattered, and a mother’s love that never fades.

As Jesse Weber says at the close of Prime Crime: “This case is just another example of a life cut way too short, and a reminder of the dangers that children constantly face in this world. Stay safe.”

Act XIV: The Long Road to Justice

The months between Bri Asia’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains were excruciating for her family and community. Each day, volunteers gathered at the local church to organize search parties, distribute flyers, and coordinate with law enforcement. The local news covered every development, and social media became a lifeline for tips, prayers, and shared grief.

Aisha barely slept. She replayed every memory of her daughter—Bri Asia’s laughter, her favorite songs, the way she’d ask for one more bedtime story. She clung to hope in the early days, but as weeks turned into months, hope gave way to a desperate need for answers. She found herself at the riverbank more than once, calling her daughter’s name into the wind, praying for a miracle.

For DL, the trauma was even more complicated. He had lost his sister and, in many ways, his father too. Therapists worked with him to process his memories—what he saw, what he heard, what he feared. He drew pictures of happier times, but his drawings often turned dark, filled with storm clouds and lonely figures.

Andrea Culberson, whose home became the center of the tragedy, struggled with guilt and confusion. She cooperated fully with police, replaying the timeline over and over. She wondered if she could have noticed something sooner, if she should have checked on the children in the middle of the night, if she could have prevented what happened.

Act XV: The Investigation Deepens

Detectives worked tirelessly, piecing together a case that was largely circumstantial. They tracked Henry’s movements through surveillance footage, cell phone pings, and witness statements. They traced his car to the remote pond where Bri Asia’s body was eventually found. They matched the mud on his vehicle to the soil at the crime scene and confirmed his purchase of bleach and cleaning supplies on the morning of her disappearance.

The lack of direct forensic evidence was a challenge. The elements had erased much of what might have been left behind. But the timeline was damning. Henry’s evasive answers, his criminal background, and his actions in the hours after Bri Asia vanished painted a clear picture for investigators.

The break in the case came from a chance encounter—a local man who remembered pulling a maroon Impala out of the mud near the pond that morning. His testimony, combined with DL’s recollections and the physical evidence, formed the backbone of the prosecution’s case.

Act XVI: Media and Public Reaction

As the trial date approached, the story drew national attention. True crime podcasts, cable news shows, and online forums all dissected the details. Some questioned how someone with Henry’s background had access to children. Others debated the challenges of prosecuting a case with little direct evidence.

In Davenport, the community was united in grief and resolve. Candlelight vigils were held for Bri Asia. Local businesses donated to reward funds. The mayor’s office issued a statement urging families to be vigilant and to look out for one another.

The case also sparked policy discussions. Lawmakers considered new regulations for background checks on adults caring for children, and schools implemented additional safety education programs. The tragedy became a catalyst for change, ensuring that Bri Asia’s legacy would include greater protection for other children.

Act XVII: The Trial’s Emotional Toll

When the trial finally began, the courtroom was packed. Aisha sat in the front row every day, clutching a photo of her daughter. She listened to every word, sometimes crying, sometimes staring straight ahead, determined to see justice done.

DL was shielded from much of the media attention, but his testimony was crucial. He bravely told the court what he remembered, even when it was painful. The defense tried to challenge his credibility, but the jury—and later the judge—recognized the trauma he had endured.

Andrea Culberson’s testimony was equally powerful. She described the confusion and fear she felt that night, her regret at not being able to protect Bri Asia, and her sorrow for what happened under her roof.

Henry Dinkin showed little emotion throughout the proceedings. He maintained his innocence, but the evidence against him was overwhelming.

Act XVIII: Sentencing and Aftermath

After the guilty verdict, the judge sentenced Henry to life in prison without parole. In his final statement, the judge condemned Henry’s actions as “unconscionable,” emphasizing the pain he had caused not just to Bri Asia, but to an entire community.

Aisha addressed the court, her voice steady but filled with heartbreak: “You took everything from me—my baby, my family, my peace. There is no sentence that can bring her back, but at least now, you can never hurt another child.”

The sentencing brought a measure of closure, but the wounds remained. Aisha continued to advocate for missing children and support other families facing similar tragedies. DL received ongoing counseling and support from relatives and teachers. The community established a scholarship fund in Bri Asia’s name, dedicated to helping children with hearing or vision impairments pursue their dreams.

Act XIX: Healing and Remembrance

In the months and years that followed, Davenport slowly healed. The local park where Bri Asia liked to play was renamed in her honor. A mural was painted on a nearby wall, depicting her smiling face surrounded by stars and doves.

Every July, on the anniversary of her disappearance, the community gathered to release balloons and share stories. Aisha spoke about her daughter’s courage and kindness, urging everyone to cherish their loved ones and to never take a single day for granted.

The police department used lessons from the case to improve their response to missing child reports, including faster mobilization and better coordination with neighboring agencies. Schools added programs on personal safety and recognizing signs of abuse.

Act XX: The Legacy of Bri Asia Terrell

Bri Asia’s story is a reminder of both the fragility of life and the strength of a community united in compassion. Her memory lives on in the hearts of those who loved her, in the changes her story inspired, and in the determination of her mother and brother to keep her spirit alive.

For Aisha, healing is a daily process. She finds comfort in small moments—sunrises, laughter, the kindness of strangers. She believes that Bri Asia is watching over her, proud of the difference her story has made.

For DL, the journey is ongoing. With the support of family, friends, and counselors, he is learning to process his grief and build a future shaped by resilience and hope.

For Davenport, the case is a call to action—a reminder to protect the vulnerable, to speak up for those who can’t, and to never give up hope, even in the darkest of times.

Epilogue: A Community Forever Changed

The tragedy of Bri Asia Terrell’s disappearance and murder will never be forgotten. Her story is a testament to the power of love, the importance of justice, and the enduring impact of one small life on an entire community.

As Jesse Weber closed the Prime Crime episode: “Stay safe. Cherish your loved ones. And remember, even in the face of unimaginable loss, hope and justice can prevail.”