On November 15, 2022, a jury found defendant Dana Rivers guilty of three counts of first-degree murder during the 2016 triple-murder of a family, Charlotte Reed, Patricia Wright, and their 19-year-old son Benny Toto Diambu-Wright. The jury also found Dana Rivers guilty of arson of an inhabited dwelling and of special circumstance of more than one offense of murder. On January 6, 2023, a judge found Dana Rivers was legally sane at the time she committed these crimes.
On November 11, 2016, just after midnight, Oakland Police arrived on Dunbar Drive in Oakland after reports of gunshots. Once officers arrived on scene, they found a male victim lying in front of a home, suffering from gunshot wounds. While canvassing the scene for suspects, an officer heard a loud bang coming from the garage of the home. Moments later, the defendant walked out of the home, covered in blood and smelling of gasoline. After searching her, they found ammunition and knives in her pockets.
The garage had been set on fire by Rivers in an attempt to cover up the crimes inside. Inside the home, officers located another two victims in a bedroom, Reed and Wright, who had been both stabbed and shot in their bedroom. Reed had two gunshot wounds and over 40 stab wounds to her body. Wright had two gunshot wounds and two stab wounds to her body.
It is believed that defendant Rivers was motivated by her allegiance to an all-female motor club, the Deviants. The Deviants motor club was associated with the Hells Angels motor gang. Reed, one of the victims, had briefly joined the motor club earlier in 2016, but left soon thereafter. The president of the Deviants and Reed ended on bad terms. Rivers was the “enforcer” of the club. Following the murders, the president of the Deviants promoted Rivers to the position of Sergeant of Arms.
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
DDA Abigail Mulvihill prosecuted the case, with aide from Inspector Jason Turner and Victim-Witness Advocate Liliana Bueno.