Bio

Dexter Lee Vinson was born on April 3, 1963, in Suffolk, Virginia. He was the second of four siblings. Growing up, he attended John F. Kennedy High School in Suffolk. Details about his early childhood and family life are not widely documented.

As a young adult, Vinson lived with his ex-girlfriend, Angela Felton, for more than a year. However, their relationship faced challenges, and Felton moved out about three weeks before her death. The couple shared a complex relationship with ups and downs, which ultimately led to their separation.

Vinson’s life took a turn after his relationship with Felton ended. His actions in the following years resulted in drastic legal consequences, culminating in serious criminal charges. His history and life experiences before these events remain largely unexplored in public records.

At the age of 34, Vinson faced legal troubles that would change his life forever. His early life shows ordinary beginnings, yet complicated personal circumstances led to a significant downward spiral.

Murder Story

On May 19, 1997, Angela Felton, a 25-year-old mother of three, was abducted by her ex-boyfriend, Dexter Lee Vinson, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Angela had gone to the home they once shared to collect mail. Upon seeing Vinson, she tried to escape in her car. Vinson pursued her, ramming her vehicle until she was forced to stop. He then assaulted her, beating her before taking her away to a nearby vacant house.

Inside the house, Angela suffered horrific abuse. She was sexually mutilated and stabbed multiple times, with deep cuts to her neck, forearms, and body. Angela ultimately bled to death from her injuries. Her nude and mutilated body was discovered the next day, May 20, 1997.

Witnesses reported observing various events leading up to and during the abduction. One witness saw Vinson using a rope to choke Angela and another reported seeing him drag something heavy into the abandoned house. Evidence collected from the scene, including DNA matching Angela’s found on Vinson’s clothing and his fingerprints in both vehicles and the house, linked him to the crime.

Dexter Vinson was convicted of capital murder and several other charges related to Angela's death, including abduction with the intent to defile and carjacking. He was sentenced to death, and after various legal appeals were denied, he was executed by lethal injection on April 27, 2006, at the age of 43. His execution marked a significant moment as it was the first one carried out under Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine, who had campaigned against the death penalty. However, he concluded that he saw no compelling reason to doubt Vinson's guilt.