Day 30: The case of the Svengali father and a girl named Cinnamon
December 1st, 2009, 2:00 am · 20 Comments · posted by Larry Welborn
1986: David Arnold Brown was one of the first entrepreneurs to capitalize on data retrieval from computers. He also had a dark side.
He coerced his 14-year-old daughter Cinnamon into killing his fifth wife Linda for $ 830,000 in insurance money. 
And then he gave his daughter an overdose of drugs. She survived, but was convicted of murdering her stepmother.
After spending years in custody, Cinnamon finally came clean and told District Attorney’s investigator Jay Newell the almost-unbelievable story that her Dad masterminded the murder.
Some people were astonished to learn that David Arnold Brown had taken up with Linda’s younger sister – starting when she was 17 — and had fathered a child with her.
He was convicted in 1990 of first-degree murder and is still in custody. This amazing story of the Svengali-like father who convinced his 14-year-old daughter to commit murder for him spawned a made-for-television movie and two true-crime books.
Pictured above: Cinnamon Brown gives a tearful testimony as she is questioned by the prosecutor. 1984 Register File Photo by Ana Venegas. At right: David Arnold Brown during bail hearing.
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I wonder why she spend years in custody before coming clean? I’d have ratted his sorry arse out on day one. What a truly sad story. I had forgotten all about this one.
I remember when they found this young girl, she was hiding in a dog house. This warped man was no svengali. It doesn’t take much to teach young and impressionable young girls what you want. The tragedy was that no one was watching out for these girls, and that he was able to use them and abuse them. Terrible story. I hope this girl can recover and have a happy life someday.
I remember that case so well. That man drugged his kid and literally had her convinced his life was in danger, and she loved her dad. Poor thing, to have been manipulated like that from a parent. And good for her she finally told the truth, even if it took her a couple years.
It seems like the register and writer are romanticizing these “Notorious” murders. That doesn’t seem very intelligent.
All I know is the article to the right “THINGS TO DO” that guys photo looks like a cartoon, it’s was hard for me to finish the story…
So what happened to the girl??
Don’t tell me they lock children up for life in California???
The book I read about this case (Ann Rule) said her attorney and his wife took her in when she was freed and helped her go to college.
Ann Rule is the best true crime writer ever. It was so cool of those people to step up to the plate and help her.
Is she seeing anyone now?
I remember watching the movie about this story, Clancy Brown did a good job playing the part. If I remember correctly this took place in Garden Grove.
What happened to the girl?
according to Ann Rule’s web site, she married had a child but then her husband committed suicide in Las Vegas.. Ann hasn’t heard from her in years. So sad.
http://www.annrules.com/news4.htm
Just shot that guy in the head with the bullet a hundred times.
Sorry for the girl
I remember this too. She is the same age as me and I remember thinking that I would get mad at my folks from time to time but I’d never kill one of them or do something bad because the other one said to. The guy is a disgusting con artist and child molester who groomed his victims, including his daughter, to do his cowardly bidding.
Wow…coming across this story brought back memories. I grew up in Garden Grove on a street called Lampson and this happened across the street…it was across the street but the street had a different name…I think it was Oceanbreeze or something like that. I was about 18 when it happened and it was hard to believe.
This poor woman has been through so much, just horrible, many prayers to her.
http://www.annrules.com/news4.htm
Larry, can you tell us a small detail????????
How much time did this maggot get?????
Detailssssssssssssss, maaaaaaaaannnnnnnn………………. geesss.
Not exactly the Brady Bunch, eh?
I had heard about this years after the fact. I met a very nice girl at work, we were co-workers, and her name was Cinnamon. We had a good time when we worked together. It’s been many years since I’ve seen Cinnamon, but I do remember her being a kind person who worked well with everyone. I was so shocked to come to work one day and she was just gone. I’m sad to hear about her husband and I just hope she can be happy once again. Linda was a victim, but so was Cinnamon thanks to her horrible father.