Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘A Cool Desert Morning’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ chronicles the brutal and mysterious 2015 killing of Susan Winters and the investigation that ensued. Despite the authorities closing the case as a suicide, her parents, Danny and Avis Winters, took it upon themselves to pursue justice for their daughter and prove that it was murder. Thanks to their insistence and perseverance, their son-in-law and Susan’s husband, Dr. Gregory Brent Dennis, was brought to justice for his gruesome crime. Danny and Avis are also featured in the episode, talking about their efforts in detail.
Danny and Avis Winters Proved Gregory Dennis’ Guilt With the Help of a Private Investigator
Parents to Christopher Winters, Danny and Avis Winters, were blessed with their second child, Susan Winters, on March 14, 1966, in Altus, Oklahoma. The doting parents provided a loving and supportive environment to both their children, helping them to work towards their respective dreams. When they married Susan to a clinical psychologist named Gregory Brent Dennis, they had no idea that it would eventually lead to their beloved daughter’s death. After they received a call from the authorities on January 3, 2015, telling them that their daughter had taken her own life, the Winters did not believe it and were discontent that no further investigation would be done. They were also heartbroken for their granddaughters, Avis Elle and Anna “Dani” Danielle, who had to live without their mother.
Elaborating on their disbelief on the matter, Danny Winters told the I-Team, “She had two daughters. She loved them more than anything. If she was going to commit suicide, she wouldn’t have done it in front of those girls, and she wouldn’t have done it where it took 24 hours to accomplish.” Knowing about their daughter’s rocky marriage, Danny and Avis hired a retired FBI special agent and licensed private investigator to look into the shady affairs of their son-in-law, as they suspected him to be responsible for Susan’s demise. The investigation led to the revelation about his drug use, a possible affair, a possible financial motive, and the lies regarding his whereabouts on the night of the murder.
Danny and Avis Winters Had Mixed Feelings About the Sentencing
Meanwhile, Avis and Dennis also filed a lawsuit against Gregory in an attempt to recover all the money he had collected after Susan’s passing. Avis Winters expressed her disappointment during a conversation with The Oklahoman, stating, “We were disappointed at the legal system, we were disappointed that the people in charge do not read evidence before them, we were disappointed that the Henderson police did not do any investigation, and the Clark County Coroner’s Office just accepted what they were told by Brent.” The efforts from the Winters finally led to the arrest of Gregory on February 2, 2017, which failed to bring them anything but closure, as they still had to bear the pain of losing their beloved daughter.
In January 2022, he was convicted of killing Susan Winters and ultimately sentenced to 3-10 years in prison in May of the same year. Although they were content with his punishment, Avis opened up about their relationship with their granddaughters in court, saying, “As if losing Susan wasn’t enough, we also lost the relationship we had with her daughters because we never believed this case was anything other than a murder case. The sadness is overwhelming at times, but we know that God is in control, and he will provide justice for Susan eventually.”
Danny and Avis Winters Continue to Celebrate Susan’s Life
Though it has been a decade since Danny and Avis Winters lost Susan to a heinous crime, they continue to grieve their only daughter, for time hasn’t healed the immense pain they carry since that unfortunate day in 2015. Her absence is particularly felt on birthdays and other festive occasions, when her free-spirited personality and warmhearted nature would light up the room. Despite the pain, the pair is trying to move on as it is what their beloved child would’ve wanted. They share a close-knit relationship with their son, Christopher, who prefers to lead a life away from social media.
As of today, Danny and Avis are residents of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where they run a nonprofit organization called the Winters Family Foundation. Over the years, the couple has weathered all sorts of ups and downs that life has thrown at them. If anything, the grave challenges have only made their bond stronger and love for each other deeper. They possess a shared love for animals and enjoy the company of their furry baby, Ricky. In addition to being proud pet parents, the two also bask in the beauty of all things nature from time to time. They also take great joy in gardening and work hard to keep their yard blooming with beautiful flowers such as irises.
While Danny doesn’t really have a social media presence, Avis makes up for it by keeping their loved ones updated by regularly sharing snippets from their lives. From what we can tell, she finds a sense of comfort in nostalgia and fondly revisits beautiful memories of the past by sharing photographs of herself, Danny, their kids, and other relatives from their early life. Other than that, she seems to be quite grateful for the simple things in life and expresses the same via heartfelt captions, such as “God’s gift, another day!” As they try to live their life again, Danny and Avis Winters honor Susan’s life by keeping her spirit alive in their hearts.
Read More: Susan Winters Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
