Prison Pair Welcomes Healthy Baby Without Ever Meeting

Some stories are so strange they sound made up—this is one of them. It has everything: a love story, a murder charge, a baby, and two people who have never even been in the same room.

What happened between two inmates in a Miami prison is part biology, part ingenuity, and part… well, something else entirely. It’s not a story about romance in the traditional sense. It’s about two people locked up on serious charges who somehow found each other and decided to bring a child into the world in the most improbable way.

Daisy Link and Joan Depaz were both being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County when they became parents. Link, 29, had been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing her husband.

Depaz was also being held on a separate murder charge. Their paths crossed, or rather, their voices did, through an air conditioning vent between their separate cells.

That’s right. They never touched. They never stood face to face. Their entire relationship, at least in the physical world, played out through a hole in the wall. They started talking every night through the vent. Nothing dramatic, just conversations to pass the time and make the hours move faster.

But those talks turned into something more. They began to exchange letters and notes, also through the vent. And over time, they began to imagine a future, one that included a baby.

In an interview with WSVN, Depaz shared that becoming a father had always been his dream.

Depaz later told local outlet WSVN that he had expressed his wish to become a father, even though he knew his situation made that dream pretty much impossible. Link, it turned out, had always wanted to be a mom too.

So they did what most people in their situation wouldn’t even consider: they made a plan. Here’s where things get weirder.

Using only what was available to them inside their cells—bedding, saran wrap, a yeast infection applicator, and a bit of creativity—they managed to put together a DIY insemination method.

They tied bedding into a makeshift line that ran through their shared vent. Depaz would roll his semen into saran wrap “like a cigarette,” attach it to the line, and Link would pull it through to her side. She would then use the applicator to try and inseminate herself.

Miami-Dade Correction

Link described the process in detail:

“He would kind of roll it up almost like a cigarette, and he would attach it to the line that we had in the vent, and I would pull it through,” she told WSVN. “From there, I had placed it inside of, you know, the yeast infection applicators? I had placed it inside of there, and then from there, yeah, I administered it.”

And they didn’t try once or twice. Depaz said he passed semen to her five times a day for a full month. It might sound ridiculous. It might even sound impossible. But it worked.

Understanding the Psychology of Prisons and Relationships

This unusual love story, occurring in a Miami prison, can be examined through the lens of environmental psychology theory. According to this theory, our surroundings can significantly influence our behaviors and relationships. This perspective is particularly relevant in understanding the psychological dynamics in prisons. Dr. Michele Gelfand, a cultural psychologist, notes, "The environment we inhabit can shape our emotional responses and coping mechanisms," which is crucial in the dehumanizing settings of prisons. In such situations, forming emotional attachments can serve as a coping mechanism to alleviate loneliness and provide emotional support (Dr. Michele Gelfand).

Link is said to have given birth to their baby girl on June 19, 2024, at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

After just a few attempts, Link became pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl on June 19, 2024, at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The child is currently being cared for by Depaz’s mother, while both parents remain behind bars, now at different facilities. They still talk on the phone and can see their daughter during video visits.

Fertility expert Dr. Fernando Akerman weighed in on the situation and said it’s a one-in-a-million kind of thing.

“We estimate that probably their chances were less than five percent, but that is not to say that the chances were zero,” he said. “So this is absolutely a case that is exceedingly unusual. To my knowledge, I’ve never heard or read anything like this.”Miami-Dade Correction

Most people wouldn’t even believe it’s possible—yet it happened. Two inmates, both facing serious charges, became parents without ever sharing the same space. It defies logic, medical odds, and every idea we have about what’s possible behind bars.

Whatever your opinion on the circumstances, the facts are plain: they wanted a child, and they found a way. It’s a story that’s bizarre, unsettling, and fascinating—all at once. And it’s undeniably unforgettable.

While the concept of two people forming a bond without ever physically meeting might seem unusual, it's actually quite well-studied in psychology. Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship therapist, notes, "The emotional connection can flourish even in the absence of physical presence, as individuals share their vulnerabilities and personal stories." This idea aligns with the 'Social Penetration Theory' (Dr. Alexandra Solomon), which explains how relationships can develop through disclosure and sharing of personal information. Furthermore, the 'online disinhibition effect' has been explored by Dr. Michele Gelfand, who states, "Digital communication often allows for deeper self-disclosure, as people feel liberated from the constraints of face-to-face interactions" (Dr. Michele Gelfand).

The Power of Hope and Future Orientation in Prisons

The decision of these two prisoners to have a child together could be seen as an expression of hope and future orientation, key aspects of positive psychology. Research by Snyder et al. (2002) posits that hope can serve as a psychological strength in adverse conditions, driving individuals to plan for a better future. The decision to have a child in a prison setting could be seen as a manifestation of this hope and a desire for a positive future.

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

In conclusion, while this story might initially seem outlandish, it can be better understood when viewed through the lens of established psychological theories. The environmental psychology theory, social penetration theory, and concepts of hope and future orientation all provide valuable insights into the behaviors displayed by these two prisoners. However, it is essential to acknowledge the individual and unique circumstances of these prisoners, cautioning against broad generalizations based on this single case.