Florida inmates create 'Miracle Baby' through unusual prison scheme

The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department launched an internal affairs investigation after two inmates at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Florida reportedly conceived a child without any physical contact, according to People. Officials are puzzled as to how this situation occurred without the authorities' knowledge.

In June 2023, 29-year-old inmate Daisy Link gave birth to a baby girl at Jackson Memorial Hospital, as reported by The Blaze. The child, born on June 19, is currently being cared for by Link's family while both parents remain incarcerated awaiting trial on their respective murder charges, according to Complex.

Despite never meeting face-to-face, Link and 23-year-old inmate Joan DePaz developed a romantic relationship through communication facilitated by the prison's ventilation system. Vice News reported that the two used the vents connecting their cells to exchange notes and pictures, providing relief from their isolation. "Being in isolation for so long you begin to spend hours and hours talking to this person, you know, to the point where it's almost as if you're in the same room with them," Link explained, as cited by Clarín.

Their conversations blossomed into a deep connection, leading DePaz to express his desire for a family. "I always really wanted to have a baby. And I'm not gonna get to do that for a really long time. So if I had to choose somebody, you know, it would be you," DePaz told Link, as reported by The Blaze. Link agreed to the plan, responding, "Yeah, we could do that," according to Vice News.

To achieve their goal, DePaz devised a method to send his semen to Link through the ventilation shaft. People reported that DePaz explained, "Because the vents are like an L-shape, really. It drops right into my vent. From her room, she could throw a pen into the vent, and it'll land right into my vent." They created a makeshift line using bedding to transfer the semen wrapped in Saran Wrap.

Link detailed the process to Vice News, stating, "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 then used a yeast infection applicator to inseminate herself. "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," Link told People.

For about a month, DePaz sent his semen five times a day, as reported by El Tiempo. Despite the slim chances of success, their efforts paid off. "I was very excited. I was ecstatic about it," Link said after learning she was pregnant, according to Vice News. She described her daughter as "a blessing" and "a miracle baby."

Fertility experts expressed surprise at the success of their unconventional method. The Blaze reported that a specialist at a Miami infertility center stated, "Their method had less than a 5% chance of resulting in pregnancy," calling it "a very unusual case."

The prison staff was reportedly shocked by Link's pregnancy. Many staff members suspected she might have been a victim of violence. Link's family has demanded an internal investigation, questioning whether she was sexually assaulted during her time in custody, according to El Tiempo.

Miami-Dade Corrections officials told People that an internal affairs investigation is ongoing. The unusual circumstances have raised questions about security protocols within the facility and how such communication and exchanges could occur unnoticed.

Despite their continued incarceration, Link and DePaz maintain communication through phone and video calls, allowing them to check in with their daughter during these visits, as reported by Complex. DePaz expressed his excitement over becoming a father, telling The Blaze, "Over here I'm like a celebrity."

Both inmates are awaiting trial for their respective charges. According to The Blaze, DePaz was arrested in October 2020 and is charged with first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, battery, and criminal mischief. His trial is scheduled for May 2025, as noted by People. Link is accused of murdering her partner two years ago, but her trial date has not yet been scheduled, according to El Tiempo.

The birth of their child has drawn significant attention and sparked debates about prison regulations and inmate interactions. Vice News reported that while the method they used is not a miracle, the inmates are attributing magical properties to their scheme. DePaz compared the circumstances to "the Virgin Mary," emphasizing that they never had any physical interaction.

Link reflected on their relationship and the odds they faced. "I can't believe it worked," she told The Blaze. "I think everything happened for a reason." 

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq