Love Behind Bars: Real Stories from Couples Who Met Through Pen Pal Sites

Here are three short stories you can read about inmates and pen pals finding real love.

💍 1. Gabriella (Lithuania) & Jamal (Michigan, USA)

Model Gabriella Moore from Lithuania met Jamal, serving a 22–45 year sentence in Michigan, via a pen pal program in late 2021. They connected first by letters and video, declared love before ever meeting, and married in a 30‑minute prison ceremony in 2022—despite never being physically intimate due to Michigan’s ban on conjugal visits. Gabriella visits him several times a year and advocates for his innocence, even raising funds for a legal appeal. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/30891882/prison-bride-married-conjugal-visits-banned-keep-spicy/

💖 2. Laura Gehrke (Germany) & Joshua Stewart (Washington State, USA)

Laura Gehrke, a real estate agent and “Too Hot To Handle: Germany” alum, noticed Joshua’s profile on a pen‐pal site while stranded in Dubai. After six weeks of chats, he proposed by phone, and they wed in June 2024 at a Washington State prison. They developed a deep emotional connection—sharing poetry and long calls—and plan to reunite in the U.S. post‑release. https://www.aol.com/too-hot-handle-star-marries-152227114.html

🌏 3. Chloe (Australia) & American Inmate (USA)

Australian woman Chloe reached out to an inmate in the U.S. about three years ago. They corresponded for years before meeting at a U.S. prison table. Their love grew steadily, leading to marriage. This story reflects the growing number of international pen pal–inmate relationships. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/article/chloe-married-her-prisoner-pen-pal-meet-the-australians-falling-for-men-in-jail/4xqxco4ac?utm_