Inmate Claims 'Virgin Mary' Conception Behind Bars
Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, FL, is a secure detention center operated by the Dade County Sheriff's Office. Photo courtesy of Sirocuartel under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In a case that reads like a plot twist from a crime drama, Daisy Link, a Florida woman on trial for the 2022 murder of her partner Pedro Jimenez, gave birth in 2024 to a child fathered by a fellow inmate, Joan Depaz. What makes this story extraordinary is that Link and Depaz claim they never met in person or had any physical contact — yet somehow, a baby was conceived behind bars.
The Trial and the Unusual Pregnancy
Daisy Link's murder trial began in Miami on October 8, 2025. She faces charges for the fatal shooting of Pedro Jimenez in 2022. Prosecutors allege that Link misled police by pretending to have just found Jimenez suffering from a gunshot wound, but her defense admits she fired the shot, arguing it was self-defense against an "unhinged" and "dangerous" victim, as reported by PEOPLE.
Amid this serious legal battle, a sensational subplot has captured public attention: Link reportedly gave birth to a daughter in 2024 while still incarcerated, fathered by Joan Depaz, who is also jailed on murder charges. The two inmates say they never physically met, yet managed to conceive a child — a claim that has sparked an internal investigation by Miami-Dade Corrections.
How Did It Happen? The Jailhouse Conception
Link and Depaz, both held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County, described their unusual method of conception in interviews with local media. They communicated through air conditioning vents in their cells, passing notes and pictures, which blossomed into a romantic relationship, as reported by PEOPLE.
To overcome the physical barrier, the inmates told WSVN they tied bedsheets together to create a line between their vents, as reported by PEOPLE. Depaz said he collected his semen daily, wrapped it in Saran Wrap, and attached it to this makeshift line, which Link then pulled into her cell. She said she then placed the semen inside yeast infection applicators and administered it herself, allegedly leading to her pregnancy.
Depaz likened the conception to a Biblical miracle, comparing it to the Virgin Mary, emphasizing that they never had physical contact. Link called their daughter a "miracle baby" and a "blessing" in a jailhouse interview, expressing disbelief that their plan worked, as reported by PEOPLE.
Life After Conception and Current Status
The baby was born in June 2024 and now reportedly lives with Link's family outside of jail. Although Link and Depaz are now housed in separate facilities, they maintain communication through phone calls and video visits with their daughter.
Both remain incarcerated, with Depaz's murder trial scheduled for May 2025. Link's trial began on October 8, 2025, and is currently underway. The Miami-Dade Department of Corrections continues to investigate how such a conception was possible within the jail's security protocols.
The Intersection of Crime and Conception
This case presents a rare intersection of criminal justice and human biology, raising questions about prison security and inmate interactions. The ingenuity of Link and Depaz's method — using everyday items like bedsheets and Saran Wrap to circumvent physical barriers — has stunned officials and the public alike.
Meanwhile, the murder trial of Daisy Link continues to unfold, with the pregnancy story adding an unusual layer to the courtroom drama. Her defense's admission that she shot Jimenez but claims self-defense contrasts with the prosecution's narrative of deception at the crime scene.
For now, the baby remains a symbol of an extraordinary story born behind bars — a story that challenges assumptions about incarceration, intimacy, and the lengths to which people will go to connect.
References: Woman Who Claimed She Got Pregnant in Jail Without Contact with Baby's Father Is on Trial for Murder | Inmate Gives Birth to Baby Fathered By Fellow Inmate She Says She Has Never Seen in Person | Inmate describes how she became pregnant without meeting dad
