A British woman has told how she fell in love with a death row inmate in the United States after writing to him through a pen pal scheme. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she initially contacted Steve, a convicted murderer on death row in Alabama, after watching a television programme about the organisation Lifelines, which connects people with prisoners facing execution.
She said she was not looking for romance, having recently ended a relationship, but wanted to offer companionship to someone who was lonely and without a voice. After exchanging letters and photographs, she found herself thinking about him more and more. She described him as attractive and said they shared political ideas, a love of nature, and a taste for Eric Clapton.
The woman eventually visited Steve in prison, where she learned the details of his crime. He was convicted of a drug-related murder and robbery in 1984 when he was 19. She said she felt physically sick when he told her what he had done, but she believes he is not the same man who went into prison. He told her to think about whether she wanted to continue writing, but she said that was not a difficult decision.
The couple have discussed what would happen if Steve were granted parole, but the woman acknowledged the challenges. She said it would be necessary to start from the beginning, and that Steve would need to live on his own and even have relationships with other women to be sure of his feelings. However, she admitted that the greater worry is that Steve may not be alive much longer, as he is nearing the end of his appeals process.
She warned others against seeking romance through writing to prisoners, saying it can end in tears or worse. She said she is aware that relationships with men in prison can seem romantic, but she would not marry Steve or marry him on release.
