logo
I got engaged the day I met my fiance – my friends say I'm nuts for dating a man with a 13-year jail sentence

I got engaged the day I met my fiance – my friends say I'm nuts for dating a man with a 13-year jail sentence

The Sun14-07-2025
A YOUNG woman swears she has found love in another country where her fiance is locked behind bars.
Verona, from Norway, says she met her lover, Justin, after joining a prison pen pal site after her previous relationship broke down.
3
3
She revealed she found solace speaking to strangers about her emotions when she found Justin on the site and they instantly hit it off.
Verona said that at first, she wasn't romantically interested but her feelings grew when she realised he had hopes for a new life.
Verona has travelled to Arizona, where Justin is locked up, twice, and on their first meeting, they decided to get engaged.
Speaking to Love Don't Judge, she said: "I got engaged to him the first time I met him.
"He was warning me that he would get on his knees like in front of everyone, cuz you're not alone in the visitation room.
"He made his old speech and asked me to be his wife."
Verona, 29, and Justin, 37, now plan to get married behind bars while he serves the remaining two and a half years of his 13-year prison sentence.
Inside, Justin earns money to be able to call Verona by teaching yoga and baking.
Now, she had the hard task of telling her friends about her relationship and exactly who Justin is.
Verona sat her friends down to let them know she was going to get married to a prison inmate, who was charged with armed robbery.
3
Corruption & bribery behind bars exposed as ex-con reveals lags pay £500 for KFC & how inmates have sex with guards
Her friends first assumed it was a prank, but Verona assured them it wasn't, something they both needed time to 'process.'
Verona told them, "I wasn't supposed to fall in love though. That was not the plan. That just happened."
Speaking on those who doubt their relationship, Verona said she and Justin had two years to plan and build their new life together.
"You should give someone the opportunity to let them show who they are before you judge them just because of something that happened in the past," she continued.
"Why would you not let someone grow and get better and give them a chance?"
UK Prison Brides
Tracey Bottomley married double murderer Ernest Otto Smith in the US after meeting through a prison pen pal initiative. Tracey, from West Yorks, knew he had been given a life sentence with no possibility of parole
Rebecca Short, from Oxfordshire, told her family she was on holiday in the US in 2022. Little did they know she was marrying double murderer Manuel Ovate Jr, who was on death row
Paula Williamson, an actress who appeared on Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, married the infamous Charles Bronson in 2017 after they became penpals
Karen Charves married Kenny Richey while he was on death row in 2014. He had been convicted for starting a fire in 1986 that killed his ex-girlfriend's daughter, aged two. Karen and Kenny's union did not last and she claimed he was abusive.
Naomi Wise, from Essex, married Victor Oquendo, nicknamed Animal, while he was serving a 24-year prison term in a US jail. They split up in 2022 but have now rekindled their romance
Public Reaction
Despite her plea to see the best in others, people were quick to judge in the comments section of the video.
One person wrote: "The bar is set so low it is now in the gutter."
Another commented: "Girl, why?"
"I'm judging," penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: "I wish her the best. I hope she's not being played…"
"Silly, silly, silly,' claimed a fifth
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

White House in 'full-bore panic mode' over Epstein files and FBI 'breaking at the seams'
White House in 'full-bore panic mode' over Epstein files and FBI 'breaking at the seams'

Daily Mail​

time16 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

White House in 'full-bore panic mode' over Epstein files and FBI 'breaking at the seams'

President Trump is reportedly furious over the botched handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as The White House launches into 'full-bore panic mode' in a desperate attempt to change the subject. The Justice Department and FBI have come under fire as they scramble to end the ongoing fallout after Attorney General Pam Bondi's so-called 'communications failure' snowballed into a crisis. Trump is now fuming about the inconsistent Epstein narratives emerging from Washington D.C. as the saga continues to dominate headlines. 'This is a pretty substantial distraction,' a White House source told The Washington Post, citing 'nearly a dozen people close to the situation.' 'While many are trying to keep the unity, in many ways, the DOJ and the FBI are breaking at the seams. Many are wondering how sustainable this is going to be for all the parties involved - be it the FBI director or attorney general.' Any attempts by Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to tamp down the rampant speculation about Epstein have only fueled more conspiracy theories and negative attention. 'They completely miscalculated the fever pitch to which they built this up,' Stephen A. Saltzburg, a former Justice Department official told the Post. 'Now, they seem to be in full-bore panic mode, trying to change the subject and flailing in an effort to make sense of what makes no sense.' But Trump is refusing to make the one move that could silence his critics and reset the narrative. 'He does not want to create a bigger spectacle by firing anyone,' the source told the Post. So Bondi, Patel and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino continue their fruitless campaign to end the speculation around the death of one of the most infamous billionaire of the 21st century. The release of security footage from outside Epstein's jail cell from the night he took his own life - an attempt to stop conspiracy theories that he was murdered - was Patel and Bongino's idea, multiple sources revealed. However, the video missing three minutes of footage from that night made things worse. Both are now privately upset that they haven't been able to release more of the Epstein files with Bongino on the verge of quitting as all three play the blame game with one another. Bongino's frustration came to a head in a stunning post to X over the weekend, revealing he has discovered matters that have 'shocked me down to my core' during his time in office. He shared a cryptic message to his social media in which he vowed to uncover 'the truth' amid mounting criticism of his handling of the Epstein files. Bongino added: 'We cannot run a Republic like this. I'll never be the same after learning what I've learned. A source inside the DOJ told Daily Mail that Bongino was ready to stand down if Attorney General Pam Bondi didn't. Todd Blanche, the president's former attorney and now Bondi's second in command at the DOJ, denied any beef between his department and the FBI in a statement. 'The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo's composition and release is patently false,' he said. The fallout of that memo continues, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Bondi told Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files. Trump on Friday denied ever being briefed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name was in the files. 'No, I was never briefed. No,' he told reporters after he landed in Scotland to visit his golf courses. But Bondi briefed Trump during a May 2025 meeting that his name was found in the Epstein documents 'multiple times,' according to reports. Other high-profile individuals are also named in the investigation about Epstein's sex crimes. Just because the president is named in the files does not implicate him in any wrongdoing or connect him to Epstein's child sex trafficking crimes. Patel and Dan Bongino (pictured) are now privately upset that they haven't been able to release more of the Epstein files with Bongino on the verge of quitting as all three play the blame game with one another Todd Blanche (pictured), the president's former attorney and now Bondi's second in command at the DOJ, denied any beef between his department and the FBI The Wall Street Journal originally broke the news of Bondi's briefing to Trump. The Justice Department told the news outlet that Trump was made aware of the findings of the Epstein files as part of the 'routine briefing.' Bondi also allegedly acknowledged that the administration should withhold the files due to them containing images of child sexual abuse Blanche reportedly said that nothing was found in the files that would mandate an additional investigation - or even prosecution. 'As part of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings,' they told the Journal. White House communications director Steven Cheung slammed the report as 'fake news' in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about,' he said when the report came out earlier this week. But, try as he might, Trump cannot move on from questions about Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting charges related to sex crimes. His death, ruled to be a suicide, sparked endless conspiracy theories that questioned how he may have really died and who among the rich and powerful would have benefitted from it. The president associated with Epstein and British socialite Maxwell in the 1980s and 1990s. Epstein's right-hand woman and former lover Ghislaine Maxwell was questioned this week by Deputy Attorney General Blanche. She is serving 20 years behind bars for his involvement in Epstein's crimes. The 63-year-old made it clear earlier this month that she was willing to speak in front of Congress about the case. Maxwell appears to be angling for a pardon from the president after she 'didn't hold back' during secret questioning session. Her attorney David Oscar Markus claimed that she spoke with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about '100 different people' related to Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. 'They asked about every possible thing you could imagine – everything,' Markus told reporters. He also said Maxwell is being used as the 'scapegoat' in the entire Epstein case and has been 'treated unfairly for the last five years.' Her attorney said that they had not put in a formal request with the White House for a pardon for Maxwell following the conclusion of Day 2 of questioning. But Markus didn't rule out taking that action in the future, saying 'things are happening so quickly.' 'The president said earlier he has the power to do so, we hope he exercises that power in the right way,' he said of a potential commutation. Trump refused to rule out invoking his presidential pardon powers for Maxwell when asked on Friday morning. 'I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I haven't thought about,' he said. But, asked again about the matter later Friday, Trump, meanwhile, declined to talk about Maxwell and said 'this is no time to be talking about pardons.' 'I really have nothing to say about it. She is being talked to by a very smart man, a very good man, Todd Blanche. And I don't know anything about the conversation. I haven't really been following it,' he said. 'A lot of people are asking me about pardons. This is no time to be talking about pardons,' he added. Meanwhile, over the course of two days, Maxwell and her attorney have spent more than nine hours answering Blanche's questions. It's not clear when or if the DOJ will release what was learned in the meetings. Markus said Maxwell is grateful to have had the chance to sit-down with Blanche. 'This was the first opportunity she's ever been given to answer questions about what happened,' Markus said. 'The truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person whose answering those questions.' A growing fringe effort to get Trump to pardon Maxwell has unfolded after the Justice Department rejected her effort to have her conviction on child sex trafficking charges thrown out. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. She was convicted in 2021 on five counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy. It's unclear what she can reveal that isn't already public and the closed-door meeting is fueling skepticism over the handling of the Epstein files review. Maxwell is also on the books to testify before Congress from prison on August 11.

Shocking moment federal air marshals 'stormed the cockpit' of Delta flight and arrested co-pilot
Shocking moment federal air marshals 'stormed the cockpit' of Delta flight and arrested co-pilot

Daily Mail​

time16 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Shocking moment federal air marshals 'stormed the cockpit' of Delta flight and arrested co-pilot

Federal authorities could be seen storming the cockpit of a Delta Airlines flight in San Francisco before they placed the co-pilot in handcuffs and led him off the flight. The federal agents entered Flight 2809 from Minneapolis shortly after it landed at the San Francisco International Airport at around 9.35pm on Saturday. They were filmed donning plainclothes and wearing law enforcement badges around their necks. Their faces were cropped out in video shared online. But passengers said the group of 10 officers included agents from Homeland Security Investigations and others who identified as federal air marshals, KTLA reports. 'A group of people with badges, guns and different agency vests/markings were pushing their way through the aisle to the cockpit,' a passenger who was sitting in first class told the San Francisco Chronicle. She went on to explain that the officers 'stormed the cockpit, cuffed the pilot, arrested him, walked him down the aisle and ushered him off the plane through the cabin doors located between first and coach.' Soon after, a second team of agents returned to the plane to collect the unidentified co-pilot's personal belongings. Authorities did not immediately reveal why the co-pilot was apprehended. But Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin cited a senior federal official who claims the co-pilot was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations on allegations involving child sexual abuse materials. The arrest seemed to shock even those who worked on the flight. Video shared online showed federal agents in plainclothes wearing badges around their necks entering Flight 2809 from Minneapolis shortly after it landed at the San Francisco International Airport at around 9.35pm on Saturday. The officers then arrested the co-pilot of the flight 🚨 BREAKING: A Delta pilot was arrested by HSI (Homeland Security) on CSAM charges. — Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 27, 2025 The remaining pilot said he had no idea what was happening, View from the Wing reports, and a passenger on the flight recounted asking a member of the flight crew what was happening. 'I looked at him and said "What's going on?" He said, "I have no idea,"' the passenger told Fox 9. 'And he genuinely looked like this was a surprise, that all of a sudden there was people on the plane, because he had us stand up, we were starting to take our stuff out for arrival and everybody was already in the overhead bin.' The passenger who spoke to the Chronicle ultimately called the experience 'shocking and unnerving,' noting that those on board received no information from the crew about what had occurred.

What to Stream: Reneé Rapp, 'The Phoenician Scheme,' Elvis rarities, Anthony Mackie and Jason Momoa
What to Stream: Reneé Rapp, 'The Phoenician Scheme,' Elvis rarities, Anthony Mackie and Jason Momoa

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

What to Stream: Reneé Rapp, 'The Phoenician Scheme,' Elvis rarities, Anthony Mackie and Jason Momoa

Benicio Del Toro starring in Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme'and Reneé Rapp 's second studio album are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists: Jason Momoa brings his passion project 'Chief of War' to Apple TV+, there's a coxy Hobbit video game in Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game and 'Project Runway' tries out a new network home for its 21st season. New movies to stream from July 28-Aug. 3 – Wes Anderson's 'The Phoenician Scheme' (streaming now on Peacock) stars Benicio Del Toro as Anatole 'Zsa-zsa' Korda, a wealthy and unscrupulous European industrialist. After the latest assassination attempt on his life, he decides to leave his estate to one of his many children, Lisel (Mia Threapleton), a novitiate. Michael Cera co-stars as a Norwegian insect expect named Bjørn. In her review, the AP's Jocelyn Noveck wrote that the film finds Anderson 'becoming even more, well, Wes Anderson than before.' – The Netflix romance 'My Oxford Year' (streaming Friday, Aug. 1) follows a young American student named Anna (Sofia Carson) in her long-dreamt-of year at Oxford University. Corey Mylchreest co-stars as a local love interest in the film directed by Iain Morris. – Movie soundtracks once played so much more of a role in popular culture. A new series on the Criterion Channel collects some of the films from the soundtrack's heyday, the 1990s, when songs from movies like 'Trainspotting' (1996) and 'Singles' (1992) dominated the airwaves and MTV. Also running this month on Criterion are 'Grosse Pointe Blank' (1997), 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' (1993) and 'Judgement Night' (1993). — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle New music to stream from July 28-Aug. 3 — The King of Rock 'n' Roll has returned. On Friday, Aug. 1, to celebrate what would've been Elvis Presley's 90th birthday year, a massive collection of 89 rarities will be released as a five-disc CD boxset – and on all digital platforms. Titled 'Sunset Boulevard,' the series pulls from Presley's 1970-1975 Los Angeles recording sessions and rehearsals at RCA's studios. There is no greater gift for the Elvis aficionado. — Reneé Rapp will release her second studio album on Friday, Aug. 1, the appropriately titled 'Bite Me.' The 12-track release is imbued with Rapp's edgy, lighthearted spirit — catchy R&B-pop songs about bad breakups and good hookups abound. It'll put some pep in your step. — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman New series to stream from July 28-Aug. 3 — 'Project Runway' has had quite a life since it debuted in 2004 on Bravo. After its first six seasons, the competition show about fashion design moved to Lifetime for 11 seasons, then back to Bravo for a few years, and its new home for season 21 is Freeform. Christian Siriano — who won the show's fourth season — is an executive producer, mentor and judge. He joins 'Project Runway' OG host Heidi Klum, celebrity stylist extraordinaire Law Roach and fashion editor Nina Garcia. It premieres Thursday and streams on Disney+ and Hulu. — Comedian Leanne Morgan stars in her own multi-cam sitcom for Netflix called 'Leanne,' debuting Thursday. Inspired by her own stand-up, Morgan plays a woman whose husband leaves her for another woman after more than three decades of marriage. Morgan stars alongside sitcom vets Kristen Johnston and Tim Daly. — Anthony Mackie's 'Twisted Metal' is back on Peacock for a second season of beginning Thursday. The show is adapted from a popular video game franchise and picks up about 7 months after the events of season one. —Jason Momoa brings his passion project 'Chief of War' to Apple TV+ on Friday, Aug. 1. Set in the late 18th century, Momoa plays Kauai, a nobleman and warrior, who plays a major part in the unification of the Hawaiian islands. The series is based on true events and is told from an Indigenous point-of-view. — Alicia Rancilio New video games to play from July 28-Aug. 3 — Games set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth usually want to drag us back to Mount Doom for another confrontation with the Dark Lord. But what if you're a Hobbit who just wants to hang out with your friends in your peaceful village? That's your mission in Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game. It's a cozy sim from Weta Workshop, the company behind the special effects in Peter Jackson's films. You can grow a garden, go fishing, trade with your neighbors and — most important for a Hobbit — cook and eat. It's about as far from Mordor as it gets, and you can start decorating your own Hobbit Hole on Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch or PC.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store