Introduction to the Case
7Investigates has obtained newly released videos and jail phone calls in the case of a Miami-Dade inmate who got pregnant behind bars. The videos and phone calls reveal the plan of Miami-Dade inmate Daisy Link and her baby’s father Joan Depaz to get pregnant without physically meeting.
The Investigation
On Christmas Eve, 2023, police were called to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center to investigate how Link became pregnant while she was an inmate. Body camera video shows an officer ruling out rape after asking Link if the pregnancy was planned. Link confirmed that she was fine and that the pregnancy was planned.
The Conception Method
In a separate interview, Depaz was asked to explain how he got Link pregnant, even though they were never physically together. Depaz revealed that they used the vents in their cells to communicate and conceive the baby. He claimed that he sent his semen through an A/C vent connecting their cells using a makeshift line made out of mattress string.
Jail Phone Calls
7Investigates also obtained jail phone calls between Link and Depaz, including one where they discuss their plan to get pregnant. In the call, Depaz asks Link if she is going to have his baby, and Link confirms. Depaz also mentions that he sent his semen through the vent, and Link says she administered it using yeast infection applicators.
The Pregnancy Confirmation
More than a month after the first call, Link and Depaz spoke again, wondering if the plan had worked. Link mentions that she was supposed to have her period, but it had not arrived. By December, Link called her mom to break the news that she was pregnant. Her mom was shocked, as Link had been locked up with no bond since 2022 awaiting trial for murder.
Motive for Pregnancy
On the call, Link told her mom that she got pregnant to get out of jail. She believed that she could sue the corrections department and get out of jail. However, this plan did not work, and Link is still at TGK. Depaz was transferred to another jail and is now in state prison.
Aftermath and Retaliation
In July, Link told 7Investigates that she was punished for talking to them. She was placed in a psychiatric unit with a mattress and a blanket, and the lights were left on 24 hours a day. Link believes that this was retaliation for saying that she had found a huge breach in the corrections department’s security.
Investigation by the Corrections Department
The director of Miami-Dade Corrections, Sherea Green, has refused several interview requests. The department’s investigation into Link’s pregnancy found "insufficient evidence to substantiate staff misconduct." However, many questions remain, including about the flow of contraband in the eighth largest jail system in the country.
Conclusion
The case of Daisy Link and Joan Depaz raises concerns about the security and operations of the Miami-Dade Corrections department. The fact that two inmates were able to conceive a child without physically meeting highlights a significant breach in the system. The department’s investigation and response to the incident have also been questioned, and it remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address these concerns.
FAQs
- Q: How did Daisy Link and Joan Depaz conceive a child without physically meeting?
A: They used the vents in their cells to communicate and conceive the baby, with Depaz sending his semen through an A/C vent connecting their cells. - Q: Why did Link get pregnant?
A: Link got pregnant to try to get out of jail, believing that she could sue the corrections department and get released. - Q: What was the outcome of the corrections department’s investigation into Link’s pregnancy?
A: The investigation found "insufficient evidence to substantiate staff misconduct." - Q: What has happened to Link and Depaz since the incident?
A: Link is still at TGK, while Depaz was transferred to another jail and is now in state prison.
