A woman has revealed how she married her prison pen pal in a visitation room and even got each other’s names tattooed after one week.
Verona Fogarty had been notoriously unlucky in love.
After her latest blow, where she got stood up on Valentine’s Day, the 29-year-old vowed to stay away from men for good.
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That was until she came across Justin Fogarty, 37.
But there was just one thing standing in their way – a set of prison bars.
“He had tattoos up both of his arms,” the prison rehabilitation worker told Need To Know.
“His interests were the same as mine: writing, reading and cooking.
“It had never been my intention, but I quickly fell head over heels for a criminal.”
Verona, from Norway, met Justin after signing up to become a prison pen pal.
It was an activity she came across while scrolling on TikTok.
As she felt passionate about rehabilitation and forgiveness, she decided to give it a go.
But Verona had to write to a few frogs before finding her prince.
She said: “A couple of family members had spent time in prison before turning their lives around.
“I talked to a few different people; but one guy seemed like he just wanted money from me.
“So I stopped.”
Justin’s charm began with his family first attitude.
She said: “He said that he would send me some of his grandmother’s old recipes to try.
“Justin’s prison sentence was also in the name of his ex-girlfriend and her daughter.
“He’d been an addict and was struggling to support them.
“So he did an armed robbery with a fake gun.
“But since going to prison, he’d been working hard on himself, including studying for a degree in business administration.
“I was impressed by his determination.”
Soon enough, the pair were sending lengthy letters.
And then came the daily phone calls.
After confessing their feelings, Verona made the near 5,000-mile trip to Arizona, US, to meet him in person in May 2025.
She said: “I hadn’t told any of my friends I’d been speaking with an inmate.
“I wanted to wait to see how it went before having that conversation.
“But I already knew, deep down, that it was serious.
“When I saw him for the first time, I instantly wrapped my arms around him.
“Usually, I have a problem speaking with people I hadn’t known for long; but it was an endless stream of conversation.
“We held hands and then on the final day of my trip, he got down on one knee.
“I couldn’t contain myself.
“But despite the excitement, it suddenly dawned on me that we had to go our separate ways again the next day.”
When Verona told her friends, she was met with concern.
She said: “I tried my best to explain, but it was no use.
“One of my friends told me I hadn’t always had the best taste in men – but she only wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to get hurt.
“A few relatives also judged me, so I’ve taken distance from them.
“I don’t care, though; I knew he was the right guy for me.
“So much so that I got his name tattooed on my foot and he got mine on his ring finger.”
Verona got in touch with Justin’s family, who were thrilled about their nuptials.
Justin, who is in his 10th year of serving a 13-year prison sentence, organised their ceremony within the prison’s visitation room.
For now, Verona is looking toward his release and where the pair will live.
She added: “I don’t care if people think I’m being reckless.
“I believe people can always change and we’ve all got a right to a second chance.
“I think it’s easy for people to forget that people who go down the wrong path used to be sweet kids once; just like everyone else.
“I never imagined something romantic would happen between us.
“Just safe, open talks, to someone I would never meet.
“It was strangely comforting.
“I don’t see him as my cellmate; he’s my soul mate.”
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