Daisy Link, the Florida inmate who made headlines for a ‘miracle’ pregnancy, has now been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2022 death of her partner. Learn more about her case and the unique circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.
A Florida inmate who captured worldwide attention for her extraordinary story of becoming pregnant behind bars has now learned her fate in a separate murder trial. Daisy Link, 30, made headlines in 2024 when she claimed to have conceived her child using only an air vent and some creativity, without ever meeting the father.
Link was held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade, where she became friends with fellow inmate Joan DePaz. They reportedly communicated through their cells’ air vents, often spending hours talking to each other. Link described how, while in isolation, the sound of knocking on the vents allowed them to hear one another, making it feel as if they were in the same room.
But now, in a shocking twist, Link has been found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the 2022 shooting of her long-term partner, Pedro Jimenez. A South Florida jury reached the verdict in under two hours earlier this week.
Murder Case Details: A Complex History of Domestic Violence
Link had been awaiting trial for Jimenez’s death since her arrest in June 2022. Prosecutors argued that she shot Jimenez in the leg outside her Homestead home and left him to die. In her defense, Link claimed the shooting was an act of self-defense, citing years of domestic abuse from Jimenez. She said, “That’s the father of my kids… It’s not like I didn’t love him, I did.”
Her 11-year-old son also testified remotely, recounting how Jimenez had threatened his mother and had previously attacked her with a gun. Despite this testimony, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution. One juror explained, “If he’s running away and she shot him in the back, it doesn’t seem much like self-defense.”
The ‘Miracle’ Pregnancy: How It All Started
Link’s case gained national attention after she gave birth to a baby girl on June 19, 2024, while still in custody. She claimed to have inseminated herself using semen passed through a vent in plastic, with the help of yeast infection applicators.
The unusual pregnancy was deemed “exceedingly rare” by Dr. Fernando Akerman, medical director at the Fertility Center of Miami, who estimated the odds of such a conception at less than five percent. The inmate’s story sparked curiosity worldwide, with DePaz, still in prison for her own murder charge, calling the conception “like the Virgin Mary.”
Legal and Family Reactions: A Hope for Lighter Sentencing
Link will return to court for pre-sentencing on November 21, where she faces significant prison time. Her sister, Crystal Barretto, has expressed hope that the judge will consider the history of domestic violence in the case, along with the time Link has already served in prison. Barretto said, “I hope the judge takes into consideration all the evidence that was presented, the past domestic violence, history against Pedro and Daisy, and the time she’s already served.”
She also mentioned Link’s new baby and her other children, hoping the judge may show leniency in light of these circumstances.
