Lonely prisoners desperate for affection and attention have been turning to Facebook to find love with women on the outside. A private Facebook penpal group has been used by Australian inmates around the country to connect with women, though there are some caveats to the group.
- The men are being put forward by their family members. The Facebook group allows family members of prisoners to post on their behalf to help the men inside find potential partners on the outside. However, men convicted of any crimes against women and children are banned.
- Some familiar faces are part of the group. News.com.au (via NY Post) reports that former WAFL player Daniel Zwerus is looking for love in the group. Zwerus was sentenced to live in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years for fatally stabbing a stranger who was walking his dog along the beach. He committed his crime during a period of psychosis that resulted from a two-week meth binge. His daughter placed an ad on his behalf, writing: “Any girls in WA that genuinely want to write to an inmate? Dad’s getting a bit lonely, poor guy. No crimes against woman [sic] or children. Wanting someone to write to, needs to be spiritually minded and no crackheads. Needs to be into fitness and training.”
- He wasn’t the only murderer on the platform. Another killer looking for love is 27-year-old Daniel Marchesano, who was given life with a minimum of 23 years for shooting a man to death in 2013. “Hey does anyone know how to get hold of penpals from Perth that would be interested in writing and maybe phone calls with my son Daniel?” his mother wrote. “He’s looking for friendly conversations with people who understand his situation. He’s due for release around 2034 and is currently in Bunbury prison, he’s looking at being transferred back to Acacia soon. He has not harmed any woman or children.”
- It’s unclear whether the group has actually resulted in any love connections. While there are many women who are happy to get involved with convicted criminals, it’s yet to be seen whether this group will see any wedding bells in the future. You’d have to be pretty brave to go there!
