A former prison worker who fell in love with an inmate has revealed her plans to have a baby with the killer, despite losing friends and family over the controversial romance.
Larissa King, 34, of Vancouver, Canada, met her now-husband, convicted felon Ryan King, 42, in 2020, while she was working in the kitchen of the prison where he resides.
But they didn’t become closer until a year later, after she was laid off from work and was studying to get her certification to become a probation officer.
At the time, he wanted to reach out to prisoners to discuss measures that could help them readjust to society after their release, and thought of Ryan, who is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for second-degree murder.
The two began writing letters back and forth, before starting to talk on the phone, and soon, things became romantic.
“We texted each other a couple of times and then I gave him my phone number because I thought it would be easier that way and then we started talking on the phone maybe once a week,” he recently explained.
A former prison worker who fell in love with an inmate has revealed her plans to have a baby with the killer, despite losing friends and family over the controversial romance.
‘It was very limited and then it became twice a week, three times a week, every day, several times a day.
“When we really started talking on the phone was at the end of 2021, I would say around November and then in February I knew I loved this man.”
Larissa admitted that her feelings were “very confusing” at first, given their past and how they had met, but after going to see a therapist, she knew she couldn’t fight them anymore.
‘I actually spoke to a therapist to understand my feelings. Why is this happening? Is this real?’ she remembered.
“I was very confused and my therapist said to me, ‘It sounds like it was just an unconventional meeting, but it sounds like your feelings are valid.’
After a year of dating on the phone, Larissa went to see Ryan in prison for the first time, and on her second visit, he had proposed to her.
“I thought I was going to throw up,” she said of the moment he knelt down.
“We’re talking and we were sitting at a table with two chairs right next to a window – a nice scenic backdrop of a barbed wire fence and there was a play area there.
Larissa King, 34, of Vancouver, Canada, met her now-husband, convicted felon Ryan King, 42, in 2020, while she was working in the kitchen of the prison where he resides.
But they didn’t reach out until a year later, after she was laid off from work and was studying to get her certification to become a probation officer.
‘He asked me to get up so he could see my outfit. It took me for a spin. When I came back, he was on his knees with a fake (ring).
“He obviously didn’t have anything in his hand because he can’t bring anything into the visitor center.”
The two began writing letters back and forth, before starting to talk on the phone, and soon, things became romantic.
Larissa, who had given up pursuing a career as a probation officer, said yes, and Ryan’s mother transferred her money from her account so she could buy a ring.
The couple got married in prison in March 2023 and now the two lovebirds are trying to have a baby together.
Larissa explained that they began having conjugal visits in July, which are held in private cabins on the prison grounds, away from the general population units.
“I was very nervous (the first time we were alone),” she admitted. “We had never been intimate at all. The most we had was light kisses in the visitor center.
“It was hard to wait so long. But it was worth the wait. It was nice to spend that important moment together.”
She explained that they try to align the meetings with her ovulation phase, but because she suffers from a condition called AMH, which means her ovaries produce fewer eggs, getting pregnant has been difficult.
She is now researching intrauterine insemination, but that would mean Ryan leaving prison to visit a fertility clinic.
“It’s proving very difficult,” he shared. “It’s considered a non-emergency medical procedure and they’re allowed to do it, but (he has to pay) out of pocket for transportation in the van and the cost of having a guard accompany him.”
After a year of dating on the phone, Larissa went to see Ryan in prison for the first time, and on her second visit, he had proposed to her.
The couple got married in prison in March 2023 and now the two lovebirds are trying to have a baby together. They are seen at the wedding.
Larissa admitted that while most of her friends and family accept her relationship, she has lost some loved ones because of it.
“It’s a very strange concept that I don’t think many people understand and I know even some members of my family questioned it,” he revealed.
“I was always very communicative with them. My mom comes over, she’s talked to him a couple of times. My dad and stepmother supported me from the beginning.
‘(Some loved ones) have walked away from my life because (they) feel uncomfortable with my husband’s positions and I have always said that I would never force my relationship with any of them… it is not for everyone and I understand that.
“Hopefully we can reconnect eventually. It was a little premature for us to be fired because my husband is still incarcerated.”
Larissa already has a 12-year-old daughter, named Elia Thomas, and said the young woman fully supports her marriage.
She is very well informed, too informed, about everything. “She has known about him since I told my entire family in 2022 and spoke to him on the phone before meeting him in person,” he shared.
Larissa explained that they began conducting conjugal visits in July, which take place in private cabins on the prison grounds, away from the general population units.
Larissa already has a 12-year-old daughter, named Elia Thomas, and said the young woman fully supports their marriage.
Ryan has already served his minimum sentence and is eligible to apply for parole, but Larissa said he will likely be denied.
That means he may not be around to raise her baby if she manages to get pregnant, but it’s something she’s prepared for.
“It would suck if he wasn’t around to raise our son together, of course, and it’s very likely that because he has a life sentence, most lifers don’t get parole the first time, maybe not even the second time,” Larissa explained.
‘I had to really sit down and (think about it) I could do it on my own if we managed to conceive.
‘My finances are set. I could afford to be on maternity leave with a single income.
“I raised my daughter alone, so I’ve done it once before and I’ve always said I don’t want to do it again… but this is me and I’d like to expand my family now.” .’