An ex-prison worker who fell in love with an inmate has revealed her plans to have a baby with the murderer – despite losing friends and family over the controversial romance.
Larissa King, 34, from Vancouver, Canada, met her now-husband, convicted felon Ryan King, 42, in 2020, while she was working in the kitchen of the prison he’s residing in.
But they didn’t grow close until one year later, after she was let go from the job and studying to get her certification to become a probation officer.
At the time, she wanted to reach out to prisoners to discuss measures that could help them readjust into society upon release, and she thought of Ryan, who is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life for second degree murder.
The two started writing letters back and forth, before they began speaking on the phone – and soon, things turned romantic.
‘We wrote 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,’ she explained recently.
An ex-prison worker who fell in love with an inmate has revealed her plans to have a baby with the murderer – despite losing friends and family over the controversial romance
‘It was very limited and then that turned to twice a week, three times a week, every day, multiple times a day.
‘When we really started talking on the phone it was the end of 2021, I’d say around November and then by February I knew I loved this man.’
Larissa admitted that her feelings were ‘very confusing’ at first, given his past and how they had met, but after she went to see a therapist, she knew she couldn’t fight them anymore.
‘I actually spoke to a therapist to understand my feelings. Like why is this happening? Is this real?’ she recalled.
‘I was very confused and my therapist was like it seems like it was just an unconventional meeting but it seems like your feelings are valid.’
After a year of dating over the phone, Larissa went to see Ryan in prison for the first time – and by her second visit, he had proposed.
‘I thought I was going to puke,’ she said of the moment he got down on one knee.
‘We’re talking and we were sitting at this table with two chairs right by a window – a nice scenic background of barbed chain link fence and there was a playground there.
Larissa King, 34, from Vancouver, Canada, met her now-husband, convicted felon Ryan King, 42, in 2020, while she was working in the kitchen of the prison he’s residing in
But they didn’t grow close until one year later, after she was let go from the job and studying to get her certification to become a probation officer
‘He asked me to get up so he could see my outfit. He made me do a twirl. When I came back around he was on his knee with a fake [ring].
‘Obviously there was nothing in his hand because he can’t bring anything into the visiting center.’
The two started writing letters back and forth, before they began speaking on the phone – and soon, things turned romantic
Larissa, who had stopped pursuing a career as a probation officer, said yes, and Ryan’s mother wired her money from his account so she could purchase a ring.
The couple had a prison wedding in March 2023 and now, the two lovebirds are trying to have a baby together.
Larissa explained that they started having conjugal visits in July, which take place in private cabins on the prison grounds away from the general population units.
‘I was so nervous for [the first time we were alone together],’ she admitted. ‘We had never been intimate at all. The most we’d had was light kisses in the visitors center.
‘It was difficult to wait that long. But it was worth the wait. It was nice to have that important time together.’
She explained that they try to align the meetups 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 looking into intrauterine insemination, but that would involve Ryan leaving prison to visit a fertility clinic.
‘It’s proving very difficult,’ she shared. ‘It’s deemed a non-emergency medical procedure which they are allowed to do but [he has to pay] out of pocket for the van transportation and for a guard to come with him.’
After a year of dating over the phone, Larissa went to see Ryan in prison for the first time – and by her second visit, he had proposed
The couple had a prison wedding in March 2023 and now, the two lovebirds are trying to have a baby together. They’re seen at the wedding
Larissa admitted that while most of her friends and family are accepting of their relationship, she has lost some loved ones because of it.
‘It’s a very weird concept that I don’t think a lot of people understand and I know even some of my family members questioned it,’ she revealed.
‘I was always very forthcoming with them. My mom is coming around, she’s spoken to him a couple of times. My dad and my stepmom were supportive from the get-go.
‘[Some loved ones] have stepped away from my life because [they] are uncomfortable with my husband’s charges and I’ve always said I would never force my relationship on any of them… it’s not for everybody and I understand that.
‘Hopefully we can reconnect eventually. It was a little premature that they axed us because my husband is still incarcerated.’
Larissa already has a 12-year-old daughter, named Elia Thomas, and she said the youngster is completely supportive of her marriage.
‘She’s so well-informed – too informed – about everything. She has known about him since I told my whole family back in 2022 and she has spoken on the phone to him before meeting him in person,’ she shared.
Larissa explained that they started having 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 she said the youngster is completely supportive of her marriage
Ryan has now served his minimum sentence and is eligible to apply for parole, but Larissa said it’s likely it’ll be denied.
That means he may not be present to raise their baby if she is able to get pregnant – but it’s something she is prepared for.
‘It would suck if he wasn’t around to raise our child together, of course, and it’s very likely because he does have a life sentence, most lifers don’t get parole the first, maybe not even the second time,’ Larissa explained.
‘I had to really sit down and [contemplate if I] could do this alone if we are successful with conception.
‘My finances are established. I could afford to be on maternity leave with a single income house.
‘I’ve raised my daughter on my own so I’ve done it once before and I always said I don’t want to do that again… but this is my person, and I’d like to expand my family now.’
