But there was more surprise to come in the same phone call as Joseph Ward asked for her daughter’s hand in marriage – while serving a sentence of 100 years.
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The pair had been in a relationship for just three months – after sharing a first date at a rodeo within the walls of Louisiana prison.
Ward, now 41, was handed a 100-year sentence for aggravated robbery, kidnap and manslaughter in October 2000, after a woman was shot and killed in Louisiana.
He only escaped the death penalty after taking a plea deal.
Despite his dark past, Carla, 26, from Tennessee, fell for Ward after watching a prison documentary that featured him.
Now, the unconventional couple, who share a 15-year age gap, plan to marry in a jailhouse ceremony.
Carla says: “Most people are shocked to discover I’m dating a convicted criminal, but that’s not how I see him. He’s really loving and has such a kind nature.
“He’s really remorseful for his past actions and has had a lot of time to repent and turn his life around. I believe everyone deserves a second chance.”
‘Soulmate’
In September 2023, Carla saw Ward, an inmate, in a documentary about prison life. He was working as a horse trainer, a job awarded to prisoners with exceptional behaviour.
She says: “He was only 17, so young at the time of his crime. I felt sorry for him, so I decided to reach out and emailed him.”
The pair began talking and clicked straight away.
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Within a week, Ward confessed to Carla that she was his ‘soulmate’ and professed his love.
Carla, who is twice divorced, says she has always been attracted to older men.
Her last relationship was with a man 20 years her senior so the 15 years between her and Ward didn’t faze her.
He’s really remorseful for his past actions and has had a lot of time to repent and turn his life around. I believe everyone deserves a second chance
Carla Ferreira
The following month, they met for the first time at a rodeo event in a Louisiana prison stadium that was open to the public.
Carla says: “Joseph hugged me and introduced me as his girlfriend to his sister and mum who were visiting. He even told some of the guards, too. It felt really natural, and we shared kisses throughout the day.”
But there was one thing Carla was desperate to know – the story behind Ward’s conviction.
Eventually, Ward told her that when he was 17, in a drug-induced stupor, he and his friend, Robert Smith, kidnapped and killed Smith’s sister Christy, 24.
Although he claimed during the trial that he shot Christy, Ward now insists he didn’t pull the trigger, according to Carla.
Ward faced the death penalty but took a plea deal for manslaughter and was sentenced to 100 years.
According to Carla, he has served 25 years and has worked hard to turn his life around.
Carla says: “He regrets his actions every day and wishes he’d never been there. But he had a hard upbringing and was maltreated himself. He’ll have guilt forever.”
After their first date, the pair continued to talk daily over the phone.
And in December last year, Carla visited her mum, 58, to admit that the man she had been dating was a convicted criminal.
She remembers: “I handed Mum my phone and told her Joseph was on the other end and wanted to talk to her. But then I explained how the call was being recorded because he was in prison.
“Her mouth dropped open and she couldn’t believe it, but she still spoke to him.”
During their conversation, Ward asked permission to marry Carla, which her mum granted.
Carla says: “At first Mum was shocked and obviously it isn’t an ideal union any parent would want for their child, but she could tell how much we were in love so gave her blessing. I was so happy.”
UK Prison Brides
- Tracey Bottomley married double murderer Ernest Otto Smith in the US after meeting through a prison pen pal initiative. Tracey, from West Yorks, knew he had been given a life sentence with no possibility of parole
- Rebecca Short, from Oxfordshire, told her family she was on holiday in the US in 2022. Little did they know she was marrying double murderer Manuel Ovate Jr, who was on death row
- Paula Williamson, an actress who appeared on Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, married the infamous Charles Bronson in 2017 after they became penpals
- Karen Charves married Kenny Richey while he was on death row in 2014. He had been convicted for starting a fire in 1986 that killed his ex-girlfriend’s daughter, aged two. Karen and Kenny’s union did not last and she claimed he was abusive.
- Naomi Wise, from Essex, married Victor Oquendo, nicknamed Animal, while he was serving a 24-year prison term in a US jail. She only met him 12 years into the romance in 2022. They split soon after.
Trolled with ‘sex offender’ comments
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In January, Ward proposed during a jail visit. Yet, not everyone is happy with Carla’s choice of partner.
According to Carla, her friends believe she’s making a huge mistake.
She says: “Some think I’ll regret being with him and I’m crazy for having a relationship with someone behind bars. They worry how he’ll be when he’s released after being institutionalised.
“But I reassure them that our love is real and he’s worth waiting for.”
Strangers also regularly troll Carla online.
She says: “If I post a picture of us together on social media, I get asked a lot if he’s a sex offender, which is horrible.
“They say our love is disgusting and that I’m throwing my life away with an older man who’s behind bars. Once, someone said he’ll probably kill me when he gets out. It’s awful.”
Carla tries to let the horrible judgments wash over her.
She adds: “Joseph was a teenager at the time of his crimes, but he assures me he didn’t pull the trigger that day. He made a huge mistake by not telling the police and trying to cover it up, but he deserves a second chance in life.”
He regrets his actions every day and wishes he’d never been there. But he had a hard upbringing and was maltreated himself. He’ll have guilt forever
Carla
Once a month, Carla makes the ten-hour round trip to visit him in prison.
They plan to marry in the next few months and hope to start a family one day. Ward has his first parole hearing this October, and the couple hope he’s granted release.
Carla says: “Our relationship may be unconventional, but Joseph is the love of my life.
“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.”
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