While serving life sentences for terrible homicides, convicts looking for companionship online are looking for long-distance relationships.
The infamous Acacia and Bunbury institutions in Western Australia are among the high-security prisons where convicts have flocked to a Facebook page set up to match them up with pen pals from the outside.
While friends and relatives of individuals serving life sentences for murder are permitted to browse the website and assist them in finding love, the site strictly forbids adverts for those found guilty of crimes against women and children.
Former WAFL player Daniel Zwerus, who in 2013 viciously stabbed Ilario Maiolo, a stranger strolling his dog down the beach in Perth, before dragging his corpse into the water, is one of the people looking for him.
Zwerus was given a life sentence with an 18-year non-parole term because his two-week methamphetamine binge had caused psychosis.
Any females in Western Australia that really wish to write an inmate? Dad’s becoming a little lonely, poor man,” says the message that his daughter wrote on his behalf.
No offences were committed against women or children. If you want to write to someone, they should be spiritually inclined and NOT a crackhead. Must be interested in training and fitness.
Zwerus’ daughter posted images of her standing next to her father, one of which showed him clutching a trophy that said, “#1 dad,” and shared them along with the post, which garnered the contact information from other women.
Another advertisement requested letter writers to get in touch with the mother of Daniel Marchesano, 27, who was found guilty of shooting and killing Michael Pruiti in 2013.
Hey, does anybody know how to contact Perth-based pen pals who could be interested in exchanging letters and even phone conversations with my kid Daniel? She composed.
He seeks out cordial talks with those who are aware of his circumstances.
He is now incarcerated at Bunbury and is scheduled for parole in 2034; he may shortly be moved back to Acacia. He has not injured any children or women.
After being found guilty of bringing Mr. Pruiti to a thicket close to Pickering Book, where he was shot and killed by co-accused Ben Michael Mansfield, Marchesano received a life sentence with a minimum of 23 years in 2016.
The couple killed Mr. Pruiti, chopped up his corpse, and dumped it in a bush grave after planning to steal chainsaws. They then burnt and wrapped Mr. Pruiti’s body in plastic before discarding it there.
The portal also includes advertisements from ladies on the outside asking for inmates to write to as well as from males convicted of drug trafficking, armed robbery, and fraud.
Adam Iustuni, an alleged bikie member who was arrested with former Bandidos commander Brett Pechey last year, asked his brother to help him locate a “beautiful” lady.
Hello everyone! I’m here to assist my brother, Adam Iustini, in his search for a beautiful female to talk with for some companionship.
“He’s 28 years old, has a fantastic personality, and has never hurt a woman or a kid.”
Many female followers responded to the message, which included a selfie of Iustuni who was extensively inked and anxious to contact him.
‘Damn! With this one, Acacia has acquired some great criminals, according to one of the comments.
Another person said, “I want to write. Please email me the specifics.
According to John Burrell, co-founder of the WA organisation Angelhands, which supports those who have experienced trauma, granting inmates permission to have pen pals is a tricky subject.
While the idea could be unsettling for some crime victims, Mr. Burrell noted that criminals, who often come from traumatic backgrounds, may benefit from penpals throughout the rehabilitation process.
“Third parties have limited alternatives with relation to what members of the community publish on social media,” the WA Justice Department said.
However, he said, “The Department of Justice will disclose any alleged legal violations and look into violations of jail regulations.”
According to the department’s protocol, authorised officials may see all prisoner mail with the exception of privileged or legal material.
According to him, “incoming or outgoing prisoner correspondence is not delivered” if it poses a danger to the facility’s security or good order, or if it is written in code.