Investigation underway after inmate becomes pregnant at Miami-Dade jail

Daisy Link, 28, held without bond on second-degree murder charge

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities in Miami-Dade County are investigating how an inmate being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center became pregnant last month.

Jail records show Daisy Link, 28, is being held at TGK on a second-degree murder charge. She also is charged with battery by a detainee on a visitor or other detainee.

According to Juan Diasgranados, Public Affairs Manager for Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation, MDCR staff were notified on Dec. 23 by the inmate that she believed she was pregnant.

He said she then underwent a “thorough medical exam” and her pregnancy was confirmed.

“The care, safety, and rehabilitation of all those in our custody remains our top priority,” Diasgranados said in an email to Local 10 News. “And while there is no evidence of sexual battery against our inmate at this time, the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy are currently under active investigation.”

Prior to receiving the statement from MDCR, Local 10 News received an anonymous tip that Link had gotten pregnant by another inmate.

The tipster said the male inmate is housed on the top floor and Link is housed on the floor below.

According to the tipster, the male inmate ejaculated in a glove and somehow managed to send it down through an air conditioning vent to the floor where Link is, and that’s how she got pregnant.

The source said Link and the male inmate have never even seen each other, but inmates often speak to each other through the vents.

Local 10 News reporter Cody Weddle spoke to Link’s sister, Crystal Barreto, Wednesday, who said she doesn’t believe the rumors about how her sister became pregnant and wants a thorough investigation into what happened.

“She has the right to her due process,” Barreto said. “They never tried to help her out. They mocked her and laughed at her in the beginning when she asked for help. They never tried to exactly get the whole true story, they never took her to get a rape treatment. They never really tried to help her out until we reached out to the media, which they asked us not to do. Now they’re trying to come up with all kinds of different scenarios about what happened to her.”

MDCR has not yet confirmed who impregnated Link or how she became pregnant.

“The MDCR has healthcare procedures in place to ensure the safety of all those in our custody, any unborn child, and staff, in any case of pregnancy while in our care,” Diasgranados said. “Pregnant inmates receive timely and appropriate prenatal care; specialized obstetrical services, when indicated by the CHS; and time for postpartum recovery. Additionally, any housing assignments for pregnant inmates are made in consultation with Correctional Health Services, and when necessary, the inmate’s outside obstetrician.”

According to Link’s arrest report, she fatally shot a man outside her Homestead home on June 25, 2022.

Police said the shooting was domestic in nature and that Link shot the man once in the leg.

According to the report, Link was captured on surveillance video telling the victim, “I think I hit a major artery. You’ll be fine.”

A motive for the shooting was not mentioned in the arrest report.


About the Authors

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Cody Weddle joined Local 10 News as a full-time reporter in South Florida in August of 2022. Before that, Cody worked regularly with Local 10 since January of 2017 as a foreign correspondent in Venezuela and Colombia.

Recommended Videos