A Dad in Prison Reunites with His Daughter

My name is Justin Welch and I’ve been in prison for fifteen years. I made very bad choices when I was 26 years old and took a person’s life. There is no justifiable reason for my actions. My actions didn’t only hurt my victims, but also my family.

For the last 15 years, I have never stopped loving both of my daughters and have always wished one day I could someday be a part of their lives again. I have written letters and drawn pictures for them, and I always get updates from my family on how they are doing. However, I haven’t been able to talk to them because my ex-wife  didn’t want me to have any contact with them.

Prior to coming to prison, I was not a bad or abusive father to my daughters. I was a loving dad and wouldn’t let anything happen to my kids. I will not claim to have been a good dad, but I tried. And, like any human, I had faults; but not loving my daughters was NOT one of them.

For 15 years, I would pray and hope that one day I could get back into their lives. Now that I’m in prison, it kills me to see all the suffering I put my daughters through. They did nothing wrong to warrant the extra stress and trauma I have put them through with my selfish actions.

My youngest daughter has been through so much unneeded trauma because I was not home to keep her safe. I missed out on everything in my kid’s life and all I want to do is try and make up for that in some kind of way. Right now, it’s not like I can do much other than talk and listen to her. I wish I could be the person who walks my little girl down the aisle and gives her away, but I will not have that honor because I’m in prison for life.

My mother would tell me that, in time, my daughters would come back to me on their own because they would have questions. But, after the first decade, I started to lose hope. I was on psychiatric medication because, at one point, I was so messed up about it and other things that I attempted suicide and ended up in the emergency room receiving life-saving medical treatment.

Then one day, while I was sitting in segregation, feeling depressed, I called my mother on the phone and I could tell she was overly happy. She told me that my youngest daughter had been reading my stories on Prison Writers online. As soon as my mother told me the news I had been waiting so many years to hear, I started to cry. I truly thought I would never have my kids in my life again.

My mother told me that my youngest wanted me to write her, and I said I’d write her as soon as I get off the phone. And I did just that.

My first letter that actually got to my daughter was ten pages – kind of short if you ask me! Then, me and my kid set up to have phone calls. At first, I could only call her once a week, due to the fact I was in segregation, but once I was out of segregation, I could call her almost every day.

She is so smart and such a beautiful, young lady. I love talking with her and giving her advice. It’s still hard because she does not know me as her father, but as some guy who used to be a wild, maniacal killer. I hope and pray one day I get my daughter to know who I really am and not who I was.

I’m not a rich man and I can’t do things for her that are my responsibility, like getting her a car and putting her through college. At this point, she has no car and no plans for college. I hope one day I will somehow be able to help her with those things, but being in prison makes that next to impossible. Still, who knows what tomorrow holds.

The more I talk to her the more I can tell how I have impacted her life with my actions in the past. She has suffered terribly because of me. I have a lot to make up for and will never stop trying to help her. She does not fully understand what she has missed out on because of my absence in her life, but I do and it hurts.

For a short time she had a father figure in her life and she thought he was her father. I fully understand it and was happy to know she was loved and being taken care of. That ended very sadly for my daughter. This man, who was doing his best, sadly passed away. I’m very thankful for him and all he did. There has been many things my daughter has been through, and sadly it’s all from me not being there.

However, I will say my daughter did turn out to be one very kind and understanding person, and just the nicest person one could be. And let’s not forget how smart she is, and how she has her mother’s good looks. It’s so hard to imagine that she is really my daughter. She brings joy and purpose back into my life.

Fifteen years ago, I lost everything and now I will try and put it back together. Any person who has kids fully understands that all we want for our kids is a life better than we had it. I just hope I’m able to find a way to provide opportunities for my kids so they have a happy, successful life.

Please if you read this and dislike me please don’t take it out on my daughters. They have done nothing and all your anger should be directed to me and I fully understand why.

I’m very sorry for my past actions and the people I’ve hurt. I’m trying to be a better person for my kids. The last fifteen years have been full of sadness and suffering. Now, I just hope I can bring some joy to my daughter’s life.

My youngest is truly a good person, and I’m hopeful that I can be her dad again. I will call her tonight and listen to her talk about her day. I’m happy to say that even with all the traumatic things she has been through, she has turned out well. I can tell my daughter does make better and smarter choices than I did when I was her age. I’m happy and so proud of her.

I will end here in hopes of showing people anything is possible through prayer. I want to say a special thanks to Ms. Loen Kelley for encouraging me to write. Without Prison Writers, I don’t think my daughter would have seen the person I truly am.

My daughter means the world to me and I only want to see her happy.

Truly,

Justin Welch # 579750

Wisconsin Secure Program Facility

Po Box 189

Phoenix, MD. 21131