Daisy Link, a Florida mother whose unusual jailhouse pregnancy made national headlines, has now been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of her longtime partner and the father of her two oldest children, Pedro Jimenez.
The 30-year-old remained silent and emotionless in court as a South Florida jury returned the verdict after less than two hours of deliberation on Thursday.
The tragic and bizarre case captivated national attention - not just for the fatal shooting - but for what happened while Link awaited trial: she became pregnant behind bars.
A Shocking Jailhouse “Miracle”
Link gained widespread media attention in 2023 when she revealed that she was pregnant while incarcerated at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, per the New York Post.
She claimed the child was conceived via a makeshift insemination involving semen passed through a vent in a glove by fellow inmate Joan DePaz, whom she never met in person.
The birth of Link’s child in June 2024 was never introduced during the murder trial, but the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy earned headlines. DePaz and Link referred to the conception as a “miracle.”
The Fatal Shooting
The trial centered on the events of June 2022, when Pedro Jimenez was shot outside Link’s home in Homestead.
According to surveillance footage shown in court, Link shot Jimenez in the leg and was seen walking away while mocking that she’d hit a “major artery.” Prosecutors said she left him to bleed out.
Link testified that the shot wasn’t meant to kill him - just to scare him off.
“That’s the father of my kids,” she told the court. “It’s not like I didn’t love him, I did.”
Prosecutor Alex Bergida described the couple’s relationship as “toxic,” involving mutual domestic violence. While the defense painted Jimenez as a “coke head, wife-beating lunatic,” prosecutor Bergida argued that Link’s actions showed intent, not fear.
Juror Kenan Bowie explained why the jury didn’t believe the self-defense claim: “If he’s running away and she shot him in the back, doesn’t seem much like self-defense… There was a lot that she lied about, a lot from the second she called 911.”
“She Was a Victim Too”: Family Speaks Out After Verdict
Link’s sister, Crystal Barretto, said she was devastated by the verdict. “It’s heartbreaking for Daisy. It’s heartbreaking for her children,” she told reporters. “The fight is not over.”
Barretto believes her sister was also a victim of domestic violence and hopes the judge considers that context during sentencing.
“I hope the judge takes into consideration all the evidence that was presented, the past domestic violence history against Pedro and Daisy, and the time she’s already served,” she added. “And also taking into consideration her children and the new baby that was just born.”
Link’s attorneys plan to file an appeal.
Son Testifies Against Abuse
One of the most emotional moments in the trial came from the couple’s 11-year-old son, who testified remotely. He claimed he saw his father pointing a gun at his mother and said Jimenez even fired a shot at her, as reported by CBS News.
“He pointed the gun at my mom and he fired a shot but he missed,” the boy said. He also confirmed witnessing his father physically abuse his mother: “He was hitting her with the bottom of the gun.”
Link said Jimenez had threatened her days before the shooting, adding that on the day of his death, he returned to her home repeatedly in an enraged, "hysterical" state.
“I initially aimed towards the floor,” Link testified. “As I lifted up the gun I didn’t expect for it to hit him, I just thought the sound would scare him off this time for good.”
What’s Next: Sentencing and Possible Appeal
Link is expected back in court on November 21 for pre-sentencing investigations, a routine step before final sentencing. Her defense team is preparing an appeal, citing what they say is a history of abuse and mental trauma that shaped her response the night of the shooting.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle applauded the verdict.
“Today, Daisy Link has been found guilty of the 2nd Degree Murder of her boyfriend, Pedro Jimenez. We thank the jury for their careful examination of all the facts and evidence presented by prosecutors during the trial,” she said.