'I responded to moving Reddit post and ended up falling in love with killer in US jail'

Robyn Kett, from east London, says she has fallen in love with US prisoner, Deandre Parsons, after becoming pen pals. She is hoping to meet him in prison next year

A British mum says she fell head over heels for a killer in a US jail after they connected through Reddit.

Robyn Kett, 33, from east London, is planning to fly over to the States to meet Deandre Parsons, 27, from Connecticut, following their chance encounter online. Deandre is serving 20 years for killing a man with a firearm after an armed robbery went wrong.

His family posted on Reddit asking if anyone would be his pen pal because he was lonely in June of this year. Robyn says she spotted the post and decided to contact him because she was "curious". Four months later, the pair are still talking because they "instantly connected".

Robyn had just lost her partner, Nick, 35, to cancer in December 2023 and realised "life is too short". Speaking about her newfound love, she said: "I saw him. I just thought why don't I shoot him a message? My friend was writing to somebody and said it was different and I was curious. He was really easy to talk to.

"He seemed genuine. We instantly connected. It was like I had known him my whole life. When I saw a picture of him I thought he's not my normal type. You know when you feel something and it just grabs you."

Robyn said Deandre didn't say too much about his conviction at first but began to open up. She said: "I Googled him to make sure he wasn't a maniac." Deandre pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm at Stamford Superior Court and was sentenced in September 2022.

Robyn said: "The original charge was felony murder. He went to a house to rob weed but a man and his partner and child were there. He didn't go out that day to harm anybody." The couple message everyday and Deandre calls Robyn from the prison when he can. Deandre has 10 messages and six free calls a day - they talk about everything from food to TV shows. "He makes me laugh," she said. "I just ended up falling love. He told me he loved me before he even saw pictures of me."

Robyn is hoping to fly out to meet Deandre next year - once she has saved up and the paperwork has been completed to approve her visits. Deandre was sentenced to 20 years but is up for parole in six years time. Robyn said: "He talks about the future a lot. From losing my partner in December I realised life is too short. I didn't expect to ever find love again. I'd move over there. I want a future with him."

Robyn says her friends a family are also not judgmental and say "if you can find happiness - grab it". She added: "I couldn't imagine him punching someone let alone taking a life. I can't connect him with the crime. You can't judge a person because of what they are in for. You don't know the personal circumstances."