He Wrote to a Woman Serving 40 Years in Prison...Then Married Her
RSS Feed Erik Beller had a Master's degree in Education, a professional career, and a seemingly good life. But just as things were really starting to fall into place, his brother died of an overdose. Then, on Erik's birthday, his best friend, John, also passed away. These tragic events set Erik on a downward spiral of addiction, homelessness, and ultimately jail.
While incarcerated, Erik was beaten, almost to death, by a guard (who was later convicted and served prison time for the assault). Erik spent months in the hospital, on a ventilator, and developed myriad physical ailments and health problems as a result of the attack. When he was finally released from jail, he was determined to help someone who might be in a similar situation, so he began browsing inmate pen pal profiles on WriteAPrisoner.com. It was there that he learned about a woman, Taira Litsey, who was sentenced to 40 years.
Many letters and phone calls later, Erik and Taira are now married. Together, they've turned their experiences into advocacy. Erik, now sober for over five years, founded Still Standing, an organization focused on second chances, prison and sentencing reform, and successful reentry. It wasn't created from theory or based on some A.I. algorithm; Still Standing was created thanks to Erik and Taira's real-life experiences with incarceration and the criminal "justice" system.
In this sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and often heartwarming episode, Erik shares his genuine love and appreciation for his wife, Taira. He believes she may have even saved his life.
This isn't just a prison love story. It's the story of two people whose lives were shaped by trauma, addiction, violence, loss, and incarceration, but who refused to let those experiences define the rest of their lives. It's about resilience, faith, purpose, and redemption. By the end of the episode, it's hard not to root Erik and Taira
Learn more about Still Standing
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Prison Husband, Recovering Addict, Founder of Still Standing
My name is Erik Beller. I am a person in long-term recovery, a husband, an advocate, and someone who has seen the criminal legal system from a place most people never have to survive. After being beaten by correctional officers in a Kentucky jail, hospitalized for months, and left with lasting disability, I knew I could not look away from what happens behind walls.
My wife, Taira Beller, is incarcerated at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women. She is serving a 40-year sentence under Kentucky's habitual offender laws. Her case, her rehabilitation, her service to other women, and the pain of our family separation are central to why Still Standing exists.
I hold a BS and MS in education, completed paralegal training, and have spent years learning, writing, organizing, and advocating around sentencing reform, prison conditions, reentry, addiction recovery, and family impact. I am part of the Dream.org Dream Justice work and serve through Prison Fellowship as a Justice Ambassador. I also founded Still Standing, a justice initiative focused on connection, preparation, purpose, mentors, and structure. The work includes public education, legislative advocacy, direct encouragement to incarcerated people, and practical support for people and families impacted by incarceration.