Michelle9849
10-16-2002, 02:04 PM
A British woman is making plans to fly
across the Atlantic Ocean and marry a
man she met over the Internet, a groom
who is a death row inmate in a
Nashville prison, according to reports in
two British newspapers.
Nicky Styles, 34, reportedly wants to
marry James Mellon, 26, who was
sentenced to die in 1999 for his role in
a robbery and murder in Knoxville.
Mellon, of Farragut, was convicted of
killing Scott Loveday, 20, during a
botched robbery attempt, according to
news reports in the United Kingdom
and in past news accounts. Three other
men were involved.
Mellon is housed at the Riverbend
Maximum Security Institution. The
couple met by an online pen-pal
organization, according to the Bristol
Evening Post.
Another British paper, The People,
said Styles is bringing her children, ages
16, 12 and 7, to live in Nashville.
''I can't explain the feelings — I just
know he loves me,'' the Evening Post
quotes Styles as saying in August. ''It's like we are soul mates. When I think of him,
I know he is thinking of me. If he dies, then I'm going to die — I can't live without
him.''
Steve Hayes, spokesman for the state Department of Correction, confirmed that
Mellon has submitted an application to marry while incarcerated. The documents
were unavailable yesterday, however, he said, including the name of the woman he
intends to marry.
Hayes also declined a request to speak with Mellon. State policy only allows
interviews with such inmates on Wednesdays, he said.
Styles was not on Mellon's approved visitation list as of yesterday, Hayes said, but
she still can apply. He also said he had no information about whether Styles has
applied to visit with the inmate.
Tennessee law allows inmates to marry. The convict and the intended spouse send
letters to the chaplain at least 60 days before the planned wedding date. The couple
must undergo at least one counseling session.
An inmate must wear standard issue prison uniform. Only the inmate and the
partner can attend, although the warden can approve allowing four immediate family
members to be present. The couple can have a supervised visit for one hour after
the ceremony.
A Nashville psychologist, Dr. Richard Taran, said yesterday Styles' reported plans
to marry Mellon could indicate she is blocking herself from having a real, meaningful
relationship.
''She doesn't have to go into herself very deeply,'' said Taran, a clinical psychologist
for 37 years. ''She's got a guaranteed marriage. And no matter what the guy sees,
he's going to marry her.
''She doesn't want reason and logic. She wants to feel the sense of emotion and
purpose, and not real intimacy.''
across the Atlantic Ocean and marry a
man she met over the Internet, a groom
who is a death row inmate in a
Nashville prison, according to reports in
two British newspapers.
Nicky Styles, 34, reportedly wants to
marry James Mellon, 26, who was
sentenced to die in 1999 for his role in
a robbery and murder in Knoxville.
Mellon, of Farragut, was convicted of
killing Scott Loveday, 20, during a
botched robbery attempt, according to
news reports in the United Kingdom
and in past news accounts. Three other
men were involved.
Mellon is housed at the Riverbend
Maximum Security Institution. The
couple met by an online pen-pal
organization, according to the Bristol
Evening Post.
Another British paper, The People,
said Styles is bringing her children, ages
16, 12 and 7, to live in Nashville.
''I can't explain the feelings — I just
know he loves me,'' the Evening Post
quotes Styles as saying in August. ''It's like we are soul mates. When I think of him,
I know he is thinking of me. If he dies, then I'm going to die — I can't live without
him.''
Steve Hayes, spokesman for the state Department of Correction, confirmed that
Mellon has submitted an application to marry while incarcerated. The documents
were unavailable yesterday, however, he said, including the name of the woman he
intends to marry.
Hayes also declined a request to speak with Mellon. State policy only allows
interviews with such inmates on Wednesdays, he said.
Styles was not on Mellon's approved visitation list as of yesterday, Hayes said, but
she still can apply. He also said he had no information about whether Styles has
applied to visit with the inmate.
Tennessee law allows inmates to marry. The convict and the intended spouse send
letters to the chaplain at least 60 days before the planned wedding date. The couple
must undergo at least one counseling session.
An inmate must wear standard issue prison uniform. Only the inmate and the
partner can attend, although the warden can approve allowing four immediate family
members to be present. The couple can have a supervised visit for one hour after
the ceremony.
A Nashville psychologist, Dr. Richard Taran, said yesterday Styles' reported plans
to marry Mellon could indicate she is blocking herself from having a real, meaningful
relationship.
''She doesn't have to go into herself very deeply,'' said Taran, a clinical psychologist
for 37 years. ''She's got a guaranteed marriage. And no matter what the guy sees,
he's going to marry her.
''She doesn't want reason and logic. She wants to feel the sense of emotion and
purpose, and not real intimacy.''