I Had a Prison Girlfriend - Here’s What Happened | Tonya Higdon

Tonya Higdon grew up in a good family, but childhood trauma pushed her into years of addiction involving nearly every drug you can imagine. She became a young mother while struggling to stay clean, bounced in and out of trouble, and eventually went on the run after multiple arrests for driving without a license. When she was finally caught, Tonya was sentenced to three years in the Florida state prison system—where she formed a long-term relationship with another woman that lasted her entire sentence. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Tonya shares her full story: her upbringing, addiction, life on the run, surviving prison, the realities of having a prison girlfriend, and how she worked to rebuild her life afterward. This conversation offers an honest look at trauma, recovery, and resilience for anyone interested in real-life stories, addiction journeys, and the truth about life behind bars. #PrisonStory #PrisonLife #LockedInWithIanBick #InmateStories #TrueCrimePodcast #PrisonRelationships #RedemptionStory #prisonexperience Thank you to AURA FRAMES & DAWS for sponsoring this episode: Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/LOCKEDIN. Promo Code LOCKEDIN DAWS: Go to http://www.daws.org/ to donate, adopt or send items from their wishlist. Connect with Tonya Higdon: TikTok: stankself_ Instagram: stankself4201 Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Her Story Before Prison & What Led Here 05:00 Childhood, Family Dynamics & Early Struggles 10:00 Trauma, Addiction Begins & Life Starts Unraveling 16:00 Losing Custody, Spiraling & Desperate Decisions 22:00 Life on the Run, Arrest & Reality Sets In 27:00 Sentencing Day: Walking Into Prison for the First Time 33:00 Prison Relationships, Survival & Finding Her Place Inside 39:00 Daily Life: Hustles, Routines & What Prison Food Is Really Like 45:00 Addiction Behind Bars & Hard Lessons Learned 50:00 Getting Out: Reentry, Rebuilding & Starting Over 56:00 Staying Sober, Finding Purpose & Her Social Media Journey 01:01:00 Family Healing, Forgiveness & Moving Forward 01:04:00 Her Advice: What She Learned & Final Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices