Netflix reality show star Laura Gehrke shared how she married a prisoner just months after meeting him. Gehrke, a real estate agent who appeared on Too Hot To Handle Germany, recounted her unique love story.
Last year, the 27-year-old spent Christmas alone in Dubai due to visa issues preventing her from travelling home. While scrolling through TikTok, she came across a video about writing to inmates. Laura decided to send a festive greeting to a prisoner and found Joshua Stewart, a 21-year-old inmate.
They began exchanging messages and quickly developed a connection, eventually spending hours daily talking on the phone. Laura then travelled to the US to meet Joshua, who was serving time for controlled substance homicide.
@lorraandjosh Replying to @Miss. Andry don‘t believe everything you see on the news 🙂 #love #ldrstory #relationshipadvice #married #ldrcouple #prisonwife #couplegoals #longdistancerelationship #writeaprisoner #prisontok #ldrgoals #jailtok ♬ original sound – lorraandjosh
Reflecting on their relationship, Laura Gehrke said, “We really clicked. He was open about everything from the start, sharing many stories about his life. He seemed really emotionally intelligent.” She didn’t ask about his imprisonment initially, not wanting to judge him. Understanding his backstory didn’t alter her opinion of him.
After six weeks, Joshua proposed. They met 12 times before their prison wedding, where another inmate served as Joshua’s best man. “It was a prison marriage. We all wore white and had our own colour theme,” Laura shared. Their families were supportive, although Laura’s mum had questions initially.
Scepticism arose on social media about their relationship. One comment read, “Bro just secured his financial future after he’s out,” while another said, “You most definitely got all your priorities messed up.” A third person predicted, “He will disappear after release.”
@lorraandjosh Replying to @mi amour <3 ♬ son original – 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 🎧
Laura responded assertively, stating, “People look into things with a made-up mind. They can’t believe we married out of love and think one of us is using the other. But we have a lot of support and also a lot of haters.”
The couple now shares their life on TikTok (@lorraandjosh), with one video amassing 8.7 million views. Joshua is scheduled for release under house arrest in December 2025.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AOL reports that Laura Gehrke, a star from Netflix’s “Too Hot To Handle: Germany,” married Joshua Stewart, a prisoner serving time for homicide, after a six-week romance. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Laura Gehrke?
Laura Gehrke is a real estate agent and former star of Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle Germany.
How did Laura Gehrke meet Joshua Stewart?
Laura met Joshua after wishing him ‘Merry Christmas’ through TikTok and they began exchanging messages.
What was Joshua Stewart in prison for?
Joshua Stewart was serving time for controlled substance homicide.
When will Joshua Stewart be released from jail?
Joshua Stewart is set to be released under house arrest in December 2025.
How did people react to Laura and Joshua’s marriage?
Reactions were mixed; some supported them, while others were skeptical and critical on social media.