Sniper Lee Boyd Malvo, serving life sentences in Virginia prison, gets married

Lee Boyd Malvo, the sniper convicted of eight murders committed in October 2002 and currently serving eight life sentences, was married in a Virginia prison last week, The Washington Post reported.

Boyd, 35, was 17 when he committed the crimes and was arrested with John Allen Muhammad in connection with two murders in Virginia and six in Maryland, the newspaper reported. He was married in a ceremony at Red Onion State Prison in southwest Virginia, two people close to Malvo told the Post.

The sources did not identify the bride, the newspaper reported.

Carmeta Albarus, who has been Malvo’s mentor and adviser since testifying at the 2003 trial, told The Associated Press she attended the ceremony.

“Over the past 17 years, he has grown despite his conditions of confinement,” Albarus told the AP in a telephone interview Tuesday. “He has grown into an adult, and has found love with a wonderful young lady. ... It was a beautiful ceremony.”

Albarus declined to provide any specifics about the ceremony or the bride, the Post reported.

“She’s an absolutely wonderful individual,” Albarus told the newspaper She said the bride and groom “were allowed to hold hands,” but did not say if they were allowed to kiss or have any further contact.

“I believe the institution was very accommodating,” Albarus told the Post.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Corrections would not confirm whether a ceremony took place. One inmate, who told the Post he witnessed the ceremony in Red Onion’s contact visit area, said it occurred Friday during a two-hour visit by the bride.

Craig S. Cooley, who was one of four attorneys to represent Malvo and is currently handling his appeals, said he met the bride, whom he described as close in age to his client. He said she was “a very impressive young lady. Educated. Her eyes are wide open," the Post reported.

Cooley said the woman began writing to Malvo two years ago and then began visiting him.

“I believe they are soul mates,” Cooley told the Post. “She sees the good and sees Lee as I’ve always seen him, and I think the world would have seen him had Muhammad not taken over his life.”

According to the AP, there are strict rules in place for inmate weddings in Virginia state prisons. Witnesses and guests are limited to six, and drinks must be obtained from prison vending machines. In addition, a wedding "shall not result in the granting of any special privileges for the consummation of the marriage following the ceremony or thereafter.”

Cox Media Group