Lorrie is the mother of Heather Horst, who has been incarcerated for nearly twelve years and is serving a life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) sentence, meaning she will spend the rest of her life incarcerated. Lorrie describes Heather as intelligent and strong. “She’s not going to give up,” Lorrie lovingly says. “That’s not my daughter.”

Lorrie knows Heather has become a strong member of the community through restorative justice classes, and is widely appreciated inside the prison as being a mentor to others. Heather has demonstrated significant transformation while incarcerated. 

Family Has Always Been at the Center

Family has always been at the center of Lorrie’s life. She and her husband, Rex, have been married for 38 years. Their home has long been a gathering place: Christmas Eve can bring 30 to 50 relatives together, while holidays are filled with food, gifts, and traditions. When Heather was young, the family traveled together, including time living overseas in Saudi Arabia and visiting Australia and Thailand.

Life without parole transformed those traditions.

“We always had, no matter where we were, no matter what time of year it was, all four of us,” Lorrie recalls. “I know she’ll always be with us in spirit, but it’s not the same as physically being with the family.” 

The Years She Has Missed

Heather has missed birthdays, holidays, and milestones. She was incarcerated when her niece was less than a year old and has since missed the arrival of a nephew. During her incarceration, Heather also lost her grandmother and an uncle. These are moments that families ordinarily experience together, but incarceration has forced the Schwarz family to grieve across prison walls.

For Lorrie and Rex, maintaining their relationship with Heather requires planning around the correctional system’s rules and schedules. Because Lorrie and Rex live out of state, visiting Heather requires significant travel. Even when they make the journey, visits are not guaranteed to happen as planned.

During a 15-day trip in December, a mix-up with the visiting schedule meant that Lorrie and Rex saw Heather only twice. They had planned to visit six or seven times. Instead, they spent approximately five hours with their daughter over the entire trip.

When Ordinary Life Disappears

The distance is difficult, but for Lorrie, the hardest part is the loss of ordinary family life. She cannot simply call Heather to meet for coffee or lunch. She cannot hand her daughter the souvenirs she collected while traveling. She cannot have her daughter home for Christmas.

“When you have kids, your lifestyle changes,” Lorrie explains. “And having grandchildren, and being the big happy family… that dynamic is a complete 180 now.”

“You can never, unless somebody’s been in those shoes, you can’t emphasize enough the pain of learning that your child is…spending their life in prison. It feels like ripping your heart out, honestly” she says. 

The Call That Changed Everything

When Heather was convicted, Lorrie and Rex were living in Saudi Arabia. The news devastated them. Lorrie remembers the two of them on the floor, holding each other and crying as they realized that their future with their daughter would look entirely different.

For years, Lorrie tried to keep herself busy rather than think about what had happened. She felt alone in the experience. But connecting with the Hope Act and other families affected by life without parole changed that.

Of the people who are organizing with the Hope Act, she says: “I feel like you guys are part of my family too,” she says. “Because we’re all fighting for the same thing. We all want for one thing: a better life.”

Holding on to Hope

Today, Lorrie’s hope is rooted in the possibility that Heather will come home. She believes Heather has much to contribute to the world after incarceration. Heather has pursued education, earned a paralegal license, participated in conflict resolution, and worked to make changes within the prison.

“Hope for me is just knowing one day she’s coming home,” Lorrie says. “I’m going to keep that hope forever, just that she’s going to be with us.”

Lorrie also recognizes that the loss experienced by Heather’s victim and his family cannot be undone. Changing Heather’s sentence cannot change what happened or restore what was taken. We cannot undo the past, but we can decide what kind of future our system creates.

For Lorrie, ending life without parole is about more than changing a sentence. It is about restoring the possibility of family: of holidays together, ordinary conversations, shared meals, and the simple ability to be present with the people she loves.

She says: “Hope for me is just knowing one day she’s coming home. I’m going to keep that hope forever, just that she’s going to be with us.” 

You can read Lorrie’s full interview here