Who is Miriah Vanlith? Female convict in jail for raping boys goes viral for asking 'penpals' to contact her
A female sex offender who is currently behind bars after seducing two teenage boys has asked for penpals in a series of TikTok videos. As per officials, they said they can do to nothing to stop 43-year-old Miriah Vanlith, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence at an Idaho prison, from posting such videos.
Miriah used to contact her young victims through Snapchat and Facebook before she got arrested. In a series of TikTok videos from prison that began appearing on her account from July 8 onward, Miriah asked for “male or female” penpals. Her TikTok account had eight videos and gained over 33,000 followers before being deleted.
ALSO READ
Horrifying video shows NYC serial sex attacker assaulting woman on Manhattan street
Miriah is being held at South Idaho Correctional Institution, near Boise, after raping a 14 and 17-year-old in 2018 as well as luring kids over the internet. In prison, culprits are allowed to use a system called JPay, which enables them to send emails and videos to people outside of prison. However, social media sites are unaccessible to them.
Therefore, it is more than likely that someone else created the TikTok account for Miriah and uploaded the content. Miriah's profile has now been suspended, although TikTok users have recorded clips and shared them on their own accounts, often to express disgust at Miriah's actions. Miriah is also suspected of molesting other boys which includes a 15-year-old, but as part of a plea deal, the charge was dropped.
'Past doesn't define her'
Speaking from prison, Miriah claimed to The Idaho Stateman that she had changed and that said, “the past doesn’t define me”. Miriah also added, “I made big mistakes in the past. I’ve learned and grown a lot in the last five years. I take responsibility for what I’ve done... I’ve started a new chapter of my life.” Upon further questioning by the outlet, Miriah declined to comment on how she had managed to get the videos onto the social media platforms from prison. While phones are prohibited in prison, officials said they can’t stop her from posting such videos with someone's help on the outside. However, they don’t “endorse such communication”.
The South Idaho Correctional Institution prison said they were aware of the situation but are unable to control third-party applications and those who post the videos at prisoners’ behest. Idaho DOC spokesperson Jeff Ray said to The Spokesman-Review: “While many pen-pal-type relationships are well-intended, people who choose to engage in them – including those who are incarcerated – should be wary.” Idaho Correctional Institution claimed she had made more than 500 new contacts through JPay since posting on TikTok, which has since been taken down, alongside her account.
What is 'Prison Tok'?
The hashtag '#PrisonTok' is used for several purposes, whether to shed light on harsh conditions in jail or simply showcasing the realities of the criminal justice system. But after Miriah's TikTok went viral, the hashtag has acquired a darker connotation. People online were shocked that a convicted sex offender could appear in a TikTok video and go viral and that there was nothing that authorities could do to stop her.