Robert Stroud, known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” was married twice. His first marriage ended in divorce, and his second wife, Della Mae Jones, whom he married while incarcerated, eventually left him. They never divorced, but she stopped visiting him and moved on with her life.
Robert Stroud met his first wife, Kitty O’Brien, a barmaid, when he was a young man living in Alaska. They married in 1908, but the marriage was tumultuous and ended in divorce. Stroud’s criminal activities, including manslaughter, led to his imprisonment, where he would spend the majority of his life.
While serving time at Leavenworth Penitentiary, Stroud developed an interest in birds, particularly canaries, which he was allowed to keep in his cell. His study of birds and their diseases gained him some level of fame and the nickname “Birdman of Leavenworth.”
In 1942, while still incarcerated, Stroud married Della Mae Jones, a woman who had been corresponding with him and advocating for his release. Their marriage was conducted through proxy, as Stroud was not allowed to attend. Della Mae was a staunch supporter of Stroud and worked tirelessly to have his sentence commuted. However, as the years passed and Stroud’s release became increasingly unlikely, their relationship deteriorated.
Della Mae eventually stopped visiting Stroud and later admitted to having married another man, although she and Stroud were never legally divorced. Stroud spent the rest of his life in prison, and Della Mae Jones moved on with her life, effectively ending their marriage in all but name. Robert Stroud died in 1963 at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, having been incarcerated for the last 54 years of his life.
