A convicted child abuser, housed in a New Jersey women’s prison due to transgender policies, now demands nude witchcraft rituals and marriage to his male accomplice as part of a lawsuit settlement.
Story Highlights
- Biological male Matthew Volz, aka “Marina Volz,” convicted of trafficking and assaulting his 7-year-old daughter, resides at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.
- Volz filed a 2023 lawsuit claiming religious discrimination over Wiccan practices, escalating to 12 demands including outdoor nude rituals and a “Witch’s Garden.”
- Settlement talks in 2026 seek permission for Volz to marry co-defendant Adam Romero, aka “Ashley Romero,” both trans-identified and housed together despite intact male anatomy.
- NJ Department of Corrections permits basic Wiccan items but denies nudity and outdoor rituals for security reasons, highlighting tensions between rights and inmate safety.
Crimes and Conviction Details
In December 2018, Matthew Volz and Adam Romero took custody of Volz’s 7-year-old daughter from her mother in Oregon and transported her to New Jersey. They began producing and distributing child sexual abuse material, involving cages, collars, and sex toys in a Franklin Township home. Volz operated a “family-owned transgender pornography studio.” An investigation uncovered the horrific abuse. Volz pleaded guilty in November 2021 to human trafficking, aggravated sexual assault, conspiracy, and endangering a child.
Prison Transfer and Policy Shift
Courts sentenced Volz to 25 years with 25 years parole ineligibility in May 2022, initially placing him at South Woods State Prison for men. New Jersey Department of Corrections transferred Volz to Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in July 2022, despite intact male genitalia, classifying him as female based on gender identity. Romero received direct placement there. The facility houses about 1,000 female inmates and has a history of staff sexual abuse incidents.
Lawsuit and Escalating Demands
Volz sued NJDOC in April 2023 in Hunterdon County Superior Court, alleging violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act over denied Wiccan practices. NJDOC already allows items like Books of Shadows and pentacles but rejected cloaks, a garden, and nude “Skyclad” rituals for security. As of May 2026, settlement negotiations include Volz’s 12 demands: nude outdoor rituals, Wiccan leader status, a Witch’s Garden, ritual cloaks, and marriage to Romero.
Prison sources confirm no sex offender treatment for Volz, raising safety concerns for female inmates who report discomfort with the pair’s marriage and cell-sharing desires. NJDOC remains silent on the talks.
Safety Risks and Broader Implications
Female inmates at Edna Mahan face heightened risks from Volz and Romero’s presence, given their crimes and lack of treatment. Potential settlement could set precedents for fringe religious accommodations, straining resources and eroding women’s prison integrity. Taxpayers may bear costs exceeding $100,000 for lawsuits and setups like gardens. This case fuels national debates on transgender housing policies, with over 20 states restricting them post-2023, underscoring failures in balancing individual claims against public safety and common sense protections.
Pedophile in NJ Women’s Prison, Who Horrifically Abused His 7-Year-Old Daughter, Demands Nude Witchcraft Rituals and Marriage to Male Accomplice in Insane Settlement Negotiations https://t.co/4EXoUhGDMR #gatewaypundit via @gatewaypundit
— Sky (@NeptuneSky777) May 10, 2026
