Sentenced to Hell: The Incredible True Story of a Young Mother's Miraculous Escape from Venezuela's Notorious Prison System

by Natalie Welsh

In 2001 Natalie Welsh took her four-year-old daughter Nikita on the holiday of a lifetime to Venezuela. But Natalie was hiding a terrible secret—in a moment of desperation she had agreed to smuggle a suitcase of cocaine for a one-off payment she hoped would change her life. Hopelessly naïve, and struggling with a drug addiction that left her barely capable of reason, Natalie had no idea of the danger she was facing. Caught by the Venezuelan authorities, Natalie was sentenced to ten years in a hellish prison system. In the blink of an eye, she entered a nightmare world, where guards were either too powerless or corrupt to control the escalating violence. This was a world of almost unimaginable horror, where murders, rapes, and even all-out gang warfare were carried out by the armed and powerful inmates. After six terrible years, and against impossible odds, Natalie became the first western woman to escape from a Venezuelan prison, in a death-defying flight through Colombia to freedom. Sentenced to Hell is the incredible story of how one terrible mistake can almost destroy a life, and how Natalie's love for her daughter saved her.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2009

Reviews

[Mark Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

Drugs and what they do to you

Sentencing Welsh to six years and nine months, Judge William Hart said her's was a cautionary tale. The judge is right. Woefully wrong decision after woefully wrong decision. I ended up feeling for the daughter, but it’s hard to be sympathetic for Natalie; clearly Ms Welsh knew what she was doing, and assumed that drugs would be a quick fix to her financial trauma.

Spoiler alert: they weren’t.

[Rio Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read, although I regret buying this book as the author is apparently still a drug dealer in the UK 😂

[Ian Reprobate · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a mad mad real life story of such a dangerous mental mission. The prison literally sounds like hell!
& such a corrupt country
Glad your hear to tell the tale

[Marina Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Amazing Story, what an Escape! Best book I have read this year!

[Corinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is incredible and I couldn't put it down. I cried many times and feel like I can further appreciate freedom and hope.
One thing that annoyed me at the end was that it doesn't say if she still keeps in contact with José or if he is actually happy. So I really hope that he is!

[Louisa Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting true story that you won’t want to put down !!
You have to keep turning the page to see what happens next

[Miss R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foolish

I was sad to hear that Natalie turned to drugs as a way to obtain money again. I thought she'd turned her life around. She shoukd have learnt her lesson. I suppose I would have been less judgemental had she not had her young child with her in Venezuela, I was pretty disgusted that anyone could ever do that.
I enjoyed the book, some parts were a little boring but over all its an enjoyable, easy read.

[Mohamed Kamal · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Escape from Venezuela’s Deadliest Prison” is a gripping, emotionally powerful account by Natalie Welsh of one harrowing ordeal. She describes in detail how she was arrested for smuggling heroin and then imprisoned in one of Venezuela’s most dangerous jails, which instilled in her deep fear and guilt during the ordeal. The early chapters are some of the best parts of this book, bringing to life the heart-wrenching conditions she was facing and illustrating the emotional toll of her experiences. However, there is a good deal of floundering around in the last chapters and most definitely during the running away bit, which many readers certainly felt was a little flat compared to the tension built. The story lacks flow at times, and the writing style is sometimes incoherent due to the lack of consistency. Flaws aside, Welsh’s simple but candid way of storytelling holds your interest. What adds a tragic layer to this story is Welsh’s life after the book’s publication. She was sacked from her recruitment consultant job upon the publication of the novel and never really recovered from the experience, and sadly fell back into drug dealing. This is a strange and unsatisfying decision on her part, all the more so considering what she had been through. Welsh would serve additional drug convictions in later years, further highlighting how difficult it can be to break free from old patterns without the appropriate assistance. For Welsh this is rather exasperating. It really does make it hard to see her be able to return to the same self-destructive patterns after suffering so much trauma and surviving the deadly prison. One would find this a sobering reminder of the systemic issues at play that can snare one in a cycle of crime and punishment. Generally, “Escape from Venezuela’s Deadliest Prison” is a compelling read, though flawed. It is honest about the disastrous results of drug smuggling and the determination one must have to survive severe punishment. Welsh, though, does not come out smelling like a rose in her post-prison activities, so some of the positive aspects that readers may find in her testimony are offset by her later life. This book is recommended for general readers who enjoy true crime and personal survival stories but will also serve as a reality check regarding whether or not people with criminal backgrounds can ever truly find redemption.

[Karlien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and read it quite quickly as it's such an easy read. However, knowing it was a true story made me take a critical look at the character's insight. I already felt her 'transformation' was too quick and just 'making a deal with God' was too simplistic. She never worked through everything that had happened to her from her childhood, repressed anger towards her mother, guilt and shame on her own side. I feared it would not last and after the book I googled her and turns out she is in prison again in the UK for drug dealing. It makes a lot of what was written in the book seem superficial and naive. I hope she is able to really get into recovery and work a programme or see a therapist. I also feel for her children, as they are once again abandoned, as she was by her parents.

[Ilse · Rating 4 out of 5]

oke, het is een cliche zo oud als de straat. Als je drugs smokkelt, dan weet je dat je gevaar loopt en dat je wel eens in een helse gevangenis kan belanden.
Maar dan lees je dit boek, voel je hoe je in een netwerk wordt getrokken en hoe je gezonde verstand verliest.
En daar sta je dan met een kind van 4 klaar voor 10 jaar gevangenis. En oke opnieuw het cliche een gevangenis is om een straf uit te zitten en 'ze zouden daar op water en brood moeten leven'. Maar wat in deze gevangenissen gaande is, is gruwelijk. Niks geen water en brood, want zelfs dat is luxe. Diefstal, omkoping, moord,... de dagelijkse dreiging van de gevangenis. enerzijds te gruwelijk om lang bij stil te staan, anderzijds de pure realiteit.

[3KidsAndHubbyWon'tStopMe]

Enthralling!

Natalie's story is sadly a reality that's become more and more common around the world. I don't think you could find many people on this earth that haven't heard a similar story. Her journey was certainly thrilling, but also sad and heartbreaking for the innocent wreckage she left behind. I hope people who need to read this do, and at the same time learn that things which sound too good to be true, generally are. Anything that comes quick also tends to leave quick. Regardless, best of luck to her.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Sometimes, a mistake you made when you were young, keeps rebounding into the future. Natalie, put in prison, for smuggling drugs, falls in love. Her lover, is a prison guard. They both left, and went to England. She got a job, he didn't. They broke up. She had another kid, and lost her job. She went back to dealing drugs. She now travels around in a van.

[Donna J. Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading

Natalie doesn't beat about the bush and writes clearly about how she landed up in a Venezuelan prison. It's quite shocking the conditions prisoners endure when they're locked up. I don't want to spoil the book for others, but I will say it is a sad ending and not what I was expecting

[Rachelford66googlemail.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC BOOK

Absolutely couldn't stop reading it till I'd finished. Why I'm writing this at 08.08am .
Been reading all night.
I've been in and out of the drug /drink world since I was 26. Late starter but I soon made up for it. I'm also about 5 months clean off the crack. All takes time and thanks reading this helped me tremendously.
❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Darren Keighley · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting story

I read this book within 48 hours as it had me hooked.
I wasn’t aware of the authors story before reading this, but it was definitely worth a read & more books like this should be given to young adults to make them aware of the dangers of drugs & the life changing affect it can have on them & their families.

[leigh mcmaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.

This book has it all, hopefully people that read and are thinking drug running is the easy way think twice after. By sounds of the writers words it was hard for herself, but not as hard as it is for her family. I wish her all the best and thank her fir sharing her experience, as I really did enjoy the ride.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutally Honest

I can't imagine how difficult it was for Natalie to not only write about her experience but the epilogue at the end. Some reviewers are condemning her but I just can't. I do feel horrible for her children, especially her daughter, who are the real victims here. But you have to commend Natalie for not blaming anyone but herself.

[John C Covollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Effects of Drug Use

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written and easy to follow. I especially appreciated the author’s including her thinking process and feelings throughout. A good read for anyone fighting the urge to start or return to drug use. Well done!

[Josie Murrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

an amazing sharing of an unimaginable time in prison. I didn't want to finish it but was so happy to find such a traumatic experience had a very precious ending as life began again on the outside,
Thank you.

[Charles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Glad I read it, at first I didn't think I was going to like it but I did end up liking.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Well written. I read the book over two days.

[Diane Cubbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

eye opener

Really enjoyed this book. What an eye opener it is to what life is like in other countries. Such a shame that she couldn’t turn her life around enough to stay off drugs.

[sam rickards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Enjoyable read,found it hard going at times but stuck with it and I'm glad I did .thought it was ok

[Federico Villar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!

How Natalie overcame her addiction and overturned her life was very inspiring. I myself suffered from drug addiction for most of my adult life, and I relate to that.

[R.G. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story

Fascinating insight into a world of drugs and crime. But also love, friendship and hope. I read it very quickly!

[Joyce Johann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story.

This memoir has left me drained and Speechless. A real roller coaster ride. I hope with all my heart that Natalie has gone on to a happy fulfilling life.

[Jennifer Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written, should an interesting read. Felt terribly sorry for her daughter. Some people should not be mothers

[Jess Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. Although interesting in parts and highlights the true reality of drug smuggling and dealing. It was a frustrating read.

[Ross Eakers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read, gripping from start to finish. What a true story this is. A great read.

[Sophie New · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!