Imagine spending Thanksgiving behind bars, stripped of your freedom and surrounded by concrete walls. That’s the reality for Elizabeth Holmes, the once-celebrated, now-disgraced CEO of Theranos. But amidst the harshness of prison life, there was a glimmer of warmth this year: a visit from her family.
Published on November 29, 2025, at 4:09 PM PST, reports detail how Holmes received what might be her best Thanksgiving gift while incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas: quality time with her husband, Billy Evans, and their two young children. This minimum-security facility also houses other notable inmates, including Ghislaine Maxwell and former ‘Real Housewives’ star Jen Shah. Imagine the conversations in the lunch line!
Pictures show Elizabeth and Billy sitting across from each other in the prison yard, seemingly catching up, while their children played nearby. But here’s the heartwarming part: Holmes wasn’t content to just sit and chat. At one point, she stood up and swung her son, William, around, just like any mom playing with her child in a park. She was also seen holding her daughter, Invicta, in her arms, speaking softly to her with a huge smile. These small moments of normalcy must mean the world to her, and perhaps, a reminder of what she’s fighting to return to.
And this is the part most people miss… Prison life can be incredibly monotonous and physically limiting. Holmes appears to be trying to maintain some semblance of her former routine. The reports indicate that she even grabbed a couple of dumbbells and did some curls during the afternoon. It’s a stark reminder that even behind bars, life, in some form, continues.
Elizabeth’s family has been visiting her regularly since she began her sentence in 2023 following her conviction on fraud charges related to Theranos. They even had a similar visit just last week. This consistent support system likely provides her with much-needed emotional strength during this difficult time.
Holmes is scheduled for release in 2032, meaning her children will likely continue to visit her at the prison for years to come. These visits raise a complex question: what impact will these experiences have on her children? Is it beneficial for children to see their mother in prison, or does it cause more harm than good? This is a controversial topic, and there are valid arguments on both sides. Some might argue that maintaining a connection with their mother is crucial for their emotional well-being, even under these circumstances. Others might believe that the prison environment is too damaging for young children and that visits should be limited or avoided altogether.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to visit a parent in prison is a personal one, and there is no easy answer. What do you think? Should children be allowed to visit their parents in prison regularly? Does it help them or hurt them in the long run? Share your thoughts in the comments below.