Daughter of man who was jailed for 22 YEARS for murdering his stepfather reveals how they maintained a bond during his incarceration - as the pair goes viral for performing sweet TikTok dance to celebrate his parole
- Justine Tuckett, 28, from Utah, was five years old when her father Bill Lorance was sentenced to jail for murdering his stepfather in 1999
- He was released from California Medical Facility, a state prison, on October 5
- One of the first things he wanted to do while out on parole was perform a TikTok dance with his daughter, who is a dance fitness instructor
- Their video has been viewed more than 51 million times on TikTok and Instagram
- Tuckett explained in the caption that 'some people deserve to re-enter society,' saying her father 'is unrecognizable from the person he use to be before prison'
- After their video went viral, Tuckett and Lorance shared their story during an Instagram Live about how they maintained their relationship while he was in jail
A father and daughter who celebrated his release from prison with a viral TikTok dance have opened up about how they maintained their relationship during the 22 years he spent incarcerated.
Justine Tuckett, 28, from Utah, was five years old when her father Bill Lorance was sentenced to jail for murdering his stepfather in 1999. Lorance was released from California Medical Facility, a state prison, on October 5, BuzzFeed News reported.
Performing a routine with his dancer daughter was one of the first things he wanted to do when he was free, and the pair's playful video has been viewed more than 51 million times on TikTok and Instagram.
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Reunited: Justine Tuckett, 28, from Utah, celebrated her father Bill Lorance's release from prison earlier this month after he spent 22 years behind bars
Jumping into it: One of the first things Lorance wanted to do while out on parole was perform a TikTok dance with his daughter, who is a dance fitness instructor
'My Dad has been in prison for 22 years. I got to pick him up this week,' she captioned the clip, which shows her dancing solo before her father jumps in and matches her choreographed moves.
Tuckett, who is a dance fitness instructor, told BuzzFeed News that she chose to teach her dad Patrice Rushen's 'Forget Me Nots' dance because the tempo was slow and the moves weren't overly complicated.
'Words can not express the emotions and feelings I’ve had this week. Picking up my Father from prison after 22 years was amazing,' she captioned the video on Instagram.
'When I was younger every time I blew out my birthday candles. I would wish that he would get out of prison…until I was old enough to realize that he wasn’t going to be wished back to me.'
Tuckett knew some people would take issue with seeing her father dancing after the crime he had committed, and she ended her post with a message about how her father used his time in prison to reform.
Going viral: Their video has been viewed more than 51 million times on TikTok and Instagram
Reformed: Tuckett explained in the caption that 'some people deserve to re-enter society,' saying her father 'is unrecognizable from the person he use to be before prison'
'My Dad put in the work every day, he is unrecognizable from the person he use to be before prison,' she explained.
'Some resilient people CAN be reformed. Some people DESERVE to re-enter society again. Some WILL embrace their children, grandchildren, and family [once] again. Someone like my Dad.'
There were a number of supportive comments from people who were happy to see the family reunited, but others were outraged by the celebration of his release considering the severity of his crimes.'
Some even accused Tuckett of making her dad dance in the video to get more social media followers, which she denied.
She explained in the comments that her father was the one who asked if they could make a TikTok together because he never got to see her dance in any of her performances in middle school, high school, or college.
'There are people who think I should have stayed in prison for the rest of my life,' Lorance told BuzzFeed News. 'They’re just inflamed that he gets to get out and dance with his daughter, and his victim’s daughter will never dance with him.'
Crime: Lorance (pictured with his daughter) was sentenced to jail for first-degree homicide after murdering his stepfather in 1999
Hard to handle: Tuckett was only five years old when her father went to prison, and he never got to see any of her dance performances when she was growing up
Grandchildren: Lorance has been spending quality time with his daughter's two children following his release
After their video went viral, Tuckett and Lorance shared their story during a candid Instagram Live. They discussed his crime as well as how he maintained a relationship with her and her brother, Jonathan, while he was in prison.
Lorance explained that he and Tuckett's mother, who is now his ex-wife, had been separated for 18 months, and he was in the grip of alcoholism and drug addiction when he murdered his stepfather in 1999.
'I let anger consume me. I was filled with rage, and I acted out in violence,' he said.
The father broke down in tears as he recalled how his ex-wife wrote him a letter when he first went to jail saying he would never speak to their children again. However, she came to realize that he would always be an important part of their kids' lives.
Lorance maintained his relationship with his children through letters, phone calls, and their occasional visits, which he called 'fantastic.'
He said he made it a point to always be positive when he was speaking with his daughter, and they bonded over television shows, one of the only things they both had access to.
Making memories: Tuckett has been chronicling her father's first on Instagram, including his first selfie (pictured)
Strong bond: After their video went viral, Tuckett and Lorance shared their story during an Instagram Live about how they maintained their relationship while he was in jail
Tuckett, who has two children of her own, also made sure that her kids regularly spoke to their grandfather on the phone during his final years of incarceration.
While speaking of his reform, Lorance said the greatest opportunity he had in prison was to participate in victim awareness seminars where he met with victims of violent crimes.
He recalled speaking to a woman who was still heartbroken over her father's murder 25 years later, and the impact that conversation had on him.
'It just proved to me how much damage I had done and that no matter what I do in terms of reform, no matter how much I strive to be a better person, that someone out there is always going to be without a loved one, and I will never fully understand the extent of their pain and sorrow,' he shared.
Tuckett also cried during the Instagram Live, admitting it was difficult for them to talk about these things on social media.
'It is hard talking about these things because I want to protect you and I love you,' she told her dad.
'People are never fully going to understand our story. No matter how much we share. No matter how much we explain. Nobody fully understands it.'
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