Ross Ulbritch’s ex-girlfriend was interviewed by news outlets during his arrest in 2013. 

Ross William Ulbrich is an American man who created and operated the dark net market website called Silk Road. 

Highlights

• Julia Vie, Ross Ulbricht’s ex-girlfriend, described their intense relationship, revealing how his libertarian ideals and Silk Road consumed him over time.
• Ross’s parents, Lyn and Kirk, emphasize the personal toll of his imprisonment and advocate for criminal justice reforms while supporting his cause.
• Ross’s mother, Lyn Ulbricht, tirelessly advocates for his freedom, leading the #Free Ross movement despite personal health challenges.

He launched the website in 2011 and continued to operate it until his arrest in 2013.

Ross was imprisoned from 2013 until January 21, 2025, when U.S. President Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon, leading to his release.

The Silk Road website operated as a hidden service that facilitated sales of narcotics and other illegal products and services such as hiring a hitman. 

Ross Ulbricht’s ex-girlfriend Julia Showed compassion for Ross even after their breakup!

Ross Ulbricht’s ex-girlfriend, Julia Vie, became a prominent voice during the media frenzy surrounding his arrest in 2013.

Julia is a photographer and entrepreneur who dated Ross during the years leading up to the creation and operation of the Silk Road.

Over the last few weeks, I wrote 8 personal letters to Ross Ulbricht @RealRossU – some of the final ones he’d ever receive behind bars.

Ross, as of January 21, 2025, your freedom is finally here.

What comes next? pic.twitter.com/zOP4zXtK2e

— Julian Figueroa (@kinetic_finance) January 22, 2025

 

Moreover, Vie and Ulbricht started dating when she was a freshman at Penn State and he was a graduate student studying materials science and the duo quickly fell in love.  

In interviews with the news channels, she described Ross as a thoughtful, idealistic individual who initially believed in libertarian principles and the idea of creating a marketplace free from government interference.

She has stated, 

I don’t think he deserves to be in jail for the rest of his life, I mean, maybe take the best years of his life, at least, but leave him with the last part of his life.

-Julia Vie

She further says and describes her relationship with Ross stating, 

When Ross and I really started to get to know each other, it was intense, We were always hanging out … always doing these amazing things together.

-Julia Vie

 

However, Julia shared how his immersion in the dark web significantly altered his personality over time, straining their relationship.

In interviews, she reflected on their time together, noting how his focus on the Silk Road consumed him, creating a distance between them.

Despite their breakup, Julia showed compassion for Ross, even visiting him in prison in 2015 while he awaited trial.

Her candid insights offered a personal glimpse into the life of a man whose actions would go on to create international headlines.

Julia’s experience highlights the personal cost of Ulbricht’s controversial endeavors, which extended beyond legal consequences to affect those close to him.

However, whether the two got back together or any other information regarding, Ross Ulbricht’s wife or girlfriend is not revealed to the media. 

Ross Ulbrich’s Parents Lyn and Kirk never stopped to seek avenues for his release

While Julia Vie offered insights into Ross’s personal life, his parents, Lyn and Kirk Ulbricht, have become central figures in his story.

Ross’s mom, Lyn Ulbricht, in particular, has emerged as a prominent figure in the fight for Ross’s freedom.

 

She has tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness about his case, establishing the “#Free Ross” movement and engaging with various media outlets to highlight what she perceives as injustices in his sentencing.

Despite the personal toll, including health challenges such as a heart attack in 2015, Lyn has remained dedicated to her son’s cause.

Ross’s father, Kirk Ulbricht has also been supportive, joining his wife Lyn in public appearances and interviews to shed light on their son’s situation.

Their unwavering commitment underscores the profound impact Ross’s imprisonment has had on his family, as they continue to seek avenues for his release and advocate for broader criminal justice reforms.

Additional Infomation 

• Ross Ulbricht was born on March 27, 1984, and raised in Austin, Texas. 
• Ulbricht attended the University of Texas at Dallas on a full academic scholarship and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in physics.
• On February 4, 2014, Ulbricht was charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, narcotics conspiracy, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to commit computer hacking