Amy Locane Reflects on Life After Prison and Future Aspirations

Princeton, New Jersey — Amy Locane, the former star of ‘Melrose Place,’ emerged from her second prison stint on December 20, 2024, profoundly changed after serving six and a half years for her role in a fatal DWI accident in 2010. The crash killed 60-year-old Helene Seeman and critically injured her husband, Fred. Initially sentenced to three years, Locane’s conviction was subsequently deemed too lenient, resulting in a longer imprisonment.

“It feels very raw to be back into society,” Locane, now 53, said in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly. “I’m looking at the world with fresh eyes.” She vividly remembers her first day of freedom, recalling, “My mom picked me up, and we went to Dunkin’ Donuts. When you’re inside [prison], you are so deprived. To have coffee with real creamer is a huge treat.” Locane, who expressed both excitement and fear over how much had changed during her incarceration, noted how even simple tasks like grocery shopping felt daunting.

During her time at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township, Locane sought peace in her routines. “This bright fluorescent light gets you up at 6 or 7 a.m.,” she explained. “So I’d get up at 5 a.m. to have my alone time.” She spent her days working in the kitchen, performing manual labor for $5 a day while juggling the emotional toll of being away from her two daughters, Paige, 18, and Avery, 16. “The strain of prison is that you don’t have anything to say, because your life stands still when everybody else has moved on,” she said.

Locane’s relationship with her daughters has begun to improve since her release, though she acknowledges it may take time. “Some days are easier than others,” she admitted. Despite past challenges resulting in a divorce from their father in 2015, Locane remains hopeful for their family dynamic.

Since re-entering society, Locane’s life has taken on a quieter rhythm. She regularly attends a local Presbyterian church and works the front desk at a local doctor’s office. Additionally, she is close to completing her associate degree, a pursuit she began while incarcerated. “I learned I’m smart,” she reflected, recounting positive feedback from her professors.

While she stepped away from acting in 2006, Locane expressed interest in returning to the industry. “I would do it in a heartbeat,” she said, voicing enthusiasm about potentially reuniting with her former co-stars for a ‘Melrose Place’ reboot. “It would be very exciting to bring it back,” she remarked.

Locane also shared her aspirations for the future, yearning for companionship and stability. “I want to be married again,” she said. “If I do meet a guy now, I don’t have to worry about [telling them], ‘Oh, by the way, I might have to go away for a little bit.’”

Despite her aspirations, Locane continues to grapple with the guilt surrounding the crash that changed her life permanently. “To this day, I have a lot of remorse,” she shared. “It’s a heavy reality to live with. Every day when I’m praying or doing daily devotionals, I try to keep her in mind.” Locane recognizes the challenges of readjusting to life after incarceration while stressing the importance of personal growth from her experiences. “You do know that you can handle anything — there is a great independence that comes from that,” she concluded.