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In late October 2005, a StoryCorps mobile booth stopped at Oregon State Penitentiary to record interviews between inmates and prison staff. Here, prisoners Paul Mortimer and Sean Fox interview one another.
Less than a month after their conversation, Paul Mortimer was found dead in his cell. The cause of death, according to his wife, was a drug overdose. He was 49.
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Piece Description
In late October 2005, a StoryCorps mobile booth stopped at Oregon State Penitentiary to record interviews between inmates and prison staff. Here, prisoners Paul Mortimer and Sean Fox interview one another. Less than a month after their conversation, Paul Mortimer was found dead in his cell. The cause of death, according to his wife, was a drug overdose. He was 49.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition 1/20/06
Intro and Outro
INTRO:StoryCorps is collecting interviews from across the country. MobileBooths have collected stories from nineteen states now. Recording your stories in cities and town, on Main Streets, riverbanks and an Indian Reservation. Recently, StoryCorps was invited to a maximum-security prison. The Oregon State Penitentiary. There inmates and staff recorded interviews with one another. Here’s an excerpt of one conversation.
OUTRO:Less than a month after this interview, Paul Mortimer died in prison. According to his wife, he died of a drug overdose. We also heard from his friend and fellow inmate, Shawn Fox. Their interview was recorded last fall at the Oregon State Penitentiary. StoryCorps recording booths are currently in Santa Monica, California and Sarasota, Florida. To tell your story and have it archived at the Library of Congress, visit NPR-dot-ORG.
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Michelle Parsons
Posted on July 06, 2007 at 09:24 PM | Permalink
Review of StoryCorps: Paul Mortimer and Sean Fox
This is truly a tragic tale. I'm friends with Shawn Fox and was becoming fast friends with Paul Mortimer
AKA:(Bumber)just before he he was found dead in his cell of a drug overdose, less than 1 month after this interview was recorded.They both have incredible stories to tell.(Particularly Mr.Fox) Tragically they didn't have a chance to share them in the brief time aloted. "Bumper" seemed to me ,to be a decent man from what I learned of him in the short time our friendship blossemed. I did however, have much more time and in depth conversations (via mail and telephone calls)with Mr. Fox,who truly does deserve another chance at life, which as it stands today, he will never recieve. All of the interest & support he could get, would be HUGELY benificial to him as well as his precious family!