Two of our writers have passed. Steven Wertz, who had his death sentence overturned and was incarcerated at Ouachita River Unit, died in early March 2025. Steven was a prolific writer and used writing as a way to free himself from prison walls. He was proud to have been a participant of the Prison Story Project during our time there in 2016 and said this: Dear Ms. McGregor an team, There was once a Lubavitcher Rabbi who, no matter what life brought him, would state, “This too, is for the good.” Thank you and your team for coming. This too, is for the good – to give voice to our stories.”
Latavious “Brainstorm” Johnson died on June 6, 2025 in his cell on death row at Varner Prison from unknown causes. Brainstorm was an accomplished beat boxer, poet, writer, and playwright. Here’s one of his many poems:
I used to shed tears
and I dropped ’em all in a bottle.
Now I got 99 of ’em
all along the walls
to serve as a constant reminder
that crying never got a problem solved.
And every now and then
when I get choked up
I take one down and drink it
just like alcohol.
This is my life in camouflage:
I know I’m a man
They say I’m a dog.
I know where I stand
They see where I’ve fallen
(footprints in the darkness).
You say you can feel my pain
But you don’t feel this train –
You don’t feel this exhausted.