Tobias Beecher

Grew up… in a different world than most of his fellow inmates. Tobias, a Harvard Law graduate, was a civilized and sophisticated man before he was sent to prison for manslaughter after driving drunk.

Living… under the leather boot of his roommate, Vern Schillinger. Tobias is forced to undergo humiliating treatment at the hands of Vern, who made Toby his “prag” (or, more accurately, slave).

Profession… former lawyer. After his conviction, Tobias was stripped of his legal credentials by the state. Nevertheless, he still is a fan of the legal system. As he says, “I love the law, even if it didn’t turn out in my favor. You know why I love the laws we have in this state? Because it keeps people like Schillinger, Adebisi and Hernandez away from my kids.”

Interests… any kind of substance he can get his hands on. An alcoholic, Tobias has now turned to heroin for comfort during his stay in Oz.

Relationship Status… married with children. Tobias knows that going to prison means that he’s likely lost his family forever. The swastika that Schillinger branded onto Toby’s rear-end managed to scare Mrs. Beecher away for good after the couple’s first, and only, conjugal visit.

Challenge… surviving. Tobias knows that he’s not cut out for life in Oz, and that to make it out alive he has to change his ways. In prison, a man is truly alone. In order to protect himself, he may have to do things he never would’ve dreamed of doing before. Terrible, degrading things. But that’s prison life: “The great thing about breaking a promise to yourself is that only one person gets hurt.”

Personality… bookish and sensitive, not tough like the other inmates. One can tell that Tobias comes from a different class from most inmates just by looking at him. In Oz, one has to learn to shed one’s personality. As a prisoner, you’re nothing more than a number. Beecher has gone from being a man to being just another statistic: “Prisoner 97B412. Convicted July 5, 1997 – Driving while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter. Sentence: 15 years, up for parole in four.”