Profile

Name: Norman A Porter
Sex: Male
Race: White
Age Now: 68
Height: 5'10\"
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Gray / White\rHas beard and mustache in some photos
Eyes (Color and Correction): Blue
Other Physical Characteristics: Balding\rlight complexion\rWears dentures
Wanted for: Escape ; Dec 21, 1985

Locations

Last seen: Massachusetts
Possible location: Woburn, MA Northeast area of US, USA
Last known: Woburn, MA

Traits

Porter is a poet, scholar and activist

Case Story

Perfect Prisoner Has Fancy Footwork

In some ways, Norman Porter made the perfect prisoner. From behind bars, he accomplished things some people only dream of. While jailed, Porter earned a University degree, founded a newspaper and published poetry. But take a closer look and it's easy to see this convicted murderer is far from perfect --  especially when he pounds the pavement.  Porter has escaped from authorities numerous times. And it all started back in 1960. Porter was only about 20 years old back then. But he was far from living the life of an innocent young man. His troubles started on September 29th of that year. Police say Porter and a man named Theodore Mavor masked themselves, walked into a clothing store and shot the clerk \"execution style.\" Police apprehended the pair for murder shortly after that. Little did they know that down the road, Porter would become one of their top fugitives.

Life On The Run

Porter was locked up while waiting for his murder trial in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. But on May 14, 1961, police say Porter and a fellow prisoner, Edgar Cook, escaped by assaulting and shooting a jailor. Police caught up with Porter a week later while he was in the process of robbing a grocery store. He was then sentenced to two life sentences for murder. Despite his rotten past, Porter seemed to turn his life around. Some people even referred to him as the \"darling of reform.\" Why? Porter didn't just sit behind bars and twiddle his thumbs. He started by earning a degree from Boston University. But he didn't stop there. He went on to found a prison newspaper and a radio station; he also published poetry while he was locked up. Porter's actions even caught the attention of Governor Michael Dukakis, who eventually commuted Porter's first life sentence. But Porter's pretty picture soon lost its luster.

Breaking Away

It seems like running away is in Porter's blood. Despite the reputation he earned, he decided to hit the road again. In September of 1985, he was transferred to a minimum security facility and was allowed to do work release. Then, on December 23, Porter gave himself an early Christmas present and walked away from the facility never to return. Porter is out there somewhere and Massachusetts cops want to get him so badly they've named him one of their top 12 fugitives.