Violent, reckless, impulsive, deeply self-destructive, Severn has spent half of his life in and out of prison. He scrapes by through crime; burglary/robbery, shoplifting, pickpocketing, car theft, and the occasional organised job from Sparks.

Raised in Southside, San Dolores, Severn was subjected to extreme poverty. His family constantly bounced between rundown apartments, often being evicted, and the apartments they were able to hold down for more than a few months usually had no heating, no hot water, and sometimes no power, when the bills weren't paid. Although Severn's mother tried her hardest, his father was an abusive alcoholic, who frequently beat the both of them. Severn directed this rage towards everyone else, and he was 15 years old when he was first incarcerated, after a violent assault that left a kind with a fractured skull.

Severn was 19 when he was released from prison for the first time. Homeless, starving, and freezing, he broke into a well known garage at The Docks one night; one that was known to be owned by Sparks, a well-respected man known in San Dolores' criminal underworld. Severn knew his reputation, but was more desperate for money than he was fearful. Of course, he was caught - Sparks was staying late at the garage after a deal had gone wrong - but rather than kick his ass, Sparks decided to offer him a job, with the promise of more work if he could prove himself. This started a long-standing, complicated relationship between the two men.

He was sent to prison twice in his twenties; at 21 for possession and intent, and at 23 after a robbery went wrong. Severn was offered a plea deal, which lowered this sentence to five years. During this sentence, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. He promised her he'd get clean and go straight once he was released, and that he'd take care of her; she died three months before he was released.

Severn has C-PTSD and bipolar I, although he vehemently refuses any treatment. An alcoholic and addict, his main drugs of choice are cocaine and heroin. His impulsive and aggressive nature leads to frequent street fights, and his body is consequently littered with scars. The scars on his cheek and neck are from a prison fight that very nearly ended his life.

Despite his hard exterior, Severn is extremely loyal to the few people that he can trust. He would die for those close to him, and he is deeply sentimental, although he'd never let on to it; he collects all sorts of trinkets and trash that remind him of those he loves, and holds on to things most people would throw in the trash without a second thought.. He also has a soft spot for animals, often feeding stray dogs or cats that linger around his block. Severn is bisexual, with a heavy preference for men, but he is extremely closeted; instead, he keeps his relationship with Ryan under close wraps.