Title: UMKCLAWKM_554e-20190826150502 Created Date: 8/26/2019 3:05:02 PM LARAMIE, Wyoming When two roofing workers beat a young gay man to death in Wyoming in 1998, the gruesome crime quickly reverberated around the United States and turned the sandy-haired college student into a powerful symbol of the quest for acceptance and equal rights. attack and knew nothing of it. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Henderson has taken a victim empathy course, and even written a letter of apology to Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother,Belbersaid. Both Henderson and McKinney were found guilty of murdering Shepard and were both sentenced to life in prison. And, in 2018, Albany County Sheriff David OMalley, who investigated Shepards murder 20 yearsbefore, shared a letter written to Henderson by McKinney while the two were both awaiting trial. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they weren't charged with a hate crime. The Bible reminds us that God sees our pain and sadness and has promised that soon, death will be swallowed up forever. (Isaiah 25:8) He will heal our broken hearts by resurrecting our precious loved ones to life again. Though investigators who worked on the case have called the book inaccurate, its premise has continued to gain traction 20 years after Shepards death made him a symbol of equal rights. She was born on October 4, 1978 in Salt Lake City to Rodney Pasley and Linda Larsen. Wyoming remains hesitant to adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence. Henderson's clothes in a gas station Dumpster. 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Chasity Pasley, 21, is serving an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact in the slaying of Matthew Shepard, who was beaten, tied to a fence post. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. Henderson described himself as a follower of others, including the more charismatic McKinney, and said he was afraid to lose face by doing more to prevent the crime or just going home. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and And so people were kind of desperate to latch onto any theory that was something other than hate.. Livestreaming interviews with inmates is against prison policy, Horan said. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this, Henderson said. knee of Henderson's pants. Henderson and the other convicted murderer, Aaron McKinney, are currently serving life sentences for their crimes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); McKinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, Marsden said. LARAMIE Russell Henderson, one of two men convicted of murdering Matthew Shepard, was scheduled to appear by live video at an event Tuesday in Laramie called Why Truth Matters.. }, First published on November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM. Required fields are marked *. Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. Stephen Jimenez, the events host, is the author of The Book of Matt that alleges drugs and not hate led to Shepards death. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. In return, McKinney has promised not to appeal his felony murder and kidnapping convictions and sentence. When police responded to the fight, Russell and Henderson fled, but police found Shepard's credit card and shoes in McKinney's truck along with the bloody .357 Smith & Wesson pistol used to bludgeon Shepard (via Biography). "As tragic as it is, and as unfortunate as it is, and as hard as it is for Matthew's family, and for my family, for all of us, to go through, it opened up all of us to be better people and really think about who we are," Henderson told the Associated Press in 2018, 20 years after Shepard's murder. "We have been assured that Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore are firmly behind this legislation, and that they're going to do everything they can to see that it is passed," said Dennis Shepard. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, said Sara Burlingame, executive director of the Cheyenne-based LGBTQ advocacy group Wyoming Equality. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this, Henderson said. Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. According to Biography, Shepard was remembered as being kind, sensitive, and quiet when he was a kid. The 1998 torture and murder of gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, was a turning point for gay rights in the United States, prompting outrage, sorrow and activism. Please try again. Henderson reiterated that he was deeply sorry for Shepards murder. He helps imprisoned hospice patients and trains shelter dogs so they can be adopted. These last couple of months Chasity made such changes in her life she would always pray with me when I seen her. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). According to Oxygen, on October 6, 1998, Shepard was out at a gay bar in Laramie, Wyoming known as The Fireside Lounge. Ashton was her knight and shining armour. The acrimony over Shepards legacy runs high here, just as it did when anti-gay and gay-rights protesters squared off at his funeral in Casper. He has also seen the drug-related hypotheses gain popularity over the years. McKinney, 22, if he is convicted. One gay rights activist argues that Henderson has paid his dues for what he described as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.. If you have recently experienced a loss we offer our most heartfelt condolences. 20 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, alternate narratives gain steam in Wyoming. I think he has a contribution to make to society, said Malcolm Lazin, executive director of the Philadelphia-based LGBT group Equality Forum and a former federal prosecutor. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. ``I cant bring him back. where a year earlier, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was tied and pistol whipped into a coma. I will keep Chasity always in my heart, I wont find another like her . Your subscription could not be saved. She was charged with being an accessory after However, McKinney did speak with actor Greg Pierotti in 2009, for a revival of The Laramie Project, a play centering around the fallout from Shepards murder,according toToday.com. Adamson student died of severe blunt force trauma, 17 face raps in Adamson students hazing death, Week-long transport strike on March 6 will continue, says Manibela, As strike looms, govt moves jeepney franchise deadline, Kickstart summer with vivos hot smartphone deals this 3.3, Bring on the sunshine: vivo makes summer vacays brighter for its fans, House energy committee chair Arroyo bats for cheap electricity, DA memo is cartel smoking gun Hontiveros, Kylie Padilla urges bashers to stop calling AJ Raval a mistress: Its not fair to her, Boybits Victoria, former PBA top rookie, passes away at 50. Matthew Shepard was a junior in high school at the time and he wrapped up his high school years in Switzerland at The American School, where he studied several foreign languages as well as theater. She married Randy Haines and her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her son Ashton Lemar Nephi Haines on August 13, 2008. According to the BBC, McKinney himself said that he became angry when Shepard placed his hand on his leg, even saying that he told Shepard, "Guess what? Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, cried repeatedly as she was sentenced to 15 months to two . girlfriend, Kristen Price, drove to Cheyenne to dump Also denying this allegation is one of Shepard's murderers, Russell Henderson. Call 896 6000. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. So, it was amusing that he tried to tell me that he knew better than I did the facts of the case.. I think he has atoned. Still, he insisted, neither he nor Aaron McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. Meanwhile, Chasity Pasley was found guilty of helping the two discard bloody clothing belonging to Shepard. Shepard and Patterson moved to Denver, Colorado together but returned to Wyoming, at which point he started taking classes in political science and international relations at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. After Jimenez and his co-panelists wrapped up their presentation, a Laramie local stepped to an audience microphone and said the presentation had convinced him but first he shared his biases. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. consecutive life sentences. According to the Associated Press, she was sentenced to 15 months to 2 years in prison. A Wyoming man pleaded guilty yesterday to the horrific killing of gay college student Matthew Shepard - garnering a life sentence for the crime that shocked the nation. I think about him and every single one of those days that Ive had that he hasnt had, his family hasnt had, his friends havent had. She will be missed dearly and heaven has gained an angel to watch over her loved ones. McKinney and Henderson are each serving two consecutive life sentences. with two other men after the Shepard beating. Dave OMalley, who worked on the Shepard investigation and is now the Albany County sheriff, told the Star-Tribune that Jimenezs book would more aptly be titled The Book of Lies., Nothing was in the investigation whatsoever that indicated that Matt was in any way involved in the use or distribution of methamphetamine or any other drugs, OMalley said. Two decades after Matthew Shepard was bludgeoned, tied to a rail fence and left to die on the cold high prairie, the emotions stirred up by his slaying linger in Wyoming, which still struggles with its tarnished identity and resists changes sought by the LGBTQ community. 8539 South 2200 West, West Jordan, Utah. I think about him and every single one of those days that Ive had that he hasnt had, his family hasnt had, his friends havent had. Shepard had asked his friends if they wanted to go with him to The Fireside Lounge for a beer but didn't get any takers. Ed Andrieski, AP Dave. According to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Shepard was chosen to be a peer counselor at the school and was known to fight for the acceptance of everyone. The flier advertising the event went out before Jimenez asked the prison system for permission to livestream Hendersons appearance, according to Wyoming Department of Corrections spokesman Mark Horan. Chasity had a big loving heart she would always put others before herself. This 1995 photo provided by the Matthew Shepard Foundation shows Matthew Shepard. A memorial celebration of . Shepard, 21, a student at the University of Wyoming, was Casper is known for its oil industry, which Shepard's father Dennis was part of. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. At McKinneys trial, his attorneys sought to use the so-called gay panic defense, arguing he killed Shepard in a rage for making sexual overtures. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { October 18, 2017 at 11:00 AM Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this, Henderson said. The prosecution says it will seek the death penalty for The groups work today is the same thing that was there 20 years ago., As recently as Tuesday, days before the anniversary of Shepards death, about 200 people attended a forum in Laramie questioning the prevailing view that he was murdered because of his sexual orientation. Price was sentenced to 180 days, of which she served 60 days. Shepard's parents started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor their son and to help parents understand and accept their children who may be questioning their sexuality. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Mckinney was sentenced to two consecutive life prison sentences last week for the October 1998 murder of 21-year-old Shepard. She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Crews contend with tons of snow as they work to reopen I-80, Long shifts, odd calls, brutal weather: inside the Wyoming Highway Patrol staffing shortage, Powell sisters die in crash with semi-truck, Rescue operations underway as Wyoming blizzard continues to wreak havoc, Ex-Casper doctor imprisoned for sexually assaulting patients released years early, Wyoming's Jeff Linder coaching his heart out for his dad, seniors Hunter Maldonado and Hunter Thompson, Massive snowdrifts hamper reopening of Interstate 80, Unsolved Laramie murder stuck with NY Times reporter for decades. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! She is survived by her son Ashton, mother Linda (Candy), father Rodney (Donna), Sister Angela (Sylvester), brother Andrew and sister Vera Pasley, many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She also was charged with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, but her trial has been delayed. Pasley, Hendersons girlfriend, was sentenced to 18 months, of which she served 6 months. District Judge Jeffrey Donnell sentenced Price to 180 days in jail. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. A contradictory statement from McKinney indicates that Shepard didn't touch him, but looked like he was going to. . Dave O'Malley sits for a portrait outside the Albany County Courthouse on Sept. 28 in Laramie. In April, Russell Henderson pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals, McKinney told Pierotti,according to the Denver Post. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged she was not in. Earlier in the day, Chasity Pasley, a girlfriend of Henderson's, testified that she saw no indication of drug use by McKinney. Russell Henderson looks on during a prison interview at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution. It never was about us hating Matthew because of who he was.. He died five days later. But were also trying to get to the next Aarons and the next Russells. /kga. ``I needed to face up to what I did, Pasley said during her sentencing hearing. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). Celebration of Life The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. He died less than a week later, on October 12, 1998, at age 21. } Instead, he said, they were out to rob him of money and possibly drugs when they drove him to the edge of town on the night of October 6, 1998. 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