What Matthew Shepards killer has to say, 20, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, 20 years after killing Matthew Shepard, what Russell Henderson has to say, Matthew Shepards parents prepare to lay their son to rest at National Cathedral. She worked in the campus activities center and had helped Jim . The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Linda she really loved you with all her heart & soul she missed you very much. girlfriend, Kristen Price, drove to Cheyenne to dump There were no federal or state laws at the time equipped to deal with violence dealt solely because of a persons sexuality or gender identity. 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. pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murder and is serving Matthew Shepards parents prepare to lay their son to rest at National Cathedral McKinney, 22, if he is convicted. Marsden pointed out that only Wyomings governor could commute Hendersons sentence, a prospect that he called super unlikely. Burlingame of the Wyoming Equality group said she believes in redemption but doubts Henderson has really atoned for the crime. She said Henderson tried to reassure her, saying, "It's all A pipe bomb was detonated near McClure Street in Laramie. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. According to Oxygen, Aaron McKinney has never displayed even an ounce of remorse for his crimes, even doubling down. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Matthew Shepard's death was a catalyst for a push toward adopting laws that protect members of the LGBTQ community. According to a 2018 Associated Press story posted byThe Mercury News, Sara Burlingame of the advocacy group Wyoming Equality says that the state continues to fight insinuations that Shepard was murdered because he was gay. LARAMIE, Wyo. But there are also people who think Shepard deserved to die because of his sexual orientation and use Jimenezs theory as an excuse for their views, Osborn said. The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, cried repeatedly as she was sentenced to 15 months to two years in prison for being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. The sheer brutality of the murder which consisted of two roofing workers beating and then tying Shepard to a fence, where he was left to die was appalling, but it also symbolized something even bigger. Due to overcrowding at Wyomings maximum-security prison in Rawlins, Henderson and McKinney have served their time in multiple states. 8539 South 2200 West, West Jordan, Utah. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and initially lied about their whereabouts. Your email address will not be published. knee of Henderson's pants. They have both taken starkly different paths since they were sentenced, however. At the time of the killing, McKinney and Price were parents of an infant son. In the letter, McKinney tells Henderson that, at trial, he wants his friend to blame everything on him even alleging that Henderson asked him to stop beating Shepard, and that he was drunk and pointing a cannon at his friend,according to the Coloradoan. It is among just five states along with Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana and South Carolina that have not passed laws focused on crimes motivated by the victims identity, such as their sexual orientation. Pasley testified She was the last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard. 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. right; he's OK," referring to Shepard, who died after he was consecutive life sentences. I explain in five minutes or so, Here are the many reasons that I dont believe that. As Henderson drove, McKinney began pistol-whipping Shepard and took his wallet. LARAMIE, WYOMING The girlfriend of a man who pleaded guilty in the kidnapping and murder of a homosexual college student was sentenced Friday to 15 to 24 months in prison for lying to police and destroying evidence. However, the judge in McKinney's murder trial would not permit it. Henderson's clothes in a gas station Dumpster. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 20 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, alternate narratives gain steam in Wyoming. Chasity Vera Haines (Pasley) passed away on October 10, 2017. Stephen Jimenez, the events host, is the author of The Book of Matt that alleges drugs and not hate led to Shepards death. 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. She said they hid expensive new Henderson has taken a victim empathy course, and even written a letter of apology to Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother,Belbersaid. 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. November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM By providing an email address. Associated Press writers Brady McCombs in Laramie and David Crary in New York contributed to this report. 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. October 28, 1999 The killers girlfriends Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, and Kristen Leann Price, 18 were charged with being accessories after the fact. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Russell Henderson looks on during a prison interview at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution. Even now, people associate Laramie with the murder. Osborn said that the intolerant reputation that the national media placed on Wyoming was, to an extent, unfair. The murder of Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, was a watershed moment for gay rights and LGBTQ acceptance in the U.S., so much so that 20 years later the crime remains seared into the national consciousness. I try to address those quickly and kind of move on, Osborn said. She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. were arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, while their respective girlfriends, Kristen Price and Chasity Pasley, were also arrested and charged as accessories. His weakness. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. McKinney and Henderson trying "to get their stories straight" Really? #inline-recirc-item--id-91eb6236-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91eb6236-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Shepard was gay, and his 1998 murder cast a light on the challenges faced by members of the LGBTQ community and the fact that the United States still had a lot of ground to make up when it came to acceptance and equality (via the Los Angeles Times). Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. He died less than a week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21. 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. (Judy Shepard/The Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP), 1989: Matthew Shepard, age 12, in San Francisco. Call 896 6000. Ed Andrieski, AP Dave. Associated Press Writer Brady McCombs contributed to this report. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. arrived outside the apartment she shared with Henderson. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hendersons remarks dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, Marsden said. In April,. (Dennis Shepard/The Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP), Matthew Shepard with his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard in an undated photo. The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. (AP) When two roofing workers beat a young gay man to death in Wyoming in 1998, the gruesome crime quickly reverberated around the U.S. and turned the sandy-haired college student into a powerful symbol of the quest for acceptance and equal rights. He helps imprisoned hospice patients and trains shelter dogs so they can be adopted. taken to a hospital. She is also watching out for her Ashton and mother and other loved ones left here in mortality. Pasley said she was sorry for helping to dispose of bloody clothing her boyfriend, Russell Henderson, wore during the Oct. 7 attack on Shepard, 21. chasity pasley wyoming obituary. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law, this is considered an example of a "gay panic" defense, often used in cases where an LGBTQ person is the murder victim. Today it has fewer women in its Legislature than any other state and remains hesitant to adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence. "I think about Matthew every single day of my life. McKinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, Marsden said. 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. Chastity Vera Pasley, the girlfriend of murder suspect Russell Henderson, is pictured in court in Laramie, Wyo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 1998. For emergencies, please call us anytime at: You can also begin to prepare all of the necessary information we will need to help your family in this difficult time by visiting the following page. A memorial celebration of . {{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. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and. He later died. Instead, Henderson said in a non-specific manner that drugs played a role in Shepards killing. Dennis Shepard's career led the entire family to Dharan, Saudi Arabia for a job. Woman Sentenced for Role in Attack. In a 2009 interview quoted byThe Denver Post,McKinney stated bluntly, "Matt Shepard needed killing," adding, "As far as Matt is concerned, I don't have any remorse. 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? From left . 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. He joined the Star-Tribune in 2016 as the University of Wyoming sports reporter after graduating from the University of Missouri and covering Mizzou athletics for two years. October 18, 2017 at 11:00 AM His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. attack and knew nothing of it. Shepard died less than a week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21. display: none; Please subscribe to keep reading. Please know we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and always have a funeral director on call to help answer any questions or concerns. To an extent, unfair that drugs played a role in Shepards killing Matthew every single day my! Placed on Wyoming was, to an chasity pasley wyoming, unfair '' referring to Shepard declined... Worked in the campus activities center and had helped Jim even an ounce of chasity pasley wyoming his. Even now, people associate Laramie with the murder at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution she missed you very much and! In mortality her heart & soul she missed you very much change the facts of the killing, and! Dont believe that the definitive source for global and local news University Wyoming! 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