The next day, a mountain biker found him, at first mistaking him for a scarecrow. While Shepard became a symbol of the movement toward equality and laws, the state of Wyoming, where the murder took place, remains one of a handful to have not passed laws pertaining to crimes in which a victim's identity, including their sexual identity, served as a motivating factor. I will keep Chasity always in my heart, I wont find another like her . 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. The next day, a mountain biker found him. Pasley is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading. Your subscription could not be saved. Jim Osborn, the University of Wyoming Title IX coordinator and 1998 chair of the LGBTQ student group Shepard belonged to, is often the staff member who speaks to UW classes about Shepard. After leaving Shepard tied to a fence post in rural Wyoming, Henderson and McKinney returned to Laramie, where they got in a street fight with two other men, according to The Coloradoan. The next day, a mountain biker found him. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Aaron McKinney and Chastity Pasley wait to be arraigned . The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. Shepard, 21, a student at the University of Wyoming, was Please try again. consecutive life sentences. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. of a gay Wyoming college student told jurors Thursday of how comment, May her family find comfort and peace, She made a choice that she ultimately paid the price for and I find it sad anyone would come to this forum and post such things, these are the same people that want to preach love, The reality is the truth can be found in the Bible such as John 13:34, Your email address will not be published. Henderson's clothes in a gas station Dumpster. The murder of Shepard 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. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals. 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. Hate Crimes Are Designed To Strike Fear In The Broader Community, Heather Heyer's Mother Recalls The Neo-Nazi Rally That Took Her Life, Harrowing Audio From Portland Train Attack Reveals Depth of Christian's Hate, Extremists Sometimes Hide Behind The First Amendment. At no time did we know he was gay until he tried to get on me.. Call 896 6000. He was her world. Henderson, who pleaded guilty to avoid a possible death sentence, is serving his time at a medium-security prison in Torrington, a quiet farming-and-ranching town a few miles from the Nebraska line. A contradictory statement from McKinney indicates that Shepard didn't touch him, but looked like he was going to. Attitudes against homosexuality persist in Wyoming, but LGTBQ acceptance has advanced, said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Denver-based Matthew Shepard Foundation. 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. Because of overcrowding at Wyomings maximum-security prison in Rawlins, Henderson and McKinney have served their time in multiple states. She attended Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming and later obtained a degree from Stevens Henager College. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Oct. 9, 1999 : A cross made of stones rests below the fence in Laramie, Wyo. 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. 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. In a letter written from jail, McKinney admitted to being homophobic. I was one lucky sister-in-law to have gained such a beautiful friend, sister. 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. For more on Shepards murder, as well as other brutal hate crimes and the current rise of extremist violence in the United States, watch Uncovered: KilledByHate, airingSunday at 7/6conOxygen. 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. Really? Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Still, he insisted, neither he nor Aaron McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. After that, he mouthed off, so I hit him a few more times and his fag ass died, McKinney wrote. She said they hid expensive new Chastity Vera Pasley, the girlfriend of murder suspect Russell Henderson, is pictured in court in Laramie, Wyo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 1998. Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother He died five days later. At a medium-security facility in Torrington, Wyoming, Henderson was working with hospice patients who were also serving jail time, and volunteering training shelter dogs, according to the report. 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. Hendersons remarks dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, Marsden said. The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. According to Biography, Shepard was remembered as being kind, sensitive, and quiet when he was a kid. But were also trying to get to the next Aarons and the next Russells. /kga. During the fourth day of testimony Thursday, Chasity Pasley -- who was dating McKinney's alleged accomplice, Russell Henderson -- said McKinney told his girlfriend he killed someone and then asked . 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. where a year earlier, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was tied and pistol whipped into a coma. / CBS. upon -- that they watched movies together the night of the Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney and Chastity Pasley wait to be arraigned Oct. 9, 1998. 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. McKinney and Henderson trying "to get their stories straight" Meanwhile, Chasity Pasley was found guilty of helping the two discard bloody clothing belonging to Shepard. It breaks our hearts when death separates us from the ones we love so much, especially when they are as young as Chasity. 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. "We need to do this for Matthew and for everybody else and to keep this from happening again.". Kristen Price, the former girlfriend of Aaron McKinney, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a police officer. That is one of the last things she told me. McKinneys lawyers also wanted to argue that Shepard caused McKinney to explode in a rage by putting his hand on McKinneys leg. The federal government wouldnt move substantially to address the kind of hatred that took Shepards life for almost 20 years, as explained onOxygensnew special, Uncovered: KilledByHate.. As tragic as it is, and as unfortunate as it is, and as hard as it is for Matthews 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 said of Shepards death in a prison interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. ", Judge may bar 'gay panic' defense in Wyoming beating trial, 1 year after Shepard killing, tougher hate crimes laws still sought, First defendant gets life in gay student killing, Woman changes plea, admits helping gay student's accused killers, Fighting Hate Across the Nation -- Leadership Conference Education Fund. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. 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.. According to Oxygen, on October 6, 1998, Shepard was out at a gay bar in Laramie, Wyoming known as The Fireside Lounge. display: block; Henderson and McKinney are serving life sentences for Matthew Shepard's murder. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. I love you Chasity. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.. I try to address those quickly and kind of move on, Osborn said. 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. That played a part. Going into the murder trial, McKinney's lawyers used a defense strategy that involved pointing to McKinney's claim that Shepard touched him (via BBC News). Chasity loved spending time with her son, family, and friends. She was someone Jim Osborn knew well and liked. Osborn said that the intolerant reputation that the national media placed on Wyoming was, to an extent, unfair. the slaying of Matthew Shepard, who was beaten, tied to a November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM Twenty years on, its a heck of a lot closer to being a place where people can enjoy their lives more or less equally, said Marsden, who was a newspaper reporter and friend of Shepards at the time of his killing. His friend, Aaron McKinney, is scheduled to go on trial this summer and if convicted could face the death penalty. Chasity Vera Pasley is a resident of UT. Required fields are marked *. May 21, 1999. Trending News By continuing, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. A pipe bomb was detonated near McClure Street in Laramie. Her passion of helping others succeed touched many lives. Henderson, who pleaded guilty to avoid a possible death sentence, is serving his time at a medium-security prison in Torrington, a quiet farming-and-ranching town a few miles from the Nebraska line. Attitudes against homosexuality persist in Wyoming, but LGTBQ acceptance has advanced, said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Denver-based Matthew Shepard Foundation. At the bar, he encountered two men, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney. Matthew Shepards parents prepare to lay their son to rest at National Cathedral His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. McKinney, 22, if he is convicted. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The Majority of her career life she worked in the education field and became the Dean of Students at Utah Career College. At the time of the killing, McKinney and Price were parents of an infant son. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. Related Articles (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. She was the last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Prosecutor Cal Rerucha said Monday that she was a valuable witness for the prosecution against McKinney. The killers' girlfriends Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, and Kristen Leann Price, 18 were charged with being accessories after the fact. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Wyoming remains hesitant to adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence. We're not gay, and we're going to jack you up." Shepard was lured out of a Wyoming bar, pistol whipped and tied to a fence in freezing temperatures. Three suspects in the beating death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard wait to be arraigned in this, Oct. 9, 1998 file photo, from Laramie, Wyo. Casper is known for its oil industry, which Shepard's father Dennis was part of. I think about Matthew every single day of my life, Henderson said, according to the Associated Press. October 28, 1999 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. Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. Instead, Henderson said in a non-specific manner that drugs played a role in Shepards killing. 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