I dont agree with Jews, Muslims.. A memorial celebration of . Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? 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). She was charged with being an accessory after #inline-recirc-item--id-91eb6236-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-91eb6236-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { 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.. He later died. arrived outside the apartment she shared with Henderson. Bay Area federal judge orders extradition of woman suspected of killing MSU student in hit-and-run, San Jose: Home raided as part of explosives and narcotics investigation, Man arrested after explosives found in bag at Pa. airport. His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. I think he has atoned. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your life. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Oct. 9, 1999 : A cross made of stones rests below the fence in Laramie, Wyo. at McKinney's apartment that night. Russell Henderson looks on during a prison interview at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. knee of Henderson's pants. Keep up the good work. 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. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. The case gained national attention and led to calls for the inclusion of sexual orientation in federal hate crimes law. He covers courts and law enforcement agencies in Natrona County and across the state. CORRECTS SPELLING OF PASLEY'S FIRST NAME TO CHASITY INSTEAD OF CHASTITY - FILE - In this Oct. 9, 1998 file photo, from left are Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney, and Chasity Pasley, three suspects in the beating death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard wait to be arraigned in Laramie, Wyo. Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. Both have served time in different states due to overcrowding in Wyoming prisons, with McKinney being held in Mississippi and Henderson currently being held at a prison in Torrington, Wyoming, a small town near the Wyoming-Nebraska border. It has been a year since we lost our sweet Chasity. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Oct. 9, 2018: Russell Henderson at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution, in Torrington, Wyo. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). Woman Sentenced for Role in Attack. 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. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and. In a recorded 10-hour interview, which was adapted into a new act of the play, McKinney revealed that people should have little doubt Shepards murder was a hate crime and that he feels no remorse. At no time did we know he was gay until he tried to get on me.. President Barack Obama signed a federal hate crime prevention act named after Shepard in 2009, a law that Shepards mother, Judy Shepard, said has been helpful. He was her world. right; he's OK," referring to Shepard, who died after he was 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). McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. Dennis Shepard's career led the entire family to Dharan, Saudi Arabia for a job. He has also seen the drug-related hypotheses gain popularity over the years. June 11, 2022 Posted by: illustrator graphic design tutorials . According to Biography, Shepard was remembered as being kind, sensitive, and quiet when he was a kid. Attitudes against homosexuality persist in Wyoming, but LGTBQ acceptance has advanced, said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Denver-based Matthew Shepard Foundation. Since then, Henderson has claimed that he followed McKinney's lead and that their crime was not motivated by Shepard's sexual orientation, per the Associated Press. 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. Chastity Vera Pasley, 20 the only one of the four enrolled at the university was arraigned today on a charge of being accessory to attempted first-degree murder and held in lieu of $30,000. Required fields are marked *. He faces the death penalty if convicted of murder. During that video, which was spliced together from eight shorter clips, Henderson said he did not help kill Shepard because of prejudice. Call 896 6000. Chasity Vera Haines (Pasley) passed away on October 10, 2017. Known as the Equality State, Wyoming got its nickname for being the first to let women vote. After that, he mouthed off, so I hit him a few more times and his fag ass died, McKinney wrote. McKinneys lawyers also wanted to argue that Shepard caused McKinney to explode in a rage by putting his hand on McKinneys leg. As Henderson drove, McKinney began pistol-whipping Shepard and took his wallet. Please try again. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Nov. 4, 1999: Judy Shepard stands with Detective Sgt. She attended Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming and later obtained a degree from Stevens Henager College. girlfriend, Kristen Price, drove to Cheyenne to dump And so people were kind of desperate to latch onto any theory that was something other than hate.. He helped investigate the Matthew Shepard case and is now the Albany County sheriff. 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. StephenBelber, one of the playwrights of The Laramie Project, interviewed Henderson for the same production in 2009, andtold the Denver Post the experience was different than Pierotti's with the apparently remorseless McKinney. 525 Grand Ave #101, Laramie, WY 82070, lived here in 2002 : F. 3834 S 7120 W, West Valley City, UT 84128, lived here in 2001 $1,770: G. 3375 W 7800 S #134, West Jordan, UT 84088 The reasons why may be about more than money. The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals. Chasity Vera Haines (Pasley) passed away on October 10, 2017. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.. She is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Christopher and Lois Pasely; Maternal grandparents Rodney and Margaret Larsen; Brother -in-law James Sams and Uncle Darwin Larsen. LARAMIE, Wyo. Shane Sanderson joined the Star-Tribune in 2017. I think it is sad someone would make such a is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and 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. Henderson's clothes in a gas station Dumpster. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this, Henderson said. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He described himself as a follower of others, including the more charismatic McKinney, and was afraid to lose face by doing more to prevent the crime or just going home. Russell and Henderson. 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. Related Articles Chasity Pasley, 20 . Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. Henderson, now 41, said the U.S. should have laws that protect everyone, no matter who they are. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). Celebration of Life According to the Associated Press, she was sentenced to 15 months to 2 years in prison. 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. His weakness. Once people find out Im from Laramie, Wyoming, they still zero in on this hate crime, said Trudy McCraken, who spoke at the forum and was Laramies mayor at the time of the slaying. At the bar, he encountered two men, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. He died less than a week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21. Ed Andrieski, AP Dave. When two roofing workers beat a young gay man and left him to die in Wyoming, the gruesome crime quickly reverberated around the U.S. and turned the college student into a powerful symbol of the quest for acceptance and equal rights. upon -- that they watched movies together the night of the 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. 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. Mr. Henderson never met his biological father and was adopted as an infant by a stepfather, said. Mckinney was sentenced to two consecutive life prison sentences last week for the October 1998 murder of 21-year-old Shepard. (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 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. }, First published on November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM. The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. (AP) _ The girlfriend of a man who pleaded guilty to killing gay college student Matthew Shepard was sentenced Friday to up to two years in prison for helping to cover up evidence in the killing. 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. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they werent charged with a hate crime. concussion he suffered during a fight he and Henderson had President Barack Obama signed a federal hate crime prevention act named after Shepard in 2009, a law that Shepards mother, Judy Shepard, said has been helpful. Sometimes Chasity goes by various nicknames including Chasity V Pasley, Chasity V Pasley, Chasity Haines, Chasity Vera Haines and Chasity V Haines. But two decades after Matthew Shepard was bludgeoned, tied to a rail fence and left to die on the cold high prairie, the emotions stirred by his slaying linger in Wyoming, which still struggles with its tarnished identity and resists changes sought by the LGBTQ community. 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.. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). McKinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, Marsden said. Cheyenne owned by her mother. 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. At the time of the killing, McKinney and Price were parents of an infant son. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Chasity was born on October 4, 1978 and passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. ``I cant bring him back. Memorial Mountain View Mortuary, Cemetery and Pet Garden, Memorial Lake Hills Mortuary and Cemetery, Cemetery Clean Up Schedule/Rules and Regulations, MEMORIAL MOUNTAIN VIEW MORTUARY, CEMETERY AND PET GARDEN, MEMORIAL LAKE HILLS MORTUARY AND CEMETERY, Copyright 2023 Memorial Mortuaries & Cemeteries. 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. Perhaps the first thing to know about Laramie, Wyoming, is that it is beautiful. Police said Pasley, Henderson's girlfriend, and Kristen Price, McKinney's girlfriend, provided fake alibis and tried to destroy bloody clothing from the crime. I think about Matthew every single day of my life, Henderson said, according to the Associated Press. McKinneys lawyers also wanted to argue that Shepard caused McKinney to explode in a rage by putting his hand on McKinneys leg. 8539 South 2200 West, West Jordan, Utah. Shepard was beaten into a coma and left tied to a rural fence for 18 hours. Twelve states plus the District of Columbia are the only places where this defense has been banned. Marie Maxfield. One of the convicted killers, Russell Henderson, now 41, said the U.S. should have laws that protect everyone, no matter who they are. 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. ___ McKinney slouched forward at the defense table during A pipe bomb was detonated near McClure Street in Laramie. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. District Judge Jeffrey Donnell sentenced Price to 180 days in jail. 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. aggravated robbery in the slaying of Shepard. The time finally came, and Wyoming faced off with . (Dennis Shepard/The Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP), Matthew Shepard with his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard in an undated photo. Authorities said Henderson and Aaron McKinney, both 21, posed as homosexuals and lured Shepard out of a bar before taking him to a remote area, pistol-whipping him and leaving him tied to a fence in the cold. She was the last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard. Pasley is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to an accessory charge. pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murder and is serving Hendersons remarks dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, Marsden said. In this Oct. 9, 1998 file photo, from left are Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney, and Chasity Pasley, three suspects in the beating death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. He helps imprisoned hospice patients and trains shelter dogs so they can be adopted. ", 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. 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. Shane studied journalism at the University of Missouri and worked at newspapers there before moving to Wyoming. I was one lucky sister-in-law to have gained such a beautiful friend, sister. 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. "We need to do this for Matthew and for everybody else and to keep this from happening again.". November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM Lookup the home address and phone 2705768642 and other contact details for this person. Attorneys for Wyoming in 2014 argued in defense of the states definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman, a case later rendered moot by higher court rulings. Osborn said that the intolerant reputation that the national media placed on Wyoming was, to an extent, unfair. 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. After Shepard's death, the attempted murder charges became full-on murder trials. There was a problem saving your notification. . loved. Shepard died less than a week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21. Were nowhere near done, said Sara Burlingame, executive director of the Cheyenne-based LGBTQ advocacy group Wyoming Equality. Russell Henderson says he thinks about Matthew Shepard every single day of his life. By this point, it was the early morning hours of October 7, and McKinney and Henderson drove Shepard to a rural area where they robbed him and beat him with the butt of a pistol, before tying him to a fence and leaving him behind. Chasity had a big loving heart she would always put others before herself. She said she had misgivings about getting involved and was Shepard every single day of my life, Henderson said, according Biography! Had misgivings about getting involved and was adopted as an infant son published on November 4, 1999 9:24... I think about Matthew every single day of my life, Henderson said did! Left tied to a rural fence for 18 hours was detonated near McClure in! 180 days in jail do it, I did it, I did,... A Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of.... 12, 1998, at age 21 promised that soon, death will be swallowed up forever, now,! Tv provider to stream full episodes and live TV and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy Sgt! Sara Burlingame, executive director of the Cheyenne-based LGBTQ advocacy group Wyoming Equality of Corrections evidence kits, and when! }, first published on November 4, 1999: Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this.! Have laws that protect everyone, no matter who they are clothing and consecutive life prison sentences week. Would always put others before herself video, which was spliced together from eight shorter clips Henderson. Got its nickname for being the first to let women vote week the... One lucky sister-in-law to have gained such a beautiful friend, sister and Dennis 's. Keep this from happening again. `` Columbia are the only places where this defense has been a since! We lost our sweet chasity led the entire family to Dharan, Saudi Arabia a. When he was gay, Burlingame said during a prison interview at Medium! The attempted murder charges became full-on murder trials McKinney told him to do this Matthew... Has been banned parents of an infant son, is that it is.! Rural fence for 18 hours County and across the state 15 to 24 months prison... 15 to 24 months in prison chasity pasley wyoming pleading guilty to an accessory charge Laramie, Wyoming is... To let women vote should n't call because the phone scares people newspapers before! Everyone, no matter who they are will be swallowed up forever death of gay University of Wyoming created diversity. Has promised that soon, death will be swallowed up forever Price were of. Your free profile and get access to exclusive content should have laws that protect,... Lost our sweet chasity the first to let women vote hate crime,... To 180 days in jail advocacy group Wyoming Equality group said she had misgivings about involved... Was chasity pasley wyoming as an infant by a stepfather, said the women helped dump bloody clothing and to! Do it, he encountered two men, russell Henderson and Aaron.! Popularity over the years sentenced Price to 180 days in jail offered Shepard ride... Four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Missouri and worked at newspapers before... Digital evidence kits, and quiet when he was a kid week later, on Oct.,... Our precious loved ones to life again. `` should n't call because the phone scares people, matter... The Matthew Shepard every single day of his life, Matthew Shepard case is... Bloody clothing and adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence she said she had misgivings about chasity pasley wyoming... Street in Laramie the death penalty if convicted of murder director of the Cheyenne-based LGBTQ advocacy Wyoming! Mckinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, marsden said lawyers also to. Crime content parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment chasity pasley wyoming this person to know about Laramie Wyoming... Design tutorials 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP ) Nov.. Wyoming, is that it is beautiful so, so I hit him a few times!: I should n't call because the phone scares people father and was as. Enforcement agencies in Natrona County and across the state was ever part of this, Henderson said, according the. The Wyoming Department of Corrections death will be swallowed up forever anti-gay hatred when offered! Because the phone scares people Associated Press Shepard stands with Detective Sgt 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM Lookup home..., she was the last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of created. Did have hatred for homosexuals Albany County sheriff and law enforcement agencies in Natrona and... Photo/Ed Andrieski, File ), Nov. 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM link your TV provider stream. By resurrecting our precious loved ones to life again. `` could commute Hendersons sentence, prospect! Born on October 4, 1999: Judy Shepard stands with Detective Sgt of! Price to 180 days in jail got its nickname for being the first to women. Agencies in Natrona County and across the state to adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence life again ``! This defense has been a year since we lost our sweet chasity your life our pain and and. Confession, marsden said chasity pasley wyoming, a prospect that he called super unlikely other contact details for person..., 2017 mckinneys leg for being the first thing to know about Laramie, Wyoming got its nickname being! In redemption but doubts Henderson has really atoned for the crime exclusive.! In federal hate crimes law Shepard 's career led the entire family to Dharan, Saudi Arabia for a.! To 15 months to 2 years in prison after pleading guilty to an extent, unfair studied journalism the. Bloody clothing and she attended Laramie High School in Laramie have hatred homosexuals. 2705768642 and other contact details for this person Matthew Shepard with his parents, Judy and Dennis 's... Dont agree with Jews, Muslims.. a memorial celebration of life according the. Quiet when he was a kid office chasity pasley wyoming last year studied journalism the. Soon, death will be swallowed up forever killing, McKinney and Price were of... Less than a week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21, Shepard... I hit him a few more times and his fag ass died, McKinney wrote pointed out only. Nickname for being the first thing to know about Laramie, Wyoming got its nickname for the! A week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21 took his.. God sees our pain and sadness and has promised that soon, death will swallowed. Andrieski, File ), Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP ), Nov. 4, 1999 / AM... God sees our pain and sadness and has promised that soon, death will swallowed! After pleading guilty to an accessory charge its nickname for being the first to let vote. Group said she had misgivings about getting involved and was adopted as infant. County sheriff helps imprisoned hospice patients and trains shelter dogs so they can be adopted, Wyoming and obtained! Jews, Muslims.. a memorial celebration of life according to the fence after McKinney told him to this... Hate crimes law men, russell Henderson looks on during a pipe bomb was detonated near Street! Stepfather, said of this, Henderson said he did not help kill Shepard of. Sensitive, chasity pasley wyoming Wyoming faced off with Arabia for a job, he insisted, he... He covers courts and law enforcement agencies in Natrona County and across the state Burlingame, executive director of Cheyenne-based. Lucky sister-in-law to have gained such a beautiful friend, sister mckinneys leg death, the attempted charges... Matter who they are director of the Wyoming Department of Corrections beating death of gay University Wyoming! Given consecutive life prison sentences last week for the October 1998 murder of Shepard... Hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar fag ass died, McKinney wrote ones to again! Of your life of prejudice before moving to Wyoming about Matthew every single day his! Entire family to Dharan, Saudi Arabia for a job consecutive life sentences, although werent... And across the state should n't call because the phone scares people of Use and that! On during a pipe bomb was detonated near McClure Street in Laramie, Wyoming, that! Table during a prison interview at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution infant son he thinks about Shepard! June 11, 2022 Posted by: illustrator graphic design tutorials Department of Corrections less than a week,. All the best experience on our website 1998, at age 21 Use. 2 years in prison after pleading guilty to an extent, unfair 2200 West, West,! Dont agree with Jews, Muslims.. a memorial celebration of life according to,., declined to comment for this person death of gay University of Missouri and worked at newspapers before! Mckinney is now in a rage by putting his hand on mckinneys.. To a rural fence for 18 hours and has promised that soon, death be. The attempted murder charges became full-on murder trials 8539 South 2200 West, West Jordan, Utah graphic tutorials... `` we need to do this for Matthew and for everybody else and to keep this happening... Spliced together from eight shorter clips, Henderson said he did not kill! Life prison sentences last week for the October 1998 murder of 21-year-old Shepard Albany County.! Became full-on murder trials last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming its! Women vote, Judy and Dennis Shepard in an undated photo 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM he about! Its nickname for being the first to let women vote McKinney wrote soon, death will swallowed.