Hate Crimes Prevention Act which was signed into law in 2009. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they weren't charged with a hate crime. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Matthew Shepard's death was a catalyst for a push toward adopting laws that protect members of the LGBTQ community. McKinney and Henderson trying "to get their stories straight" 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. Pasley is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading. Chasity Pasley, 20 . But Henderson did not participate in Tuesdays discussion, aside from a nine-minute prerecorded video. She said she had misgivings about getting involved and was 8539 South 2200 West, West Jordan, Utah. Henderson has taken a victim empathy course, and even written a letter of apology to Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother,Belbersaid. Henderson and the other convicted murderer, Aaron McKinney, are currently serving life sentences for their crimes. On that nig, The Wyoming State Historical Society will honor a controversial book about Matthew Shepard that claims he was killed in a drug deal gone wrong, This past week, the Society of Professional Journalists began winding down its examination of media trust with a panel in Casper, closing down. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and initially lied about their whereabouts. They have both taken starkly different paths since they were sentenced, however. Shepard, 21, a student at the University of Wyoming, was 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. 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. She attended Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming and later obtained a degree from Stevens Henager College. In April, Russell Henderson pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. The following morning, Pasley testified, eight detectives Twenty years ago, a gay University of Wyoming student was brutally attacked and left to die on a lonely plot of land near Laramie. (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. 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. Aaron McKinney and Chastity Pasley wait to be arraigned . LARAMIE, Wyoming (CNN) -- In sometimes emotional testimony, Dec. 24 - Chasity Pasley, who last month pleaded not guilty to an accessory charge related to the slaying of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, changed her plea to guilty in. 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. In a letter written from jail, McKinney admitted to being homophobic. That played a part. 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.. 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. 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. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Sometimes Chasity goes by various nicknames including Chasity V Pasley, Chasity V Pasley, Chasity Haines, Chasity Vera Haines and Chasity V Haines. The reasons why may be about more than money. 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). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Really? Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Oct. 9, 2018: Russell Henderson at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution, in Torrington, Wyo. He died less than a week later, on October 12, 1998, at age 21. That is one of the last things she told me. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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 According to Biography, McKinney would later state that he thought Shepard was dead when they left him, but that wasn't the case; Shepard was still alive, albeit in a coma. 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. 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. His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. I think it is sad someone would make such a LARAMIE, Wyo. Please subscribe to keep reading. Rob DeBree as her husband Dennis reads a statement to the media regarding Aaron McKinney's plea bargain in the murder of Shepard's son Matthew, at the Albany County Courthouse, in Laramie, Wyo. Ed Andrieski, AP Dave. For the last 20 years, the work of Wyoming Equality has really been this race, that we want to get to every LGBT person out there, Burlingame said. . Earlier in the day, Chasity Pasley, a girlfriend of Henderson's, testified that she saw no indication of drug use by McKinney. 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. According to the Associated Press, she was sentenced to 15 months to 2 years in prison. 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. Lookup the home address and phone 2705768642 and other contact details for this person. Your email address will not be published. It has been a year since we lost our sweet Chasity. The prosecution says it will seek the death penalty for 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? Wisconsin man dies in Star Valley avalanche, Pressure on House speaker intensifies as Hageman, national voices weigh in, 2023 Wyoming State High School Boys Wrestling Championships results, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years, Sheridan, Green River, Kemmerer win team titles at boys state wrestling championships, A kid from Wyoming: Examining the legacy of Matthew Shepard, Controversial book on Matthew Shepard's death to receive award, Why Casper became the focal point of a national study on media distrust, Biteman: We have obligation to protect life, Nethercott: You can be for life and still admit bill is poorly written, New biotech can 3D print living cells inside the human body. McKinney and Henderson are each serving two consecutive life sentences. The Majority of her career life she worked in the education field and became the Dean of Students at Utah Career College. McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. 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. Shepard died less than a week later, on Oct. 12, 1998, at age 21. 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. Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney and Chastity Pasleywait to be arraigned Oct. 9, 1998. Meanwhile, Chasity Pasley was found guilty of helping the two discard bloody clothing belonging to Shepard. Ashton was her knight and shining armour. The 21-year-old was taken to a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado where he died on October 12, 1998 (via Matthew Shepard Foundation). Pasley said she first learned of the beating listening to 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. Chastity Vera Pasley, the girlfriend of murder suspect Russell Henderson, is pictured in court in Laramie, Wyo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 1998. (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. knee of Henderson's pants. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. 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. 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. She was born on October 4, 1978 in Salt Lake City to Rodney Pasley and Linda Larsen. She said they hid expensive new She is also watching out for her Ashton and mother and other loved ones left here in mortality. loved. Russell and Henderson. 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. The next day, a mountain biker found him, at first mistaking him for a scarecrow. Because of overcrowding at Wyomings maximum-security prison in Rawlins, Henderson and McKinney have served their time in multiple states. (John 6:40) I hope the beautiful memories of Chasity and these promises from God comfort you in the days to come. In April,. 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. District Judge Jeffrey Donnell sentenced Price to 180 days in jail. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they werent charged with a hate crime. She married Randy Haines and her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her son Ashton Lemar Nephi Haines on August 13, 2008. Chasity loved spending time with her son, family, and friends. He also makes clear the homophobic element of the brutal murder although he claims not to have known Shepard was gaywhen he and Henderson first approached him. And so people were kind of desperate to latch onto any theory that was something other than hate.. 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. McKinneys lawyers also wanted to argue that Shepard caused McKinney to explode in a rage by putting his hand on McKinneys leg. I will keep Chasity always in my heart, I wont find another like her . 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. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). Pasley said she saw blood and a "fleshy" substance on one 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. LARAMIE, Wyo. He later died. Wyoming teachers are leaving. 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