What Happened To The People Who Murdered Matthew Shepard. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect "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. 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. Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver, 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. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and. Were nowhere near done, said Sara Burlingame, executive director of the Cheyenne-based LGBTQ advocacy group Wyoming Equality. display: none; ___. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, 20,000 people may have been exposed to measles at Asbury University revival, Prosecution wraps its case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect, Pence won't commit to supporting Trump if he's the nominee. 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. 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 Oct. 6, 1998. Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. where a year earlier, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was tied and pistol whipped into a coma. 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. I love you Chasity. As Henderson drove, McKinney began pistol-whipping Shepard and took his wallet. They have both taken starkly different paths since they were sentenced, however. Linda she really loved you with all her heart & soul she missed you very much. 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. But were also trying to get to the next Aarons and the next Russells. Russell and Henderson. Call 896 6000. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. The case gained national attention and led to calls for the inclusion of sexual orientation in federal hate crimes law. However, the judge in McKinney's murder trial would not permit it. A pipe bomb was detonated near McClure Street in Laramie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). His friend, Aaron McKinney, is scheduled to go on trial this summer and if convicted could face the death penalty. LARAMIE, Wyo. Hendersons remarks dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, Marsden said. 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. To me, it was ridiculous.. I'm so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.". (John 6:40) I hope the beautiful memories of Chasity and these promises from God comfort you in the days to come. She married Randy Haines and her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her son Ashton Lemar Nephi Haines on August 13, 2008. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This 1995 photo provided by the Matthew Shepard Foundation shows Matthew Shepard. She was born on October 4, 1978 in Salt Lake City to Rodney Pasley and Linda Larsen. She also was charged with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, but her trial has been delayed. 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During that video, which was spliced together from eight shorter clips, Henderson said he did not help kill Shepard because of prejudice. By providing an email address. A memorial celebration of . Earlier in the day, Chasity Pasley, a girlfriend of Henderson's, testified that she saw no indication of drug use by McKinney. His accomplice, Russell Henderson, is also serving two consecutive life terms. 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. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. 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.. Kristen LeAnn Price, 19, was McKinneys girlfriend. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your life. 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. According to the Associated Press, she was sentenced to 15 months to 2 years in prison. (Judy Shepard/The Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP), 1989: Matthew Shepard, age 12, in San Francisco. You have permission to edit this article. 20 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, alternate narratives gain steam in Wyoming. ", However, his codefendant, Russell Henderson, has a different perspective on the heinous murder the two committed. chasity pasley wyoming obituary. . (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. Hendersons remarks about the motivation for the beating dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Denver-based Matthew Shepard Foundation. The convicted killers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, are each serving two consecutive life sentences. }, First published on November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM. 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 Oct. 6, 1998. Cheyenne owned by her mother. Henderson, now 41, said the U.S. should have laws that protect everyone, no matter who they are. 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. I think he has atoned. 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. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. consecutive life sentences. 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 was born on October 4, 1978 in Salt Lake City to Rodney Pasley and Linda Larsen. 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. It has been a year since we lost our sweet Chasity. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. . Chastity Vera Pasley, the girlfriend of murder suspect Russell Henderson, is pictured in court in Laramie, Wyo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 1998. McKinney and Henderson are each serving two consecutive life sentences. Ashton was her knight and shining armour. Dennis Shepard's career led the entire family to Dharan, Saudi Arabia for a job. Because of overcrowding at Wyomings maximum-security prison in Rawlins, Henderson and McKinney have served their time in multiple states. Shepard returned to the United States for college and eventually returned to Casper, where he attended the local community college. Shepard, 21, a student at the University of Wyoming, was .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Instead, Henderson said in a non-specific manner that drugs played a role in Shepards killing. 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. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. 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. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days 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.. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. As Henderson drove, McKinney began pistol-whipping Shepard and took his wallet. 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. Pasley, Hendersons girlfriend, was sentenced to 18 months, of which she served 6 months. 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. Chasity Vera Haines (Pasley) passed away on October 10, 2017. The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. 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. The crime focused the national spotlight on hate crimes. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. Pasley is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to an accessory charge. 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. she learned of the attack and then helped to cover it up. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). concussion he suffered during a fight he and Henderson had 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. Twenty years ago, a gay University of Wyoming student was brutally attacked and left to die on a lonely plot of land near Laramie. Both men were the same age as Shepard and saw the slightly built Shepard who was just a couple inches over five feet tall and didn't weigh much more than 100 pounds as a target they could easily overpower. girlfriend, Kristen Price, drove to Cheyenne to dump I think about Matthew every single day of my life. His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. But Jimenez did receive approval for a prerecorded interview with Henderson, which was shown in an edited version at the event, held at Laramies Hilton Garden Inn. Also denying this allegation is one of Shepard's murderers, Russell Henderson. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Prosecutors accused both Price and Chasity Pasley, who was Henderson's girlfiend, of helping dispose of Henderson's bloody clothes. Linda(Candi),Angela & Andrew I want you all to know Chasity meet the world to me. Sometimes Chasity goes by various nicknames including Chasity V Pasley, Chasity V Pasley, Chasity Haines, Chasity Vera Haines and Chasity V Haines. Price originally was accused of accessory after-the-fact to first-degree murder, but the charge was later reduced. 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. Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother 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. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,according to a 2018 Associated Press interview. Osborn said that the intolerant reputation that the national media placed on Wyoming was, to an extent, unfair. The event was billed as an examination of what the media got wrong in its coverage of Shepards murder. 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. Chasity Pasley, 23, could have been sentenced to 3 years in prison and fined up to $3,000 on her guilty plea to being an accessory in the October 1998 slaying of Matthew Shepard, 21. I think he has atoned. 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. In this Oct. 9, 1998 file photo, from left are Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney, and Chasity Pasley, three suspects in the beating to death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard wait to be arraigned in Laramie, Wyo. 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. Pasley said she first learned of the beating listening to It breaks our hearts when death separates us from the ones we love so much, especially when they are as young as Chasity. 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. 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. Both Henderson and McKinney were found guilty of murdering Shepard and were both sentenced to life in prison. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this, Henderson said. Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. Your email address will not be published. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and initially lied about their whereabouts. A contradictory statement from McKinney indicates that Shepard didn't touch him, but looked like he was going to. were disposed of so he could be treated at a hospital for a Matthew Shepards parents prepare to lay their son to rest at National Cathedral She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. Keep up the good work. She said Henderson tried to reassure her, saying, "It's all The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals. 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). Shepard was beaten into a coma and left tied to a rural fence for 18 hours. 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