matthew shepard was already dead when they found his body tied to a fence? course hero

What happened to Matthew Wayne Shepard?

Gay American murder victim. Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was a gay American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on the night of October 6, 1998.

What happened to Matthew Shepard's killers McConney and Henderson?

McKinney and Henderson were arrested and initially charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery. After Shepard's death, the charges were upgraded from attempted murder to first-degree murder, which meant that the two defendants were eligible for the death penalty.

How old is Matthew Shepard now?

Matthew Shepard Born Matthew Wayne Shepard ( 1976-12-01) Dece ... Died October 12, 1998 (1998-10-12) (aged 21) ... Cause of death Murder ( Blunt force trauma) Resting place Washington National Cathedral 3 more rows ...

What happened to Shepard's fence?

Today the buck fence where Shepard was bound and bludgeoned is long gone. The former crime scene is still a windswept field studded with cacti and criss-crossed by antelope spoor. But there's nothing to indicate this is the site of a deadly assault that changed America.

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What major did Shepard go to?

Shepard became a first-year political science major at the University of Wyoming in Laramie with a minor in languages, and was chosen as the student representative for the Wyoming Environmental Council. Shepard was an Episcopalian and once served as an altar boy in the church.

What charges did McKinney and Henderson face?

McKinney and Henderson were arrested and initially charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery. After Shepard's death, the charges were upgraded from attempted murder to first-degree murder, which meant that the two defendants were eligible for the death penalty.

What happened to Morales and McKinney?

The fight resulted in head wounds for both Morales and McKinney. Police officer Flint Waters arrived at the scene of the fight. He arrested Henderson, searched McKinney's truck, and found a blood-smeared gun along with Shepard's shoes and credit card.

Who robbed and tortured a dog in 1998?

On the night of October 6, 1998, Shepard was approached by Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson at the Fireside Lounge in Laramie; all three men were in their early 20s. McKinney and Henderson decided to give Shepard a ride home. They subsequently drove to a remote rural area and proceeded to rob, pistol-whip, and torture Shepard, tying him to a barbed-wire fence and leaving him to die. Many media reports contained the graphic account of the pistol-whipping and his fractured skull. Reports described how Shepard was beaten so brutally that his face was completely covered in blood, except where it had been partially cleansed by his tears.

Who did McKinney fight?

McKinney proceeded to pick a fight with two men, 19-year-old Emiliano Morales and 18-year-old Jeremy Herrara. The fight resulted in head wounds for both Morales and McKinney.

When was the book of Matt published?

Stephen Jimenez, the producer of the 2004 20/20 segment, went on to write a book, The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard, which was published in September 2013.

Who was the gay student who died in 1998?

Dennis Shepard. Judy Shepard. Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was a gay American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on the night of October 6, 1998. He was taken by rescuers to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died from severe head ...

Who did Shepard meet in the truck?

Having failed to enlist some schoolmates to join him, he found himself in conversation with Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney, both 21 and high school dropouts, who were sharing a pitcher of beer. After Shepard confided that he was gay, police say, the two men lured him outside and into McKinney’s father’s truck.

Where did Matthew go to high school?

Matthew had just completed his sophomore year in high school when his parents relocated to Saudi Arabia, where his father worked as an oil-rig inspector, and enrolled him at a boarding school in Lugano, Switzerland. It was there, newly independent, that he began coming to terms with his homosexuality, friends say.

What did Henderson and McKinney ask for?

Around midnight, Henderson and McKinney stepped to the bar and asked for a pitcher of beer, then ponied together the $5.50, mostly in dimes. It remains a mystery, particularly to his friends, why the neatly dressed Shepard would have hooked up with the two men, whom Galloway described as looking “grungy.”.

Who said "He went to meet anyone thinking this is a good person. This is someone worth meeting"?

Says Romaine Patterson: “He went to meet anyone thinking, ‘This is a good person. This is someone worth meeting.'”. At one time, that optimistic description might have fit Russell Henderson, a former Eagle Scout who had once been an honor roll student at Laramie Junior High.

When was Matthew Shepherd's body found?

October 7 , 1998 – Matthew Shepard ‘s brutalized body is discovered. Around 6:30pm on October 7, 1998, a young student at the University of Wyoming was found tied to a fence outside Laramie. He was discovered by a cyclist who, at first, mistakenly thought he was a scarecrow. His name was Matthew Shepard. Late in the evening of the night before, ...

What happened to Shepherd in the movie?

But instead, they drove Shepard to a remote area and robbed, pistol-whipped, and tortured him, tying his arms to a fence and leaving him to die in the freezing night air. Shepard was in a coma when he was found.

Why did Henderson testify against McKinney?

Henderson pleaded guilty on April 5, 1999, and agreed to testify against McKinney to avoid the death penalty; he received two consecutive life sentences. The defense attorney argued that McKinney and Henderson were driven temporarily insane by sexual advances made by Shepard.

How old was Shepherd when he was murdered?

Shepard was just 21 years old when he was murdered. Police arrested McKinney and Henderson when they were caught after attacking two young Hispanic men. The police found a bloody gun and Shepard’s shoes and wallet in McKinney’s truck.

When was the Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Act signed into law?

The Matthew Shepard And James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009 (Byrd was a black man dragged to his death behind a truck by racists in Texas).

Who were Matthew McKinney's parents?

The jury found McKinney guilty of murder. When the jury had to deliberate on whether to impose the death penalty, Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s parents, who oppose the death penalty, helped to broker a deal, resulting in McKinney receiving two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The Shepards later founded the Matthew ...

What happened to Matthew in the truck?

In the truck Matthew was robbed of his keys, wallet and shoes and beaten repeatedly by one or both of the men. He was then taken from the truck, pistol whipped up to 18 times on the head, and kicked between the legs. Matthew was tied to a fence, set on fire, and left unconscious.

What bar did Matthew go to?

On the evening of 6 October 1998, Matthew went to the Fireside bar , a local hangout that was purportedly gay-friendly. It was karaoke night, and locals rubbed shoulders with workers calling in for a swift drink on their way home. Shortly afterwards Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney arrived.

When did Matthew die?

The police did not investigate the killers’ relationship to the gay community. Five days after the attack, on 12 October, Matthew died. On 14 October a celebrity vigil was held on the steps of the US Capitol, attended by the likes of Ted Kennedy and Ellen DeGeneres.

Who found Matthew's shoes in the book of Matt?

Police officer Flint Waters arrived, grabbed Henderson (he and McKinney had run in different directions), and found the truck, the gun, Matthew’s shoes and credit card. I spoke to Waters, who has since retired from the police, having seen him praise The Book of Matt on social media.

Who is Ted Henson?

Ted Henson is a former lover and long-term friend of Matthew’s. The pair originally met when Matt was growing up in Saudi Arabia. Henson told me he believes that The Book of Matt is “nothing more than the truth” and that he was “never certain” that the murder was an anti-gay hate crime.

Did McKinney know Matthew?

Although McKinney has never acknowledged that he knew Matthew, Jimenez found a dozen sources that had seen them together. One is Kathleen Johnson, the former owner of Laramie antiques store Granny’s Attic, who knew Henderson, McKinney and Matthew. The young, unemployed men had not had easy lives.

Overview

Background

Murder

Arrests and trial

Subsequent reporting

Anti-gay protests

Legacy

See also