Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. }, First published on November 4, 1999 / 9:24 AM. 20,000 people may have been exposed to measles at Asbury University revival Henderson tied Shepard to the fence after McKinney told him to do it, he said. I will keep Chasity always in my heart, I wont find another like her . The crime focused the national spotlight on hate crimes. Henderson pleaded guilty last month to kidnapping and felony murder and was sentenced to consecutive life prison terms. Matthew Shepard's death was a catalyst for a push toward adopting laws that protect members of the LGBTQ community. He died five days later. Laramie did not pass an ordinance barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity until 2015. 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. I dont agree with the gay lifestyle, he said. 20 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, alternate narratives gain steam in Wyoming. What Happened To The People Who Murdered Matthew Shepard. attacked the night of October 7, 1998, after leaving the 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. Henderson's clothes in a gas station Dumpster. I love you Chasity until we see each other again. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. 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. The following morning, Pasley testified, eight detectives The murder of college student Matthew Shepard shocked the nation on multiple levels. 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. Title: UMKCLAWKM_554e-20190826150502 Created Date: 8/26/2019 3:05:02 PM October 18, 2017 at 11:00 AM Trending News Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. It has been a year since we lost our sweet Chasity. Still, he insisted, neither he nor Aaron McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. 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). Also denying this allegation is one of Shepard's murderers, Russell Henderson. Twenty years after the brutal killing of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, one of the lead investigators in the case shared with the Coloradoan a letter sent between the suspects who were. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { After that, he mouthed off, so I hit him a few more times and his fag ass died, McKinney wrote. 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. (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. The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The flier advertising the event went out before Jimenez asked the prison system for permission to livestream Hendersons appearance, according to Wyoming Department of Corrections spokesman Mark Horan. McKinneys lawyers also wanted to argue that Shepard caused McKinney to explode in a rage by putting his hand on McKinneys leg. 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. Prosecutors accused both Price and Chasity Pasley, who was Henderson's girlfiend, of helping dispose of Henderson's bloody clothes. The event was billed as an examination of what the media got wrong in its coverage of Shepards murder. Pasley said she saw blood and a "fleshy" substance on one 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. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. She will be missed dearly and heaven has gained an angel to watch over her loved ones. chasity pasley wyoming obituary. after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact in However, the judge in McKinney's murder trial would not permit it. Shepard was lured out of a Wyoming bar, pistol whipped and tied to a fence in freezing temperatures. 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. She married Randy Haines and her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her son Ashton Lemar Nephi Haines on August 13, 2008. Wyoming remains hesitant to adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence. Shepard's parents started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor their son and to help parents understand and accept their children who may be questioning their sexuality. Price originally was accused of accessory after-the-fact to first-degree murder, but the charge was later reduced. But were also trying to get to the next Aarons and the next Russells.. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. 8539 South 2200 West, West Jordan, Utah. I think about him and every single one of those days that I've had that he hasn't had, his family hasn't had, his friends haven't had. 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. Prosecutor Cal Rerucha said Monday that she was a valuable witness for the prosecution against McKinney. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they werent charged with a hate crime. This 1995 photo provided by the Matthew Shepard Foundation shows Matthew Shepard. Lookup the home address and phone 2705768642 and other contact details for this person. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer), 1998: Matthew Shepard. I dont like to spend a lot of time on them. 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. She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. Crime and Public Safety | 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. She received 120 days of credit for time already served following her initial arrest, and the remaining 60 days were suspended. Chasity Vera Haines (Pasley) passed away on October 10, 2017. 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. Linda she really loved you with all her heart & soul she missed you very much. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they weren't charged with a hate crime. The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. I think he has atoned. The convicted killers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, are each serving two consecutive life sentences. 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. (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. To find out more, please click this link. During that video, which was spliced together from eight shorter clips, Henderson said he did not help kill Shepard because of prejudice. Pasley faced up to three years in prison. The Majority of her career life she worked in the education field and became the Dean of Students at Utah Career College. In return, McKinney has promised not to appeal his felony murder and kidnapping convictions and sentence. 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. Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney and Chastity Pasleywait to be arraigned Oct. 9, 1998. A contradictory statement from McKinney indicates that Shepard didn't touch him, but looked like he was going to. Both Henderson and McKinney were found guilty of murdering Shepard and were both sentenced to life in prison. 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. 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. 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. 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. McKinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, Marsden said. They have both taken starkly different paths since they were sentenced, however. Your email address will not be published. Its a lot easier to say, Oh, well, there must have been another explanation, he said. Earlier in the day, Chasity Pasley, a girlfriend of Henderson's, testified that she saw no indication of drug use by McKinney. ", However, his codefendant, Russell Henderson, has a different perspective on the heinous murder the two committed. I'm so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.". Theres nothing that was in the investigation that indicated that McKinney and Henderson were under the influence of anything other than a little bit of beer the night that they killed Matt. Chasity loved spending time with her son, family, and friends. She said she had misgivings about getting involved and was 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. 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. She also was charged with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, but her trial has been delayed. Henderson and McKinney are serving life sentences for Matthew Shepard's murder. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.. He was her world. Pasley testified The book came nearly a decade after a Jimenez-produced 20/20 segment that likewise featured McKinney denying bigotry played a role in his actions. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. Hendersons remarks dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, Marsden said. consecutive life sentences. A memorial celebration of . Sometimes Chasity goes by various nicknames including Chasity V Pasley, Chasity V Pasley, Chasity Haines, Chasity Vera Haines and Chasity V Haines. She was the last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard. A pipe bomb was detonated near McClure Street in Laramie. The 21-year-old was taken to a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado where he died on October 12, 1998 (via Matthew Shepard Foundation). 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. 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. At the time of the killing, McKinney and Price were parents of an infant son. I think he has atoned. McKinney and Henderson trying "to get their stories straight" 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. 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. Because of overcrowding at Wyomings maximum-security prison in Rawlins, Henderson and McKinney have served their time in multiple states. OMalley said Jimenezs narrative has picked up in steam in Wyoming more than anywhere else. Woman Sentenced for Role in Attack. Shane studied journalism at the University of Missouri and worked at newspapers there before moving to Wyoming. 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. with two other men after the Shepard beating. Linda(Candi),Angela & Andrew I want you all to know Chasity meet the world to me. 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. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your life. 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 killers girlfriends Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, and Kristen Leann Price, 18 were charged with being accessories after the fact. You have permission to edit this article. ``I needed to face up to what I did, Pasley said during her sentencing hearing. I know she is moving forward in her existence and making strides in her own eternal progress. 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. Former UW student Chasity Pasley, who was dating one of Matthew Shepard's killers, pleaded innocent to the charge of accessory, after the fact, to first-degree murder. . The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. She was charged with being an accessory after And so people were kind of desperate to latch onto any theory that was something other than hate.. She attended Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming and later obtained a degree from Stevens Henager College. It breaks our hearts when death separates us from the ones we love so much, especially when they are as young as Chasity. She attended Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming and later obtained a degree from Stevens Henager College. Your subscription could not be saved. Attitudes against homosexuality persist in Wyoming, but LGTBQ acceptance has advanced, said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Denver-based Matthew Shepard Foundation. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were around 21-year-old Shepards age when they chatted him up the evening of Oct. 6 at the Fireside Lounge in Laramie. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File), Nov. 4, 1999: Judy Shepard stands with Detective Sgt. Much love. McKinney won mercy from the victim's parents Thursday, who agreed not to press for the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole. The argument was rejected. McKinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, Marsden said. Henderson has taken a victim empathy course, and even written a letter of apology to Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother,Belbersaid. 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