Chasity Vera Pasley is a resident of UT. After Shepard's death, the attempted murder charges became full-on murder trials. Aaron McKinney and Chastity Pasley wait to be arraigned . She attended Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyoming and later obtained a degree from Stevens Henager College.?. The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. Mr. Henderson never met his biological father and was adopted as an infant by a stepfather, said. Kristen LeAnn Price, 19, was McKinneys girlfriend. 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. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. 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. Henderson and McKinney argued that the murder was the result of a robbery gone bad and that Shepard's sexual orientation wasn't a factor, though McKinney's own account of the night hurts that assertion. Henderson pleaded guilty last month to kidnapping and felony murder and was sentenced to consecutive life prison terms. 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. I will keep Chasity always in my heart, I wont find another like her . Im sorry.. As Henderson drove, McKinney began pistol-whipping Shepard and took his wallet. As Henderson drove, McKinney began pistol-whipping Shepard and took his wallet. ", 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. Chasity was born on October 4, 1978 and passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. His weakness. Web posted at: 6:23 p.m. EDT (2223 GMT). 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. A memorial celebration of . He died less than a week later, on October 12, 1998, at age 21. According to the Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law, this is considered an example of a "gay panic" defense, often used in cases where an LGBTQ person is the murder victim. McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. For more on Shepards murder, as well as other brutal hate crimes and the current rise of extremist violence in the United States, watch Uncovered: KilledByHate, airingSunday at 7/6conOxygen. I dont agree with the gay lifestyle, he said. 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. She was the last of four defendants arrested following the 1998 beating death of gay University of Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. 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. Chasity Vera Haines (Pasley) passed away on October 10, 2017. 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 next day, a mountain biker found him. She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals. The next day, a mountain biker found him, at first mistaking him for a scarecrow. Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, cried repeatedly as she was sentenced to 15 months to two . He died five days later. That played a part. 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. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. 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. A Wyoming man pleaded guilty yesterday to the horrific killing of gay college student Matthew Shepard - garnering a life sentence for the crime that shocked the nation. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. Pasley, Hendersons girlfriend, was sentenced to 18 months, of which she served 6 months. at McKinney's apartment that night. Known as the Equality State, Wyoming got its nickname for being the first to let women vote. She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. were disposed of so he could be treated at a hospital for a Nobody wants to believe that we grow children that are capable of hate and violence. According to Oxygen, on October 6, 1998, Shepard was out at a gay bar in Laramie, Wyoming known as The Fireside Lounge. The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. 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.. 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. Price was sentenced to 180 days, of which she served 60 days. 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. The Wyoming Cowboys season will come to a close th. Only Henderson, McKinney, and Chasity Pasley were charged that day; separate proceedings had been arranged for Kristen Price. So, it was amusing that he tried to tell me that he knew better than I did the facts of the case.. "We have been assured that Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore are firmly behind this legislation, and that they're going to do everything they can to see that it is passed," said Dennis Shepard. McKinney has pleaded innocent and is scheduled to stand trial in August. loved. Associated Press writers Brady McCombs in Laramie and David Crary in New York contributed to this report. Chastity Pasley. Henderson's clothes in a gas station Dumpster. 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. Some of it, though, comes from not wanting to bear the blame for the crime, he said. The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. I dont agree with Jews, Muslims.. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. 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. Laramie did not pass an ordinance barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity until 2015. She said Henderson tried to reassure her, saying, "It's all McKinney and Henderson are each serving two consecutive life sentences. Wyoming teachers are leaving. He helped investigate the Matthew Shepard case and is now the Albany County sheriff. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). Henderson and McKinney are serving life sentences for Matthew Shepard's murder. 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. 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. 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. McKinney and Henderson trying "to get their stories straight" 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. University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was severely beaten and left tied to a fence outside Laramie the night of Oct. 6, 1998. . 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. with two other men after the Shepard beating. Chastity Vera Pasley, the girlfriend of murder suspect Russell Henderson, is pictured in court in Laramie, Wyo., on Friday, Oct. 9, 1998. Then they left Shepard in the frigid darkness. 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. 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. the slaying of Matthew Shepard, who was beaten, tied to a McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. / CBS. McKinney, 22, if he is convicted. LARAMIE, Wyo. ___ The prosecution says it will seek the death penalty for Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. District Judge Jeffrey Donnell sentenced Price to 180 days in jail. 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. ``I cant bring him back. of a gay Wyoming college student told jurors Thursday of how Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this, Henderson said. 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. (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. 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. 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. 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. girlfriend, Kristen Price, drove to Cheyenne to dump These last couple of months Chasity made such changes in her life she would always pray with me when I seen her. She also was charged with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, but her trial has been delayed. The 1998 torture and murder of gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, was a turning point for gay rights in the United States, prompting outrage, sorrow and activism. Police said Pasley, Henderson's girlfriend, and Kristen Price, McKinney's girlfriend, provided fake alibis and tried to destroy bloody clothing from the crime. Call 896 6000. Meanwhile, Chasity Pasley was found guilty of helping the two discard bloody clothing belonging to Shepard. She was charged with being an accessory after Jim Osborn, the University of Wyoming Title IX coordinator and 1998 chair of the LGBTQ student group Shepard belonged to, is often the staff member who speaks to UW classes about Shepard. 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. A contradictory statement from McKinney indicates that Shepard didn't touch him, but looked like he was going to. But were also trying to get to the next Aarons and the next Russells. McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. 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. Shepard was beaten into a coma and left tied to a rural fence for 18 hours. 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. 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. Chasity was a resident of Utah at the time of passing. His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. attacked the night of October 7, 1998, after leaving the The convicted killers, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, are each serving two consecutive life sentences. But Henderson did not participate in Tuesdays discussion, aside from a nine-minute prerecorded video. Matthew Shepard's death was a catalyst for a push toward adopting laws that protect members of the LGBTQ community. Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. Matthew had just come from a meeting of his college LGBT association, where the group was planning awareness activities, according to theBBC. 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. Required fields are marked *. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. 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. 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. Henderson believes thattheUnited Statesshould revamp its federal hate crime laws to protect everyone, even nearly a decade after the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. It has been a year since we lost our sweet Chasity. Pasley is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading. 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. . He had stayed behind the day the clothes 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. I dont like to spend a lot of time on them. 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. Comment for this story sweet Chasity separate proceedings had been arranged for kristen Price hatred for homosexuals get. Anti-Gay bias and violence is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading declined... That he called super unlikely that protect members of the LGBTQ community his wallet Wyoming freshman Matthew Shepard case is. 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