Hate Crime: Matthew Shepard

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Recommended: Discriminations and Hate Crimes in The LGBT Community

Edward Acosta
Ms.Maloney
6 October 2017
Informational Research Essay
On October 12th 1998, six days after he was tied to a split-rail fence and brutally attacked, Matthew Shepard was pronounced dead at Poudre Valley Hospital, in Fort Collins, Colorado. At the time, Matthew Shepard was a twenty-one-year-old, openly gay man, studying political science and international relations at the University of Wyoming. Shepard had been pursuing a foreign service career at the time of his death. This horrendous tragedy made nationwide news and sparked a huge debate regarding what should be considered the proper definition of a hate crime. As well as bringing attention to other important lgbt issues. His death has made way for many new pro-lgbt organizations, …show more content…

His face had been covered in blood, aside from the two tear tracks he had running down the sides of his cheeks .“The only thing I could see was partially somebody’s feet and I got out of my vehicle and raced over...I seen what appeared to be to a young man, 13, 14 years old, because he was so tiny, laying on his back, and he was tied to the bottom end of a pole. I did the best I could…” said Officer Reggie Fluty when she arrived at the scene. Shepard was then immediately rushed to the hospital while in a …show more content…

Matthews friends and family were convinced that shepard was targeted and beaten because of his sexual orientation. The national press quickly arrived at Shepards hospital room. "We knew in the newsroom the day it happened, this is going to be a huge story, this is going to attract international interest," said Jason Marsden of "The Casper Star-Tribune."
Police later found the bloodied gun and Shepards lost wallet and shoes in Mckinney's truck. Once these key pieces of evidence were found, it was simple for the authorities to be able connect the beating of Matthew Shepard to both McKinney and Henderson. Finally they were brought to trial, and the pair was charged with felony murder and kidnapping. Both received two consecutive life life terms for their crimes against Matthew Shepard, yet they were unable to be charged with a hate crime because of Wyoming's criminal law at the time of the

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