By providing an email address. She was born on October 4, 1978 in Salt Lake City to Rodney Pasley and Linda Larsen. His accomplice, Russell Henderson, is also serving two consecutive life terms. 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. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your life. "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. Hendersons remarks dont change the facts of the case, which include McKinneys confession to police, Marsden said. where a year earlier, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was tied and pistol whipped into a coma. Prosecutor Cal Rerucha said Monday that she was a valuable witness for the prosecution against McKinney. 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. Woman Sentenced for Role in Attack. ", 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 Vera Pasley is a resident of UT. 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. The University of Wyoming created its diversity office only last year. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. The crime focused the national spotlight on hate crimes. 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. Your subscription could not be saved. Pasley is serving 15 to 24 months in prison after pleading. LARAMIE, Wyo. She said she had misgivings about getting involved and was Only Henderson, McKinney, and Chasity Pasley were charged that day; separate proceedings had been arranged for Kristen Price. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. A memorial celebration of . She married Randy Haines and her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her son Ashton Lemar Nephi Haines on August 13, 2008. Chasity Vera Pasley, 20, cried repeatedly as she was sentenced to 15 months to two . Shane Sanderson joined the Star-Tribune in 2017. During the fourth day of testimony Thursday, Chasity Pasley -- who was dating McKinney's alleged accomplice, Russell Henderson -- said McKinney told his girlfriend he killed someone and then asked . Though investigators who worked on the case have called the book inaccurate, its premise has continued to gain traction 20 years after Shepards death made him a symbol of equal rights. Web posted at: 6:23 p.m. EDT (2223 GMT). Prosecutors accused both Price and Chasity Pasley, who was Henderson's girlfiend, of helping dispose of Henderson's bloody clothes. I think he has atoned. I'm so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.". McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. He covers courts and law enforcement agencies in Natrona County and across the state. I think about Matthew every single day of my life, Henderson said, according to the Associated Press. Pasley said she first learned of the beating listening to Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. 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. From left . And so, for the conspiracy theorists out there, I suppose its good reading. If you have recently experienced a loss we offer our most heartfelt condolences. However, the judge in McKinney's murder trial would not permit it. Wyoming remains deeply defensive about the idea that Shepard was targeted because he was gay, Burlingame said. Kristen Price, the former girlfriend of Aaron McKinney, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a police officer. The following morning, Pasley testified, eight detectives (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File). I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Matthew Shepard's death was a catalyst for a push toward adopting laws that protect members of the LGBTQ community. upon -- that they watched movies together the night of the I love you Chasity until we see each other again. after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact in Also denying this allegation is one of Shepard's murderers, Russell Henderson. He later died. The prosecution says it will seek the death penalty for She was someone Jim Osborn knew well and liked. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Pasley said she saw blood and a "fleshy" substance on one McKinney is now in a Mississippi prison and not agreeing to interview requests, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. Wyoming remains hesitant to adopt policies to counter anti-gay bias and violence. Police said the women helped dump bloody clothing and initially lied about their whereabouts. Still, he insisted, neither he nor McKinney was motivated by anti-gay hatred when they offered Shepard a ride home from a bar. I was one lucky sister-in-law to have gained such a beautiful friend, sister. On that nig, The Wyoming State Historical Society will honor a controversial book about Matthew Shepard that claims he was killed in a drug deal gone wrong, This past week, the Society of Professional Journalists began winding down its examination of media trust with a panel in Casper, closing down. Pasley wept throughout. were disposed of so he could be treated at a hospital for a 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. According to Oxygen, Aaron McKinney has never displayed even an ounce of remorse for his crimes, even doubling down. 20 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, alternate narratives gain steam in Wyoming. 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. The night I did it, I did have hatred for homosexuals, McKinney told Pierotti,according to the Denver Post. Pasley said she lied because "I was protecting someone I Prosecutors accused both Price and Chasity Pasley, who was Henderson's girlfiend, of helping dispose of Henderson's bloody clothes. 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. To find out more, please click this link. And so people were kind of desperate to latch onto any theory that was something other than hate.. Price was sentenced to 180 days, of which she served 60 days. fence post outside Laramie and left to die. His murderers were both given consecutive life sentences, although they werent charged with a hate crime. 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. The judge prohibited the gay panic defense. Meanwhile, Chasity Pasley was found guilty of helping the two discard bloody clothing belonging to Shepard. 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. Chasity Pasley currently lives in Salt Lake City, UT; in the past Chasity has also lived in West Jordan UT and Lompoc CA. 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. . .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { (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. 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. Ashton was her knight and shining armour. Pasley was one of two women accused of helping McKinney and Henderson dispose of Henderson bloody clothes. So, it was amusing that he tried to tell me that he knew better than I did the facts of the case.. McKinney repeatedly used homosexual slurs in his confession, Marsden said. (The Matthew Shepard Foundation via AP), Oct. 9, 1998: 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. 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. It never was about us hating Matthew because of who he was.. And, in 2018, Albany County Sheriff David OMalley, who investigated Shepards murder 20 yearsbefore, shared a letter written to Henderson by McKinney while the two were both awaiting trial. She said her organization will continue its unapologetic advocacy, reaching out to churches, businesses, legislators and regular citizens about their policies and attitudes. 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. But Henderson did not participate in Tuesdays discussion, aside from a nine-minute prerecorded video. arrived outside the apartment she shared with Henderson. His parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, declined to comment for this story. Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother Im sorry.. ``I needed to face up to what I did, Pasley said during her sentencing hearing. Brandon Foster is the Star-Tribune's managing editor. 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. Even now, people associate Laramie with the murder. 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. I think he has atoned. 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. Wyoming Equality protested by holding a dance at a civic center down the street, using the slogan When They Go Low We Go Dance.. Livestreaming interviews with inmates is against prison policy, Horan said. Henderson, now 41, said the U.S. should have laws that protect everyone, no matter who they are. Three suspects in the beating death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard wait to be arraigned in this, Oct. 9, 1998 file photo, from Laramie, Wyo. I think about Matthew every single day of my life. 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. girlfriend, Kristen Price, drove to Cheyenne to dump Nobody wants to believe that we grow children that are capable of hate and violence. However, McKinney did speak with actor Greg Pierotti in 2009, for a revival of The Laramie Project, a play centering around the fallout from Shepards murder,according toToday.com. Cheyenne owned by her mother. right; he's OK," referring to Shepard, who died after he was Because of overcrowding at Wyomings maximum-security prison in Rawlins, Henderson and McKinney have served their time in multiple states. We offer our most heartfelt condolences pistol whipped into a coma people associate Laramie with murder! 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