Matthew Shepard

Matthew Wayne Matt Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was an American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on the night of October 6, 1998. Six days later, he died from severe head injuries at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.Perpetrators Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with first degree murder following Shepards death. Significant media coverage was given to the killing and what role Shepards sexual orientation might have played as a motive in the commission of the crime. The prosecutor argued that McKinneys murder of Shepard was premeditated and driven by greed. McKinneys defense counsel countered that he had only intended to rob Shepard, but had killed him in a rage when Shepard made a sexual advance towards him. McKinneys girlfriend told police that he had been motivated by anti-gay sentiment, but later recanted her statement, saying that she had lied because she thought it would help him. Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder and each sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.Shepards murder brought national and international attention to hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (commonly the Matthew Shepard Act or Shepard/Byrd Act for short), and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law. Following her sons murder, Judy Shepard became a prominent LGBT rights activist and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Shepards death inspired notable films, novels, plays, songs, and other works.

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