The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime premieres on October 9, 2023, at 9:00 pm ET on ID. The documentary special will delve into the tragic murder case, honoring Shepard’s memory and legacy 25 years later.
Disclaimer: This article mentions murder, hate-crime, and other sensitive subjects. Readers’ discretion is advised.
Described as one of the worst hate crimes America has ever witnessed, the tragedy occurred in October 1998. Shepard, an openly gay university student, met a gruesome fate after encountering two roofing workers at a Wyoming bar. The men, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, lured, kidnapped, and robbed the 21-year-old before fatally beating him. They then tied the latter to a log fence on the outskirts of town and left him to die in the cold.
Several hours later, a biker found the young man who then succumbed to his grave injuries at a hospital after a few days. The case garnered national media attention for its horrific nature. Both suspects faced extreme charges, convictions, as well as lengthy sentences.
Exploring the Timeline of Events From the Case Ahead of The Matthew Shepard Story on ID
The events began as soon as Shepard stepped into the Fireside Lounge in Laramie on the evening of October 6, 1998. At the gay-friendly bar, he met two roofing workers – Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson – who pretended to be gay. They intended to rob the young man and had thus decided to gain his confidence before luring him into their trap.
McKinney, Henderson, and their newly acquainted friendly boarded their pickup truck sometime after midnight. The duo then robbed the 21-year-old and also beat him. After this, they drove down a dirt path and to a rocky prairie about a mile out of town. There, the attackers bound the victim to a fence, pistol-whipped him 19 to 21 times, and left him in the cold.
The Coloradoan reported that around 6:00 pm on October 7, a biker named Aaron Kreifels spotted Shepard and called 911. Medics rushed him to the hospital within hours.
Shepard’s Killers Were Arrested Days Before He Died
On October 8, police arrested the first suspect, Russell Henderson, and charged him with attempted murder. They also arrested McKenney, the second man involved in the attack, the following day. The latter also confessed to the crime.
Shepard, who never regained consciousness, succumbed to his injuries five days later, i.e., on October 12. After his death, the suspects faced first-degree murder, among other counts including robbery and kidnapping.
According to BBC, in April 1999, Henderson pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping, receiving two consecutive life sentences. He also agreed to testify against his accomplice in the crime. Then, in November, McKinney stood trial. A jury found him guilty on all counts, following which a judge handed him the same sentence without parole.
