Who was Matthew Shepard? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 21

Family:

father: Dennis Shepard

mother: Judy Shepard

siblings: Logan Shepard

Gays American Men

Died on: October 12, 1998

U.S. State: Colorado

More Facts

education: Catawba College, Natrona County High School, University of Wyoming, American School in Switzerland

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1

What happened to Matthew Shepard in 1998?

Matthew Shepard was a college student who was brutally attacked and left to die in a hate crime because of his sexual orientation.
2

Where did the attack on Matthew Shepard take place?

The attack on Matthew Shepard took place in Laramie, Wyoming, near the University of Wyoming campus.
3

What impact did Matthew Shepard's death have on hate crime legislation?

Matthew Shepard's death sparked nationwide outrage and led to the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.
4

How did Matthew Shepard's case contribute to LGBTQ+ activism?

Matthew Shepard's case brought attention to the issue of anti-LGBTQ+ violence and discrimination, leading to increased activism and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
5

What is the significance of Matthew Shepard's legacy?

Matthew Shepard's legacy serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against hate and discrimination, and continues to inspire efforts to promote acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

Childhood & Early Life

On 1 December 1976, Matthew Wayne Shepard was born to Dennis Shepard (an oil safety engineer) and Judy Shepard in Casper, Wyoming. He had a younger brother named Logan who was born in 1981. Matthew shared a deep connection with his sibling.

Matthew did his schooling from Crest Hill Elementary School, Dean Morgan Junior High School and Natrona Country High School, respectively. He was gentle, sensitive and timid as a young boy. Though he was very cordial by nature, he was often bullied due to his small stature and lack of athletic spirit.

He moved to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in his junior year of high school when his father was transferred there. In May 1995, he graduated from the American School in Switzerland, where he studied the languages German and Italian. He had an avid interest in theatre, music and fashion. He also became interested in politics.

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College Life

Matthew Shepard attended a liberal arts school called Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where he became interested in pursuing a career in theatre. He confessed about his being gay to his mother not until after high school, though he was aware about it from a long time. Later, he shifted to Raleigh, North Carolina before he returned home to study at the Casper community college.

During his time in Casper, he became acquainted with Romaine Patterson (a lesbian) who gradually became a close friend. Both of them settled in Denver, Colorado where Matthew got engaged with multiple part-time jobs.

In February 1995 he went on a trip to Morocco where he faced some serious assault. He was beaten, raped and mugged by some local goons. Even though he underwent necessary therapy, he could never move on from the terrible violence he had encountered and suffered frequent nightmares and panic attacks henceforth. He was even suspected of drugs intake due to his ongoing depression.

In 1998, he shifted base to Laramie because he felt more secure living in a small town with less exposure. He attended the University of Wyoming during that time, which was also his parents’ alma mater. He actively worked for the University’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) alliance.

Murder & Aftermath

Matthew Shepard was a positive and energetic person who loved accepting challenges. Due to this friendly and approachable nature, he interacted with many people and easily connected with them. He strongly believed in equality and stood up for justice whenever he got the chance.

He was decent, polite, and thoughtful about the vagaries of life. He was a great conversationalist and harbored a deep passion for helping out people in distress.

During his stay in Laramie, Shepard met Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson at a pub and the boys focused on him as an easy target. On the fateful day of 7 October 1998, the two of them lured Matthew to accompany them in a car ride to a rural, isolated area after they had made plans to rob him.

They tied him to a split-rail fence and mercilessly beat him with a pistol that broke his face and fractured his skull. Bleeding profusely, he was left to die in the near-freezing early hours. He was discovered almost 18 hours later by a bicyclist named Aaron Kreifels, who had earlier mistaken him for a scarecrow.

Still alive, Matthew Shepard was immediately rushed to the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. He had suffered severe head injuries, a damaged brain stem and a case of hypothermia. He lay in coma for four days and he expired on 12 October 1998.

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Not long after his demise, the police found the bloodstained gun and Shepard’s wallet and shoes in McKinney’s truck and the two criminals were arrested and charged with kidnapping, felony and first-degree murder. Eventually, after numerous court proceedings, both Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

The terrifying incident triggered a lot of outrage from all over the nation and the world, and it garnered huge media attention too. Shepard’s tragedy resonated long and loud and is now considered as a landmark for the never-ending fight for justice against anti-gay bigotry and hatred.

Several years later, the Shepard/Byrd Act was signed into law on 28 October 2009 and it allows the Department of Justice to investigate and if needed, prosecute any bias-motivated violence against LGBT victims in future.

In order to ensure a loving and fair world, Shepard’s parents created the Matthew Shepard Foundation to eliminate hatred and to accept people with dignity, in spite of the differences. Shepard’s story has been represented in the play, ‘The Laramie Project’ and has also been featured in various songs, documentaries and feature films.

Facts About Matthew Shepard

Matthew Shepard was known for his love of music and was an avid piano player.

He had a strong passion for social justice and was involved in various activism efforts during his time at university.

Shepard had a great sense of humor and was known for his quick wit and ability to make others laugh.

He had a deep love for animals and volunteered at a local animal shelter in his free time.

Shepard was a talented writer and had aspirations of becoming a journalist before his life was tragically cut short.

Matthew Shepard Biography

You wanted to know

What happened to Matthew Shepard in 1998?

Where did the attack on Matthew Shepard take place?

What impact did Matthew Shepard's death have on hate crime legislation?

How did Matthew Shepard's case contribute to LGBTQ+ activism?

What is the significance of Matthew Shepard's legacy?