Barry James Moore - Matthew Shepard Memorial

Matthew Shepard 1976 - 1998 Killed by Hate: October 12, 1998 (video below) Matthew Shepard died from a brutal beating and torture he received because he was gay. Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten because he was gay. With his skull broken and bleeding, he was stripped naked, tied spread eagle to a fence (not unlike crucifixion), was urinated on, with gas poured on him he was set on fire and left to die in 25-30 degree weather, naked, bleeding and unconscious, and obviously in much pain.

Background

Matthew Shepard, oldest son of Dennis Shepard and Judy Shepard, was born in Casper, Wyoming. He attended Crest Hill Elementary School, Dean Morgan Junior High, and the first two years of high school at Natrona County High School. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Matthew spent his junior and senior years of high school at The American School In Switzerland. After graduating in 1995, he attended Catawba College and Casper College before he relocated to Denver. Matthew then became a first-year political science major at the University of Wyoming and was chosen as the student representative for the Wyoming Environmental Council.

He was described by his parents and close friend from Orlando, Florida as "...an optimistic and accepting young man who had a special gift of relating to almost everyone. He was the type of person that was very approachable and always looked to new challenges. Matthew had a great passion for equality and always stood up for the acceptance of people's differences."

The attack

Shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew met two other young men in a bar. The two offered Matthew a ride in their car. Subsequently, Matthew was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area, and left to die. Still tied to the fence, Matthew was discovered eighteen hours later by a cyclist, who at first thought that Matthew was a scarecrow. At the time of discovery, Matthew was still alive, but in a coma.

Matthew suffered a fracture from the back of his head to the front of his right ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body's ability to regulate heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. Matthew never regained consciousness and remained on full life support. As he lay in intensive care, candlelight vigils were held by the people of Laramie.

Matthew was pronounced dead at 12:53 A.M. on October 12, 1998 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.