Returning to Laramie after a decade of love and hate

In the early-morning hours of Oct. 7, 1998, an openly gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student named Matthew Shepard hopped into a car with Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney.

[Peskime]

I was living in Wyoming when Matthew Shepherd was murdered.
My husband and I kept lamenting about we often drove through Laramie, if only we had been there to help this poor kid out. We fantasized, we would have stopped the crime before it happened or that we could have found him and rushed him to a hospital and he:d be off somewhere living his life and contributing to the world.
We so admired his family:s dignity and the pain his mother felt in the wake of his death was heart rendering. The Shepherds are a Wyoming family from Casper and Matthew:s background was similar to my own, having a geologist father and growing up abroad. It still haunts me since I know the land so well to think of this poor 105 # kid freezing and bleeding on a deer fence and for what? It still hurts to think of it.

[Jazz and Blues Notes]

Very interesting. Do you have more on the history that happened when you lived in Laramie? How do you feel about Laramie, as a whole, after returning here to live?

Thank you.

[Frank Stanton]

I lived in Laramie also and attended the University Of Wyoming. I met the first guy I ever fell in love with in Laramie. I still pray for Matthew.

:(

And I think of the guy I fell in love with there too.

He is now gone also. And too young.

:(

[Jazz and Blues Notes]

Sounds like a great place to attend school, from what I have heard about it.

[Matt]

I too lived in Laramie and attended UWYO when this happened. The next morning my English teacher came out if the closet to the entire class as she cried. The media was everywhere in the student Union looking for interviews... Tom Brokaw, Ellen... You name it they were there. The Westboro Baptist Church was there... Laramie was turned upside down. I left a year later, things were never the same. I do miss the Snowy Range.

[Portis]

Who the hell is Matthew Sheppard, some queer? What did he die from AIDS?

[Pattysboi]

fr Portis:

>Who the hell is Matthew Sheppard, some queer? What did he die from AIDS?<

How old ARE you, 4?

Mr. Shepard was a gay college student, who was kidnapped, and MURDERED because he was gay, by two homophobic thugs who are now (thankfully) serving life sentences. He was tied to a fence and pistolwhipped into unconsciousness, and his shoes and coat were stolen by his MURDERERS.

[VIncent]

Pattysboi wrote:

fr Portis:
>Who the hell is Matthew Sheppard, some queer? What did he die from AIDS?<
How old ARE you, 4?
Mr. Shepard was a gay college student, who was kidnapped, and MURDERED because he was gay, by two homophobic thugs who are now (thankfully) serving life sentences. He was tied to a fence and pistolwhipped into unconsciousness, and his shoes and coat were stolen by his MURDERERS.

He must have grabbed those guys **** huh?

[Mary]

I lived in laramie with my husband. I was married to him for three years. He had a Large family and his parents loved there son. I stayed with him for three years. I got preganant and we had a great son. While i was married to my husband he beat me up and i lived with it. He would at times come home just to beat me. One day I thought I would kill him. He came home and when to get his usual coffee. I decided to put amonia in the coffee. What a mistake I took the beating If you have never been beat you have no idea. Finally I moved out with our son. We always fought over our son who gets him. Finally while living in Denver he came apologized and we moved into a house together.
About 3 monts later he came honme drunk and bet me and than slaped my son of 2 year old who said don't
hit my mom he threw him to me and I ran into the bedroom with my son I looked at my eyes black eyed Mary. While we were sleeping our rented house started on fire. I wa s so scared, I beleive this man was out to get me. he would not do this to his son. I threw my son out the window I jumped out at that moment I knew i had to get out of this marriag. I am so grateful for all that i have and all that I no Know we are all victims of circumstances. My son lifes has been on hold now for 27 years. next time i will write about it can you hear me now.. mary