Murderer who killed gay man Matthew Shepard in 1998 learns if his bid for freedom has been accepted

A Wyoming parole board has denied an application for a commuted sentence for one of the killers of Matthew Shepard. 

The board of parole denied the petition filed by Russell Henderson, one of the two men convicted or murdering the gay man, who was 21, in 1998. 

He was kidnapped, beaten and murdered by Henderson and his accomplice, Aaron McKinney, in October 1998 in Laramie, Wyoming. 

Henderson has already served 25 years in prison for the heinous murder, to which he pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. 

The two men are said to have lured Shepard away from a bar by pretending they were both gay. 

They then drove him to a remote location, where he was pistol-whipped, tortured and tied to a fence. He died six days later in hospital after being found. 

This 1989 file photo provided by the Matthew Shepard Foundation shows the young man in San Francisco

The board of parole denied a petition for a commuted sentence filed by Russell Henderson, seen here in 2018

After 18 hours tied to the fence, a cyclist stumbled across Shepard, initially mistaking him for a scarecrow. 

Shepard, who was in a coma by then, was taken to the hospital. His skull was said to have been so badly smashed that doctors were unable to perform surgery. 

He died six days later, on October 12, 1998. Authorities said that Henderson and McKinney had targeted Matthew, who was 5-foot-2 and 105 pounds, because he was gay.

Shepard was taken to a remote location, where he was pistol-whipped, tortured and tied to a fence. He died six days later in hospital after being found

Matthews murder captured national headlines due to the gruesome nature of the crime, throwing a spotlight on the hatred, violence and discrimination endured by LGBTQ individuals and communities in towns and cities across America.

In the wake of his death, politicians and activists fought to extend the definition of federal hate crime legislation to include gay victims, women and people with disabilities.

Over 10 years later, in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. 

It was named in memory of Shepard and Byrd, a black man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck by white supremacists in Texas in 1998. 

The law expanded existing federal hate crimes law to include crimes which had been instigated by sexual orientation and gender identity. 

Confirming the decision to The Advocate, Wyoming Board of Parole Executive Director Margaret White said: Mr. Henderson filed a commutation petition which the Board considered in accordance with its policies.

The Board held a hearing on Russell’s petition and declined to forward the petition to the Governor. This matter is now decided.

Authorities said that Russell Henderson (left) and Aaron McKinney had targeted Matthew, who was 5-foot-2 and 105 pounds, because he was gay

Speaking with the Associated Press from behind bars in 2018, Henderson claimed that he and McKinney were not motivated by anti-gay hatred 

In 2004, Henderson had sought leniency for his crimes and had his attorney file a petition for post-conviction relief. 

He claimed he had not been adequately informed of his appeal options after he made his guilty plea. That petition was also unsuccessful. 

Speaking with the Associated Press from behind bars in 2018, Henderson claimed that he and McKinney were not motivated by anti-gay hatred. 

He said that the pair were out to rob Shepard for money and drugs when they kidnapped him. 

Henderson said: I think about Matthew every single day of my life. I think about him and every single one of those days that Ive had that he hasnt had, his family hasnt had, his friends havent had. Im so, so ashamed I was ever part of this.

Since his murder, Shepards parents, Judy and and Dennis, have been strong advocates in the fight against LGBTQIA+ hate crimes. 

In May, Judy was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden, describing it as an unexpected honor.

If I had the power to change one thing, I can only dream of the example that Matts life and purpose would have shown, had he lived, she said. This honor reminds the world that his life, and every life, is precious.