Matthew Shepard murder possibly meth related

Matthew Shepard murder possibly meth related

A new book has come out suggesting that the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard was not a hate crime based on his sexual orientation, but the actions of a bisexual lover involved in the crystal meth scene.

Journalist Stephen Jimenez has spent the last thirteen years investigating Matthew Shepard’s murder, resulting in ‘The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard’.

In 1998, 21-year old Matthew Shepard was found tied to a log fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming.

The man who found him was a fellow University of Wyoming student, who at first mistook Shepard for a scarecrow. He was hospitalised and died from his injuries on October 12.

A week earlier Shepard had met two men, believed to be strangers, who offered him a ride home. Accused murderers Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson claimed they hadn’t targeted Shepard, claiming instead that they beat him up after he came on to them – a notorious instance of the “gay panic” defence. They argued they were so distressed by Shepard’s sexual advances towards them that they were driven temporarily insane.

According to the website Jezebel.com, Jimenez claims Shepard and McKinney were sometimes lovers.

He goes on to suggest Shepard was a meth user and sold the drug to support his habit. Jimenez also suggests that McKinney killed Shepard because he thought he was connected to a drug shipment of six ounces of crystal meth, the street value of which at the time was around twelve thousand dollars.

The book is to be released in the United States on September 24.

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6 responses to “Matthew Shepard murder possibly meth related”

  1. Accused murderers? The guys were CONVICTED of murder, it wasn’t some some airy fairy accusation. Who wrote this trash?

  2. Oscar Wilde once (apparently) said that the truth is rarely pure and never simple. God bless Mathew Shepherd. Whatever was going on, he never deserved what happened to him and his soul deserves reverence and sanctity no matter what shit is raised. Praise The Lord.

  3. great, dirty the memory of the dead, I like the way the words “claims” & “suggests” are used ….. is that really journalism ? Maybe you should change your last name to Murdoch , I’m disgusted that the Star resorts to Murdoch-esque trash

    • Dont shot the messenger. I agree with your point but it is misdirected. The Star reported that a book is making such a claim and because of the Star and most likely other gay press journalism, you get the post your point that ‘claims and suggests’ are exactly that – claims and suggests.

      Any reproach should be directed at the author of the book not the gay press reporting on the book. Theres a difference.

  4. Typical Observer, TM. Can you PLEASE stop posting crap, this story and the McDonalds story are perfect examples why NO ONE should waste their time clicking on “StarObserver” links

  5. Firstly, can you please correct and removed the words ACCUSED MURDERERS. They are CONVICTED MURDERS.

    Secondly, what an absolute pack of crock. They were convicted by a jury after a trial and never once used this ‘new information’ as a defence.

    I hope The Bookshop refuses to stock this absolute pack of shite.