On the night of October 6, 1998, gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, finds himself at The Fireside Bar & Lounge. The corner bar features a tall neon sign in the shape of a fluted beer glass. It is a local watering hole for college students and Laramie locals. Here he meets Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. The pair, locals who pretend to be gay as well in a scheme to rob Shepard, drive Shepard to the outskirts of town. They tie him to the buck-and-rail fence below and pistol-whip him. Alone in a coma, tears streaking his blood-stained face, Shepard is found the next morning by a passerby. In the days that follow, candlelight vigils are held in hopes of his recovery, but Shepard dies six days later.

Shepard’s funeral is in Casper, Wyoming on October 16, 1998. Cold rain turns to heavy wet snow as an overflow of mourners listens to a broadcast in a park across from the church. Members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church are on hand to protest the funeral. Hate-filled words are shouted across a no man’s land bordered by snow fences and yellow-clad police officers. Anti-protestors scream back in return.

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  • On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through undeveloped countryside one mile northeast of Laramie, Wyoming, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    01 – On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through the undeveloped land one mile northeast of Laramie, Wyoming, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol-whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through undeveloped countryside one mile northeast of Laramie, Wyoming, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    02 – On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through the undeveloped land one-mile northeast of Laramie, Wyoming, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol-whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • The Fireside Bar and Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming, where Matthew Shepard was picked up on October 6, 1998 by his assaillants Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    03 – The Fireside Bar and Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming, where Matthew Shepard was picked up on October 6, 1998, by his assailants Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Inside the Fireside Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming, where Matthew Shepard was picked up on October 6, 1998 by his assaillants Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    04 – Inside the Fireside Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming, where Matthew Shepard was picked up on October 6, 1998, by his assailants Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A couple participates in a 1000-person vigil at St. Paul's Newman Center across from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, Sunday, October 11, 1998 to support openly gay UW student Matthew Shepard. Shepard was beaten, burned, tied to a fence, and left for dead in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 7, 1998. Hours after the vigil, Shepard, 21, died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    05 – A couple participates in a 1000-person vigil at St. Paul’s Newman Center across from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 11, 1998, to support openly gay UW student Matthew Shepard. Shepard was beaten, burned, tied to a fence, and left for dead in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 7, 1998. Hours after the vigil, Shepard, 21, died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A woman participates in a 1000-person vigil at St. Paul's Newman Center across from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, Sunday, October 11, 1998 to support openly gay UW student Matthew Shepard. Shepard was beaten, burned, tied to a fence, and left for dead in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 7, 1998. Hours after the vigil, Shepard, 21, died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    06 – A woman participates in a 1000-person vigil at St. Paul’s Newman Center across from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, on Sunday, October 11, 1998, to support openly gay UW student Matthew Shepard. Shepard was beaten, burned, tied to a fence, and left for dead in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 7, 1998. Hours after the vigil, Shepard, 21, died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through undeveloped countryside one mile northeast of Laramie, Wyo. to the edge of town, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    07 – On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through the undeveloped countryside one-mile northeast of Laramie, Wyoming, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol-whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through undeveloped countryside one mile northeast of Laramie, Wyo. to the edge of town, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    08 – On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through the undeveloped countryside one-mile northeast of Laramie, Wyo. to the edge of town, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol-whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • The Fireside Bar and Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming, where Matthew Shepard was picked up on October 6, 1998 by his assaillants Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    09 – The Fireside Bar and Lounge in Laramie, Wyoming, where Matthew Shepard was picked up on October 6, 1998, by his assailants Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through undeveloped countryside one mile northeast of Laramie, Wyo. to the edge of town, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    10 – On October 6, 1998, Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney drove University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, 21, through the undeveloped countryside one-mile northeast of Laramie, Wyo. to the edge of town, tied him to this buck and rail fence, and pistol-whipped him, leaving him for dead. Shepard’s battered and beaten body was found 18 hours later by two passing bicyclists. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • University of Wyoming student Clint Schroeder, left, and Graham Baxendale, visiting lecturer on hate crimes from Reading, England, find an opportunity during a lunch break to pause where Matthew Shepard was tied to a buck-and-rail fence a mile northeast of Laramie. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    11 – University of Wyoming student Clint Schroeder, left, and Graham Baxendale, visiting lecturer on hate crimes from Reading, England, find an opportunity during a lunch break to pause where Matthew Shepard was tied to a buck-and-rail fence a mile northeast of Laramie. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Graham Baxendale, a visiting lecturer at the University of Wyoming on hate crimes from Reading, England, finds an opportunity during lunch to pause where Matthew Shepard was tied to a buck-and-rail fence a mile northeast of Laramie. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    12 – Graham Baxendale, a visiting lecturer at the University of Wyoming on hate crimes from Reading, England, finds an opportunity during lunch to pause where Matthew Shepard was tied to a buck-and-rail fence a mile northeast of Laramie. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Laramie Police Department Sgt. Rob DeBree takes questions during a press conference outside the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming on Tusday, October 13, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    13 – Laramie Police Department Sgt. Rob DeBree takes questions during a press conference outside the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming on Tuesday, October 13, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Cathy Connolly, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Wyoming, holds a photograph of Matthew Shepard as she attends a press conference outside the Albany County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 13, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    14 – Cathy Connolly, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Wyoming, holds a photograph of Matthew Shepard as she attends a press conference outside the Albany County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 13, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Mark Walker of Cheyenne attends a press conference outside the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming on Tuesday, October 13, 1998. 'I didn’t know Matt, but as a concerned citizen, I don’t think that this should happen anymore,' Walker said. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    15 – Mark Walker of Cheyenne attends a press conference outside the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyoming on Tuesday, October 13, 1998. ‘I didn’t know Matt, but as a concerned citizen, I don’t think that this should happen anymore,’ Walker said. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A banner with the words, 'Hate is not a Wyoming Value,' hangs in downtown Laramie, Wyoming. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    16 – A banner with the words, ‘Hate is not a Wyoming Value,’ hangs in downtown Laramie, Wyoming. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A banner with the words, 'Hate is not a Wyoming Value,' hangs above the main street in downtown Laramie, Wyoming. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    17 – A banner with the words, ‘Hate is not a Wyoming Value,’ hangs above the main street in downtown Laramie, Wyoming. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Judy Shepard, left, cries as her husband, Dennis Shepard, reads a statement to the media prior to their son Matthew Shepard's funeral in Casper, on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    18 – Judy Shepard, left, cries as her husband, Dennis Shepard, reads a statement to the media prior to their son Matthew Shepard’s funeral in Casper, on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Judy Shepard, left, cries as her husband, Dennis Shepard, reads a statement to the media prior to their son Matthew Shepard's funeral in Casper, on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    19 – Judy Shepard, left, cries as her husband, Dennis Shepard, reads a statement to the media prior to their son Matthew Shepard’s funeral in Casper, on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Judy Shepard, left, cries as her husband, Dennis Shepard, reads a statement to the media prior to their son Matthew Shepard's funeral in Casper, on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    20 – Judy Shepard, left, cries as her husband, Dennis Shepard, reads a statement to the media prior to their son Matthew Shepard’s funeral in Casper, on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998 prior to Matthew Shepard's funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    21 – St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998, prior to Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Rachel Anderson of Casper, Wyoming cries after Pastor W.T. Otwell of God Said Ministries of Mt. Enterprise, Texas answers her question of why he came out to preach his anti-gay message on the day of Matthew Shepard’s funeral. ‘He is dead, this is not their place,’ said Anderson of the protester's presence. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    22 – Rachel Anderson of Casper, Wyoming cries after Pastor W.T. Otwell of God Said Ministries of Mt. Enterprise, Texas answers her question of why he came out to preach his anti-gay message on the day of Matthew Shepard’s funeral. ‘He is dead, this is not their place,’ said Anderson of the protester’s presence. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Members of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, protest during Matthew Shepard's funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    23 – Members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, protest during Matthew Shepard’s funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Karl Hockenbarger of Topeka, Kansas, and member of the Westboro Baptist Church, paces back and forth with anti-gay signs inside a quartered-off area outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. Friday, October 16, 1998 prior to Matthew Shepard's funeral. Hockenbarger has since been excluded from the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    24 – Karl Hockenbarger of Topeka, Kansas, and member of the Westboro Baptist Church, paces back and forth with anti-gay signs inside a quartered-off area outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. Friday, October 16, 1998, prior to Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Hockenbarger has since been excluded from the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Police stand in a no man's land between friends and supporters of slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard and members of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, during Shepard's funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    25 – Police stand in a no man’s land between friends and supporters of slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard and members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, during Shepard’s funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Friends of slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Sheppard shout at protestors from Westboro Baptist Church prior the start of Shepard's funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    26 – Friends of slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Sheppard shout at protestors from Westboro Baptist Church prior to the start of Shepard’s funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Police stand in a no man's land between friends and supporters of slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard and members of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, during Shepard's funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    27 – Police stand in a no man’s land between friends and supporters of slain gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard and members of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, during Shepard’s funeral in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A young member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, is confined to a corral outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998 prior to Matthew Shepard's funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    28 – A young member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, is confined to a corral outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998, prior to Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A young member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, is of approximately 15 protesters confined to a corral outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998 prior to Matthew Shepard's funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    29 – A young member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, is of approximately 15 protesters confined to a corral outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998, prior to Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • A member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas protests outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998 prior to Matthew Shepard's funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    30 – A member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas protests outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyo. on Friday, October 16, 1998, prior to Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Matthew Shepard's friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998 to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    31 – Matthew Shepard’s friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998, to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Matthew Shepard's friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming Friday, October 16, 1998 to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    32 – Matthew Shepard’s friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming Friday, October 16, 1998, to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Matthew Shepard's friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming Friday, October 16, 1998 to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    33 – Matthew Shepard’s friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming Friday, October 16, 1998, to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Matthew Shepard's friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998 to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    34 – Matthew Shepard’s friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998, to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
  • Matthew Shepard's friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998 to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon
    35 – Matthew Shepard’s friends and mourners brave heavy snow and snapping tree limbs to gather outside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper, Wyoming on Friday, October 16, 1998, to listen to a radio broadcast of the funeral services inside. Shepard had been baptized at the church. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon

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Here are some things to keep in mind: There are no model releases for these images. Therefore, pictures with people are for editorial use only. A theatrical production is not considered editorial use. The split-rail fence where Shepard was found is gone. Click here to see its former location, via a Google satellite map. Also, the Fireside Bar & Lounge looks nothing like it did back then.

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