McKinney's defense counsel countered by arguing that he had intended only to rob Shepard but killed him in a rage when Shepard made a sexual advance toward him. The prosecutor argued that the murder of Shepard was premeditated and driven by greed. Significant media coverage was given to the murder and what role Shepard's sexual orientation played as a motive for the crime. Suspects Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with first-degree murder following Shepard's death. ![]() He was taken by rescuers to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died six days later from severe head injuries received during the attack. He said “all three are either current or recent users of a hideous drug-heroin.Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was a gay American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on the night of October 6, 1998. Murdoch was ineligible for release because of a pending state probation violation charge, lawyers said.īeaman said he would consider releasing the men on bond once they’ve had a period of time without drugs. He said the evidence showed that Tyson was the hub of the drug distribution while the other three defendants served as “spokes of that wheel” to help him move drugs.īeaman also denied requests from lawyers representing Epler and Walla to release them to treatment programs pending their federal prosecution. ![]() He said Tyson relied on the younger men to provide him with transportation, cash and cellular phones to line up drug deals in Denver that allowed him to distribute heroin and cocaine in Cheyenne.īeaman said the government’s evidence clearly supported the conspiracy charges. Attorney’s Office, told the judge that the conspiracy charge was appropriate. Jubin said Guthrie’s death was unfortunate, but said there was no evidence that Walla was involved “in any kind of trafficking conspiracy causing Mr. He said the only evidence of a conspiracy was that Murdoch, Walla, Guthrie and the confidential source conspired with each other to obtain and use heroin. Lawyer Tom Lee, representing Epler, emphasized that his client wasn’t present the night Guthrie died. He said there was no evidence that Murdoch was selling drugs. Lawyer Thomas Fleener, representing Murdoch, said all the people at Guthrie’s house the night he died were close friends. However, Stevens said the condition of Guthrie’s body was consistent with a drug overdose. Stevens said the Laramie County Coroner’s Office hasn’t concluded tests on what killed Guthrie. The confidential source found Guthrie dead in his bedroom the next morning. The three all used heroin together with the confidential source. Once they arrived back in Cheyenne, they dropped Tyson off at a trailer park and then Walla and Murdoch proceeded to Guthrie’s house. They had about $150-including $30 or $40 that Guthrie had chipped in. Drug Enforcement Administration task force in Cheyenne, testified Tuesday that a confidential source told him that Walla, Murdoch and Tyson had traveled to Denver on Dec. All four remain in custody.ĭavid Stevens, an officer with a U.S. ![]() District Court.Ī fourth defendant, Christopher Charles Tyson, 35, was arrested Tuesday in Denver. Beaman on Tuesday ruled that federal prosecutors presented enough evidence to require all three defendants to answer the charge in U.S. 2 death of 21-year-old Bryan Guthrie of Cheyenne. Epler 26, of Cheyenne are charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs leading to the Dec. ![]() Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close MenuĬHEYENNE, Wyo.-Three Cheyenne men will face federal charges alleging they conspired to provide the heroin and cocaine that led to the death of a Wyoming bull rider this month, a federal magistrate ruled Tuesday.
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