Parole Board Denies Sentence Reduction for Russell Henderson

Russell Henderson, one of the murderers of Matthew Shepard, has been denied a commutation petition by the Wyoming Board of Parole, preventing him from shortening his two consecutive life sentences. Henderson, who has served 25 years for the brutal 1998 hate crime, sought to have his sentence reduced but the board decided not to forward his request to the governor. During the trial, Henderson and his accomplice, Aaron McKinney, were convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping, with the case becoming a pivotal moment in raising awareness of anti-LGBTQ+ violence. The Wyoming parole board confirmed that Henderson is eligible to file another petition in five years, following the standard procedure for inmates serving life sentences. The murder of Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student, sparked significant advocacy for hate crime legislation both in the U.S. and globally. The denial of Henderson's petition reflects ongoing societal recognition of the impact of the crime and its enduring legacy in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.