The Laramie Project

Stephen and Barbara, members of the theatre company, explain that “The Fireside” is the name of the bar where Matthew Shepard was last seen alive. It’s a college bar with a pool are, and it hosts a few local regulars, too. The bar’s owner, Matt Mickelson, tells us that his family has been in Laramie for generations and that “in 1870 Louisa Grandma Swain cast the first woman’s ballot in any free election in the world, and that’s why Wyoming is the Equality State” (38). He advises Barbara and Stephen to speak to Matt Galloway, who was bartending that night.

Matt Galloway wants his interview to be short and to the point. He started work at 10pm that night and Matthew Shepard arrived at 10:30 and ordered a Heineken. A friend of Matthew’s, Phil Labrie, notes that Matthew always drank Heineken. Matt Galloway tells us that Matthew was the perfect customer, polite and intelligent; he tipped well. About 11:30pm, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson pay for a pitcher of beer with small change and keep to themselves until it’s gone. Matt Galloway doesn’t offer to serve them again. He later sees them talking to Matthew.

Matthew’s friend Romaine explains that he didn’t care about money; he came from a wealthy family and never had to worry about it. She doesn’t believe that his attack was a robbery.

According to Aaron, his girlfriend Kristin Price tells us, Matthew propositioned him and Russell, which disturbed him. After initially rejecting Matthew’s advance, Aaron and Russell decide to pretend to be gay to lure Matthew into their truck and rob him.

This version of events is completely rejected by Matt Galloway, who asserts that Matthew was sitting by himself at the bar for the entire evening and didn’t approach anyone. When he saw Aaron and Russell talking to Matthew it wasn’t in the pool area, where they had previously been sitting, but by the bar, “So who approached who…?” (40).

Matthew’s friends, Romaine and Phil, shed light on the fact that he was both very friendly and quite lonely, which made him vulnerable. He would talk to anyone. Matt Galloway saw Matthew leave with two men that evening, and while he didn’t see their faces, Aaron and Russell were gone too.

Matt Mickelson notes that the DJ, Shadow, was the last person to speak to Matthew that night. They were friends and chatted for a few minutes as Matthew was leaving. Matthew seemed relaxed but there were two men waiting for him outside who seemed anxious. They drove off together in a black truck, and Shadow didn’t think anything of it.

In the next moment, “McKinney and Henderson,” an anonymous friend of Aaron’s tells us that Aaron was a good kid and that he was shocked by what happened. Aaron was only 21 but was living in a trailer with his girlfriend and their son. He liked to dress in designer labels and act tough, but really was just a kid himself. Sherry Anderson, Russell’s landlord and former co-worker, describes him as a sweet kid whose temperament didn’t change when he was drunk. She just wants to ask, “What in the hell were you thinking?” (42).

In “The Fence,” Unitarian Minister, Stephen Mead Johnson, notes that the fence where Matthew was tied up has become a pilgrimage site. Greg Pierotti of the theatre company reveals that he broke down after visiting the site, but made sure that no one saw him cry. However, his colleague, Amanda, did see him cry. She was similarly upset by the visit to the fence and wishes she could put off speaking to Aaron Kreifels, the man who found Matthew.

This interview forms the next moment, “Finding Matthew Shepard.” Kreifels explains that he went for a bike ride at 5pm on Wednesday. He didn’t really know the area so he believed God meant him to find Matthew. He fell off his bike and noticed what he thought was a scarecrow. Even though Matthew’s chest was still moving, it wasn’t until he saw Matthew’s hair that Kreifels realized it was a person. He ran to the nearest house and called the police. Aaron Kreifels tried yelling at Matthew to wake him but got no response.

Reggie Fluty responded to the call. She initially thought Matthew was a teenager because he was so small. He had been tied to a pole and was covered in dry blood. He had a serious head injury. His shoes were missing. She tried to and cut him loose without injuring him further.

Dr. Cantway was working in the ER when they brought Matthew in. He was surprised by Matthew’s injuries as those types of cases are rare in Laramie. It was hard to believe that someone local did this; it is easier to believe it was a stranger.

When Reggie finally managed to free Matthew, she had to try to keep him breathing while she waited for the ambulance. Dr. Cantway notes that 20 minutes before Matthew was brought to the ER he had been treating Aaron McKinney, who had gotten into a fight in town later that night. He had no idea at the time that they were connected. When he saw the extent of Matthew’s injuries, he contacted a neurosurgeon. A few days later, Reggie saw a picture of Matthew; she wouldn’t have recognized him. When Dr. Cantway learned of the connection between Matthew and Aaron McKinney, he “wondered if this is how God feels when he looks down at us” (46) and felt compassion for both of them.