Aaron McKinney's Note to Russell Henderson on What Story to Tell Police (note written after arrests)
In this letter, McKinney summarizes what he told authorities after his October 7 arrest in connection with the death of Matthew Shepard. McKinney takes full blame for Shepard's death. He says he told authorities that the two men were drinking heavily at the Fireside when Shepard asked for a ride home. "When [Shepard] tried to get on me, I started kicking his ass." McKinney says that Henderson asked him to stop, but McKinney pointed a gun at Henderson and the beating contiinued. McKinney states "I tied him up" at the fence [actually, Henderson did]. He says he told the police, "at no time did we know he was gay until he tried to get on me." [McKinney, in fact, knew Shepard was gay.] McKinney tells Henderson he is sorry for the trouble he has caused him.
p.2
