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Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Another Matthew Shepard?

posted by on June 13 at 9:38 AM

His name was Aaron Hall. On April 12 he was beaten to death in Crothersville, Indiana, because, his accused killers say, he made a pass at them.

Thirty-five-year-old, 5-foot-4, 100-pound Aaron Hall was brutally beaten on April 12 for hours by two teens who have described the murder in chilling detail to police. Each says Hall precipitated the violence by making a homosexual suggestion.

The beatings included repeated pummelings with fists and boots and dragging Hall down a wooden staircase by his feet as “his head bounced down all of the steps,” in one of the accused’s words. He died naked and alone, in a field, where he had crawled after his killers dumped his body in a roadside ditch.

Police found Hall’s body 10 days after his death wrapped in a tarp in the garage of Jackson County Deputy Coroner Terry Gray, whose son is one of the accused.

The Bloomington Alternative says this story is shouting for major media attention. Many in the blogosphere, including Towleroad and DailyKos, are saying the same. (Although, be sure to read the dissent in the Towleroad comments by “Bil Browning,” who says this story isn’t being picked up because Aaron Hall wasn’t gay.)

RSS icon Comments

1

The same should be done to them.

Posted by Mr. Poe | June 13, 2007 9:52 AM
2

So even though they killed him because he was making alleged sexual advances because it turns out he wasn't actually gay makes it not a hate crime?

And were these 4 guys afraid this 5'4" 100lbs gorilla was going to rape them so they had to defend themselves?

I would sooooooooooo like to be on that jury.

Posted by monkey | June 13, 2007 10:13 AM
3

this is actually going to be the gravest miscarriage of justice in the United States if the accused are guilty and not found guilty.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | June 13, 2007 10:16 AM
4

Matthew Shepard was young. This guy was 35. Matthew Shepard was kidnapped by frat-boy types feigning some sort of gay interest. In this case the murderers say the beating was precipated by the victim's sexualy battery.
The media traction with Matthew Shepard came from the simple narrative - angelic like homsexual boy beaten to death by evil rural american frat boys. This story lacks this sort of compelling narrative, hence no traction.

Posted by kinaidos | June 13, 2007 10:19 AM
5

Hey when are you guys going to mention the gay bashing last weekend in front of war room?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/319450_beaten12ww.html

Posted by Someone | June 13, 2007 10:21 AM
6

@4, I could not disagree more. "This story lacks the sort of compelling narrative": WTF!?!? This isn't the pilot for a tv show; this is a crime, and an ugly, heinous one at that. No matter how old (or young)the victim may be.

Posted by duncan | June 13, 2007 10:28 AM
7

well is name isn't paris hilton, so who gives a fuck?

Posted by seattle98104 | June 13, 2007 10:32 AM
8

@6 - sure, the "lack of compelling narrative" explanation sounds awful and callous, but it's not entirely off-base, either. The MSM always tries to find some kind of broader narrative to "sell" their stories. Look at any story on the nightly news and you'll see this - whether it be the association of minorities with crime, or fearmongering about terrorism, or whatever.

Posted by Hernandez | June 13, 2007 10:37 AM
9

They stripped him naked?

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | June 13, 2007 10:38 AM
10

@ 5

Thanks for continuing to bring it up, 'Someone.' It is odd that The Stranger prefers to focus on gaybashings far away rather than in ones a few blocks from their offices - maybe the distance adds some kind of journalistic glamour?

Posted by Seattle Salmon | June 13, 2007 10:41 AM
11

and shrub (aka "DUH-bya") now wants an anti queer bigot to be surgeon general:

BUSH'S SURGEON GENERAL BELIEVES IN 'EX-GAY' THERAPY.

(my apologies if the link doesn't work - this is my first time ever attempting html on a blog.)

if you don't want this douchebag in that position, you can go to:
stopholsinger.com.
from there you can contact cantwell and murray (or whomever your senators are) to tell them to vote against his nomination.

Posted by jezbian | June 13, 2007 10:49 AM
12

damnit. the first one worked the 2nd one didn't. ack. here goes nothing, take 2:

stopholsinger.com.

Posted by jezbian | June 13, 2007 10:53 AM
13

To add to what Kinaidos and Hernandez wrote: which is why these sorts of stories need to gain traction on blogs and in those blogs' comment sections.


blog-o-sphere buzz is often enough for some tv news producer/print editor to run with it.

Posted by Phenics | June 13, 2007 11:32 AM
14

Can we get Mudede to write an article on this about exploring the trope of youth killing their elders?

Posted by Gitai | June 13, 2007 11:36 AM
15

@14, what does that have to do with white people holding back black africans? charles wont touch it.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | June 13, 2007 11:42 AM
16

Have you ever spent hours brutally beating someone to death?

Probably not, as this is totally inconceivable for most of us.

Clearly, these two teens are mentally ill - the wiring is messed up upstairs. I’m not saying that’s a defense, I’m saying that it takes a real sociopath to display this kind of behavior and they got caught early, hate crime or not.

Lock ‘em up and throw away the key.

Posted by Original Andrew | June 13, 2007 11:53 AM
17

I don't care if the teens are mentally ill. They need to be tried, convicted, and killed.

Posted by elswinger | June 13, 2007 12:19 PM
18

@17 - how about tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison? Killing encourages killing. These guys should be tried and never allowed back in society but killed? makes no sense at all

Posted by call me a snot | June 13, 2007 5:20 PM
19

sure it makes sense you stupid fuck. us gays are a hated group who are killed indiscriminetly and i personally have adopted a way of thinking which mirrors what mafia men have done for years. all gays should adopt this mentality.1. assume that you are surrounded by your enemies 2.carry a weapon at all times. 3.always watch your back. 4.show no remourse to your enemies 5.secure enough money to purchase a house that is safely secluded. you want sympathy for those guys fuck you. let em die.

Posted by ..... | June 13, 2007 7:50 PM

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