JEN: Aaron’s done that thing before. They’ve both done it. I know one night they went to Cheyenne to go do it and they came back with probably three hundred dollars. I don’t know if they ever chose like gay people as their particular targets before, but anyone that looked like they had a lot of money and that was you know, they could outnumber, or overpower, was fair game.

STEPHEN BELBER: But do you think there was any homophobia involved in this that contributed to some of it?

JEN: Probably. It probably would’ve pissed him off that Matthew was gay ’cause he didn’t like—the gay people that I’ve seen him interact with, he was fine as long as, you know, they didn’t hit on him. As long as it didn’t come up.

SHANNON: Yeah, as long as they weren’t doing it in front of him.

STEPHEN BELBER: Do you get the impression that Aaron knew other gay people?

SHANNON: I’m sure that he knew people that are gay. I mean, he worked up at KFC and there was a couple people up there that—yeah (he laughs)—and I’m not saying it’s bad or anything ’cause I don’t know, half the people I know in Laramie are gay.

STEPHEN BELBER: What would you guys say to Aaron if you saw him right now?

SHANNON: First of all, I’d ask him if he’d ever do anymore tweak.

JEN: He wouldn’t I bet. If I saw Aaron now, I’d be like, “Man, why’d you fuck up like that?” But, I’d want to make sure he’s doing good in there. But, I’m sure he is though. I’d probably just want to like hang out with him.

SHANNON: Smoke a bowl with him.

JEN: I bet he wants one so bad.

STEPHEN BELBER: So, you guys both went to Laramie High?

SHANNON: Yeah. Can’t you tell? We’re a product of our society.

MOMENT: HOMECOMING

NEWSPERSON: On a day that is traditionally given over to nothing more profound than collegiate exuberance and the fortunes of the University of Wyoming football team, this community on the high plains had a different kind of homecoming Saturday, as many searched their souls in the wake of a vicious, apparent antigay hate crime.

NARRATOR: University president Philip Dubois:

PHILIP DUBOIS: This was homecoming weekend. There were a lot of people in town, and there’s a homecoming parade that was scheduled, and then the students organized to tag onto the back of it—you know, behind the banner supporting Matt, and everybody wearing the armbands that the students had created …

HARRY WOODS: I live in the center of town.

NARRATOR: Harry Woods: