In Part 1, the story of Matthew Shepard begins with a young man trying to rebuild his life, find community, and feel safe in Laramie, Wyoming. What starts with his childhood, travel, school, friendships, and growing involvement in the LGBTQ+ community quickly turns into one night at the Fireside bar, two men seen leaving with him, a shocking discovery near the edge of town, a truck full of clues, conflicting stories, missing belongings, and the first arrests in a case that would soon grip the entire country.

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