Scotty Joe Weaver

Scott Joe Weaver was an 18-year-old murder victim from Bay Minette, Alabama, whose burned and partially decomposed body was discovered on July 22, 2004, a few miles from the mobile home in which he lived. He was beaten, strangled and stabbed numerous times, partially decapitated, and his body was doused in gasoline and set on fire.citation |url=http://www.glaad.org/publications/resource_doc_detail.php?id=3699 |title=Killing of gay teen raises issue of intolerance in state |date=2004-08-02 |first=Samira |last=Jafari |periodical=Associated Press |accessdate=2007-08-21.]

The Baldwin County District Attorney David Whetstone stated that Weaver's sexual orientation was a factor in the crime. He remarked that the brutality involved "is suggestive of overkill, which is not something you see in a regular robbery and murder". Alabama's hate crimes statute does not apply to people targeted because of their sexual orientation.

Three people were charged with capital murder and robbery in connection with the crime, two of whom were Weaver's roommates, Christopher Gaines, age 20, and Nichole Kelsay, age 18. Also charged in the crime was Robert Porter, age 18.

Three years later in May, 2007, Christopher Gaines pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Porter pleaded guilty to murder and first degree robbery in September, 2007 and received two consecutive life sentences. citation |url=http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/category/hate-crimes/ |title=A Third Guilty Plea For Scotty Joe Weaver’s Murder |date=2007-09-14 |first=Jim |last=Burroway |publisher=Box Turtle Bulleting |accessdate=2008-02-20] Kelsay pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder.citation |url=http://www.queerty.com/friend-pleads-guilty-in-gay-murder-20070914/ |title="Friend" Pleads Guilty in Gay Murder |date=2007-09-14 |first=Andrew |last=Belonsky |publisher=Queerty |accessdate=2008-02-20]

Weaver's murder was not included in the FBI’s hate crime statistics for 2004, serving as further proof of flaws in the FBI's reporting. The crime was featured in "Small Town Gay Bar", a 2006 documentary film depicting the difficulties of being gay in the rural South.

References

External links

* [http://www.stophate.us/memorials/weaver.html Memorial to Scott Weaver at stophate.us]
* [http://www.glaad.org/media/resource_kit_detail.php?id=3700 Media resources at GLADD.org]

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