Summary

SOLDIER AT FT. CAMPELL WHO WAS BEATEN TO DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A HATE CRIME, BASED ON HIS SEXUALITY.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 165268
Story Slug Ft. - Campell - Death - Folo
Location Nashville, TN
Format PKG*
Date 07/10/1999
Archive Time 10:18
TRT 2:12
Supers Fort Campbell, Tennessee Kathi Westcott, SLDN Staff Attorney Rhonda White, Lesbian & Gay Coalition for Justice Dwann Holmes, Reporting
Video Description pic of slain soldier; Westcott sot; soliders marching; American flag; Westcott sot; White sot; reporters talking wit White nodding; White sot; boots gun dog tags and helmet; stand-up; Westcott sot; pic of slain soldier;
Description SOLDIER AT FT. CAMPELL WHO WAS BEATEN TO DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A HATE CRIME, BASED ON HIS SEXUALITY.
Script LEAD: A WASHINGTON WATCHDOG GROUP FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS IN THE MILITARY IS INVESTIGATING A FATAL BEATING AT FORT CAMPBELL IN TENNESSEE. A SOLDIER IS CHARGED WITH BEATING PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BARRY WINCHELL TO DEATH...AND THE GROUP BELIEVES HIS DEATH MAY HAVE BEEN A HATE CRIME. REPORTER DWANN HOLMES HAS MORE. (TAKE PKG) SCRIPT: WHEN PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BARRY WINCHELL DIED AFTER BEING BEATEN OUTSIDE HIS OWN ROOM...HATE IMMEDIATELY BECAME THE RUMORED MOTIVE. NOW KATHI WESTCOTT...STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE SERVICE MEMBERS LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK, IS IN TOWN LOOKING FOR ANSWERS IN THE FORT CAMPBELL SOLDIER'S DEATH. SOT: "the reports that we received, we definitely felt warranted our coming down and trying to gather additional information." EACH DAY, SLDN PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO MILITARY PERSONNEL AFFECTED BY THE DON'T ASK DON'T TELL POLICY. NOW, SIX YEARS AFTER THE POLICY WAS ADOPTED...WESTCOTT SAYS SLDN'S JOB ISN'T GETTING ANY EASIER. SOT: "unfortunately, over the last three years, the incident of harassment have increased about 120 percent." SOT/Rhonda White: "because it is in the middle tennessee area, we find it very disturbing that something like this is happening in our neighborhood." RHONDA WHITE IS CO-CHAIR OF NASHVILLE'S LESBIAN AND GAY COALITION FOR JUSTICE. SHE BELIEVES SLDN'S PRESENCE IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SOT/Rhonda White: "i'm hopeful that the service people who witnessed this, who know something about this will feel confident in being able to talk to these people...that they can safely share information." BESIDES THE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT WINCHEL WAS SAVAGELY BEATEN WITH A BASEBALL BAT...SO FAR THE ONLY INFORMATION SLDN KNOWS FOR SURE IS THAT WINCHEL WAS DATING A MAN FROM NASHVILLE. REPORTER STANDUP: "while here westcott will go to restaurants like this one in nashville and clarksville passing out thousands of flyers like this. she hopes someone will come forward with valuable information." SOT: "we really need the help of the general public and the service members anybody who knew barry...who knew or knows anything about the circumstance surrounding his death." TAG: RIGHT NOW, MILITARY LEADERS AT FT. CAMPBELL SAY THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OR PROVE WINCHELL'S DEATH STEMMED FROM THEIR DEFINITION OF A HATE CRIME. WHILE HERE WESTCOTT HOPES TO BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE MILITARY LEADER TO DO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING NOT OVERLOOKING ALL POSSIBLE MOTIVES. PRIVATE CALVIN GLOVER IS THE SUSPECT AND IS NOW IN FT. KNOX KENTUCKY FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFINEMENT. SATLATE
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