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Philip Walsted (June 12, 2002) was a 24-year-old gay man in who was robbed and beaten in downtown Tucson, Arizona, on June 12, 2002. He worked for American Airlines in Reservation Sales and lived with his partner Jonathan. Loved by many this attack and his death has left a void in many peoples lives.

The Attack

Walsted was walking home on of June 12, 2002, when he was attacked and beaten with a baseball bat by 22-year-old David A. Higdon in the course of a robbery. Walsted was struck in the head with the bat up to 20 times, and recived more than 50 wounds as a result of the attack.

Walsted was found, covered in blood, in the street near the home he shared with his partner in the neighborhood of the University of Arizona. He was transported to University Medical Center, where he died later that day.

The Arrest

Higdon was arrested one week later. Police found Walsted's eyeglasses and driver's liscence in his posession, as well as a baseball bat and clothing soaked with Walsted's blood.

Hate Crime

Higdon, an avowed neo-Nazi, got swastika tattoo while in jail, and arrived in court with his head shaved. Prosecutors said that Walsted's murder started as a robbery, but the attack was fueled by Higdon's neo-Nazi beliefs and was part of an attempt to impress a white supremacist group. A representative of from the anti-violence project for the local gay and lesbian center attended the trial and said that "Higdon had written hundreds of pages of letters and documents while he was incarcerated, leading people to believe that Philip was killed because he was gay."

While Arizona has no specific law against hate crimes, if victims are targeted at least in part because of their race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or sex, judges make take that into account.

Verdict & Sentencing

In January 2005, Higdon went on trial for first degree murder. He was convicted and in March 2005 was sentenced to life without parole.

External Resources

http://www.stophate.us/memorials/walsted.html http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=70121