It was four years ago, March 14, that Patricia and Lynn Mulder's son was murdered simply because he was gay.
Ryan Keith Skipper was 25 when he was stabbed to death inside his car outside of Winter Haven. Today, his parents are still collecting money to start a scholarship in their son's name. They are $2,000 shy of reaching their goal.
According to filmmaker Vicki Nantz, who created the documentary Accessory to Murder, the Mulders need to raise the $2,000 to reach a base amount allowing them to dispense the scholarship money.
Donations may be sent to: The Ryan Keith Skipper Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, 4720 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33813.
In 2009, nearly two years after Skipper's death, Joseph Bearden and William Brown Jr. were both sentenced to life in prison for the murder.
â┚¬Å”Ryan's horrific death was a seminal event in the lives of many who loved him,â┚¬Â Nantz said. â┚¬Å”It was also a seminal event in my life because prior to that day I didn't really bang the drum very loudly about anti-gay hate.â┚¬ÂÂ
Since then, Nantz, who lives in Orlando with her wife, has become an outspoken advocate to battle anti-gay hatred.
â┚¬Å”When I learned of Ryan's death I knew that my silence was unacceptable and wrong, and now I make noise,â┚¬Â she said. â┚¬Å”I bang the drum for Ryan, and for his wonderful parents and brother, and for his friends, all of whom were robbed of a generous and kind presence in this world.â┚¬ÂÂ
Unfortunately, the murder of Skipper and the trials of his killers were just part of the ensuing story. Comments Polk County Sheriff Judd made about the murder were seen as homophobic by many and Skipper's death stayed below the radar of many news outlets.
For more information on the foundation or on the documentary, visit RyanSkipperDocumentary.com.
