On Friday, a jury sentenced a man to life in prison for kidnapping his girlfriend in Pennsylvania and killing her in the Nevada desert.
The heinous murder John Matthew Chapman confessed to police in 2019 led to his conviction in May.
In September 2019, Chapman lied to his girlfriend about going to Las Vegas and perhaps buying a house. However, Chapman stated that he had always intended to kill her.
Once in Las Vegas, they drove to Lincoln County. Chapman explained that he wanted to do a bondage photo shoot with his partner.
Chapman then used plastic zip ties to tie the woman’s hands and feet to a signpost.
He then wrapped duct tape around her nose and mouth and watched her suffocate to death.
“The defendant violated the victim’s trust by luring her away from her family and friends in Pennsylvania and out into the Nevada desert, where he viciously killed her,” stated US Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “This punishment should send a clear message to others that kidnapping and killing someone will result in a lengthy prison sentence. Thank you to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their efforts in obtaining justice for the victim’s family.”
After killing her, Chapman returned to Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and pretended to be the victim.
He even used the victim’s Facebook Messenger account after she died, as well as her property and money.
“Today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable for the callous and brutal murder of an innocent young woman,” stated Spencer L. Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “We hope it will bring a sense of closure to the victim’s family while affirming the FBI and our law enforcement partners’ commitment to pursuing justice for those affected by violence.”
