In the image above, we see two insets featuring Jaime Rae Feden from Beinhauer Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services and John Matthew Chapman, from Allegheny County Jail. The background depicts the location in the Nevada desert where Feden’s remains were discovered.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office released a statement on Friday announcing the verdict of John Matthew Chapman’s trial. The 44-year-old was found guilty of the kidnapping that resulted in the death of 33-year-old Jaime Rae Feden. Chapman’s fate was sealed after being convicted in May.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada stated that the defendant betrayed the victim’s trust by enticing her away from her loved ones in Pennsylvania and into the Nevada desert, where he committed a brutal murder. The punishment handed down should serve as a stern warning to anyone who is considering abducting and killing another person that they will face a significant prison sentence. The victim’s family can finally have peace knowing that justice has been served, and we are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts.
According to court documents, the defendant informed Feden in September 2019 that they would be going on a vacation to Las Vegas to hunt for a house and possibly get married. The couple drove all the way from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, covering a distance of almost 2,200 miles to reach Sin City. This marked the beginning of the chain of events that ultimately led to the killing and Chapman’s subsequent arrest.
According to court documents, the victim was under the impression that she would be embarking on a fresh start with Chapman. However, unbeknownst to her, Chapman had an ulterior motive – to end her life.
On the night before the couple arrived in Las Vegas on Sept. 23, 2019, authorities discovered that Chapman had searched online for terms such as “dump,” “body,” and “Nevada.”
According to court documents, he restrained his girlfriend, who was naked at the time, using zip ties and secured her to a signpost.
According to officials, he utilized her mobile phone to impersonate her, sending messages to her friend, feigning that she was still alive, all while utilizing the deceased woman’s residence and finances.
According to Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee, the discovery of the body occurred on October 5th, 2019, when an 8-year-old child who was traveling with their grandparent found the remains approximately one mile away from a dirt road on federal land. The child stumbled upon the body, and the incident was reported to Pittsburgh’s NBC/Cox Media Group affiliate WPXI.
Lee explained that the individuals stumbled upon what appeared to be a lifeless animal in the distance from the road. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that it was, in fact, the naked body of a woman.
The body found was in the initial stages of decomposition, and there was no identification available, as stated in the agency’s news release.
On Nov. 15, 2019, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office identified the remains of the victim as Jaime Feden, who had been missing for two months. The Bethel Park Police Department had arrested a suspect, identified as Chapman, in connection with Feden’s disappearance. It was reported that Chapman was seen entering and leaving Feden’s home by her neighbors, where police later found his ID cards, her cellphone, zip ties, and a roll of duct tape. The authorities confirmed Feden’s identity by comparing her physical attributes, such as her 4-foot-1-inch frame, previous medical procedures, a tattoo, and dental records.
According to a report by Law&Crime, Feden’s friend, Nikki Lawrence, revealed to Buzzfeed that despite disapproval from Feden’s loved ones, she refused to end her relationship with Chapman. Lawrence recounted a distressing dynamic between the two and claimed that Chapman was “very mean” to Feden, often exploiting her for financial gain. Lawrence even recounted a time when the owner of a bar chased Chapman down the street after Feden showed up with visible black eyes.
According to Maureen Chapman, Chapman was leading a secret life as he was married to another woman. She revealed that he confessed to the murder while calling her from the police station, stating that he had been living a “double life.”
“I can’t believe it, it’s disgusting,” she expressed to WPXI. “It’s truly revolting.”
