Man takes girlfriend to desert for ‘bondage photo shoot,’ ties her naked to a signpost, duct tapes her mouth and nose and watches her as she dies

A 44-year-old Pennsylvania man, John Matthew Chapman, has been sentenced to life in prison for a heinous crime involving his 33-year-old girlfriend, Jaime Rae Feden.

Chapman drove her across the country, lured her into the Nevada desert under the guise of a “bondage photo shoot,” tied her to a signpost with zip ties, taped her mouth and nose, and watched as she died.

Chapman learned his fate on Friday, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He had been convicted in May for kidnapping resulting in death.

“The defendant betrayed the victim’s trust by taking her away from her family and friends in Pennsylvania and into the Nevada desert where he brutally killed her,” stated U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada.

“This sentence should serve as a stark warning that kidnapping and murdering another person will lead to severe punishment. We extend our gratitude to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their diligent efforts in securing justice for the victim’s family,” he added.

HOW IT WENT DOWN

The events leading to the murder and Chapman’s arrest began in September 2019 when he told Feden they were embarking on a house-hunting trip to Las Vegas where they might “potentially get married.” The couple drove nearly 2,200 miles from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, to Las Vegas.

Although Feden believed she was going to begin a new life with Chapman, she was unaware of his actual plan, which was to kill her.

Authorities noted that Chapman had searched online for “dump,” “body” and “Nevada” the night before they arrived in Las Vegas on Sept. 23, 2019.

Two days later, he persuaded her to go into the desert in Lincoln County, Nevada, over 150 miles north of Las Vegas, under the guise of a sadomasochistic and bondage-themed photo shoot.

He then undressed her and tied his naked girlfriend with zip ties and secured her to a signpost. After applying duct tape to her mouth and then to her nose, Chapman watched the victim die from asphyxiation, according to the court documents.

Chapman then abandoned her body next to the post and drove back to Pennsylvania, discarding her clothing along the way. Authorities said he used her cellphone to impersonate her, sending text messages to her friend to make it seem like she was still alive while using her home and money.

HOW HER BODY WAS DISCOVERED

The case came to light on Oct. 5, 2019, after an 8-year-old child, traveling with his grandfather, found the body about a mile off a dirt road on federal land, Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee said. “They saw what they initially thought was a dead animal a distance from the road,” Lee said. “Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was actually the body of a nude female.”

There was no identification, and the body was in the early stages of decomposition.

She remained unidentified until Nov. 15, 2019, when the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office learned that the Bethel Park Police Department had arrested Chapman as a suspect in Feden’s disappearance.

Police said Feden’s neighbors reported seeing someone they believed was Chapman going in and out of her home, where police found ID cards with his name and photo, her cellphone, zip ties, and a roll of duct tape, prosecutors said.

Authorities in Nevada confirmed the identity of the remains as Feden from her petite 4-foot-1-inch frame, previous medical procedures, a tattoo and dental records.

Feden’s friend Nikki Lawrence said that Feden’s family and friends disapproved of her relationship with Chapman, but Feden stood her ground. Lawrence described an abusive relationship, saying Chapman was “very mean” to her and used her for money. Once, a bar owner chased Chapman down a street after Feden showed up with two black eyes, Lawrence said.

Chapman was married to another woman, Maureen. She said her husband had been living a “double life” and admitted the murder to her while calling from the police station.

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Chapman’s actions are a reminder that nothing stays hidden under the sun and there is no peace for the wicked. His heinous crimes were eventually uncovered, leading to justice for Jaime Rae Feden and demonstrating that those who commit evil will ultimately face the consequences of their actions.