Pennsylvania Man Convicted for Kidnapping, Murder in Nevada Desert

A Pennsylvania man has been convicted of kidnapping and murdering a woman whose body was found in the Nevada desert, marking a grim end to a twisted tale of deception and violence.

John Matthew Chapman, 44, of Pennsylvania, was found guilty of one count of kidnapping resulting in death in a federal jury trial in Las Vegas. The verdict, delivered on [date], comes after an eight-day trial that revealed the chilling details of Chapman’s crime.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, Chapman kidnapped the victim in Pennsylvania and drove her to Nevada, where he killed her in the desert. The victim’s body was later found in Lincoln County, Nevada, and Chapman was arrested and charged in connection with her murder.

Court documents reveal that Chapman had planned the murder from the outset, luring the victim to Nevada under false pretenses and then binding and gagging her with zip ties and duct tape. He then watched as she died from asphyxiation, all while pretending to be her boyfriend and using her Facebook account to deceive her friends and family.

Chapman’s scheme was uncovered after a welfare check was conducted on the victim’s residence in Pennsylvania, where police found evidence of Chapman’s involvement, including identification cards with his name and photo, the victim’s cellular telephone, and multiple zip ties and a roll of duct tape.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division announced the conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 2, 2024, before United States District Judge James C. Mahan.

The joint investigation into the murder was conducted by the FBI Las Vegas Division, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada, and the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady, Megan Rachow, and Steven Rose are prosecuting the case.