Man Living ‘Double Life’ Allegedly Drove Special Needs Girlfriend To Vegas Desert, Suffocated Her

A Pennsylvania man reportedly living a “double life” is facing multiple charges after authorities said he drove his special needs girlfriend out into the Las Vegas desert, where he allegedly tied her to a signpost and used duct tape to suffocate her.

John Chapman, 39, allegedly confessed to Bethel Park Police he killed 33-year-old Jaime Rae Feden and has been charged with kidnapping, obstruction and other charges connected to the case, WPXI reports.

Chapman allegedly told authorities that he drove Feden out to Las Vegas in September under the guise that they were taking a trip together. He convinced her that they should go into the desert for a photo shoot, but instead, Chapman allegedly told police he tied her hands and feet with zip ties and then tied her to a signpost.

Chapman then put duct tape over her mouth and nose to suffocate her, police said. Once she had died, he allegedly removed the tape, zip ties, and her clothing and left her body near the sign post while he returned to his Bethel Park home.

Jaime Rae Feden and John Chapman Photo: Bethel Park Police Department

Chapman had reportedly been living two separate lives, carrying on a relationship with Feden, who his family says he met at either a high school or college for students with special needs, while also lying to his wife of about a year.

His wife, Maureen Chapman, told the local station that she had believed when he traveled across the country that month that he was going on a work trip to Las Vegas in her truck. She would learn the devastating truth Friday around 6 a.m. when she received a call from her husband in jail.

“He said he had murdered a woman,” she told the station. “I was in disbelief.”

Chapman told her he had killed Feden because he “had to,” she said, adding that the disturbing confession has caused her to question everything about the relationship she thought she had.

“Oh, my God, it’s sick. It’s really sick,” she said. “I just want the truth as to what happened. I feel I’m owed that.”

She told the station she had been unaware of any of Chapman’s secret activities until he was arrested and described him as having a "double life." 

Chapman and Feden reportedly had a “tulmultuous” relationship with one another before she was killed, according to a criminal compliant obtained by KDKA.

Investigators said Chapman often stayed at Feden’s home.

“A couple of neighbors in our building said they heard arguing at different times, but I never experienced it first-hand but he was a little odd,” Lane Clark, one of Feden’s neighbors, told the station.

A incident report obtained by Oxygen.com listed the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping as a "lover's quarrel." 

After Chapman’s alleged confession, a detective contacted the Clark County Nevada Coroner’s Office, who confirmed that they had found a dead woman matching Feden’s description on Oct. 5. Authorities are now trying to positively identify the body.

Chapman has not been charged with murder yet in the case; however, investigators say they are “actively” working the case, according to a statement from police.