Chelsea Perkins Sentenced to 22 Years for Murdering Rap!st

Chelsea Perkins, a 35-year-old former U.S. Coast Guard veteran who later became known as an OnlyFans model, has been sentenced to 22½ years in federal prison for the murder of 31-year-old Matthew Dunmire in March 2021. The case drew national attention due to its shocking circumstances — a planned encounter that ended in a fatal shooting deep in the woods of Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.

U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. handed down the sentence after Perkins pleaded guilty in May 2025 to second-degree murder and related firearm charges tied to the killing. In addition to her lengthy prison term, she will face five years of supervised release after her sentence and potential restitution, the amount of which has yet to be determined by the court.

Timeline of the Crime

The fatal encounter occurred on March 6, 2021, when Dunmire — a 31-year-old man from Virginia who had moved to Cleveland and worked locally — agreed to meet Perkins after connecting with her online. According to court records, Perkins drove more than 300 miles from Alexandria, Virginia, to Ohio to meet him, using her husband’s Smart car.

The two spent the night at an Airbnb Perkins rented, but what happened the next day took a dark turn. Perkins drove Dunmire to a remote section of Terra Vista Nature Study Area within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Once there, she took him off the main trail into a densely wooded area — and shot him once in the back of the head, killing him.

Hikers found Dunmire’s body three days later, triggering a federal investigation because the murder occurred on national park grounds.

How Investigators Linked Perkins to the Crime

Federal agents worked with the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, National Park Service, and local law enforcement to piece together the events leading up to and following Dunmire’s death. Perkins was identified through a combination of surveillance video, GPS data, cell phone records, ballistic matches, and DNA evidence from firearms found in her home in Virginia.

A striking detail in the investigation was the discovery of a deleted note on Perkins’ phone that appeared to be a fabricated suicide note written in Dunmire’s voice, suggesting an attempted cover-up.

Chelsea Perkins’ Motive and Guilty Plea

During legal proceedings, prosecutors said that Perkins had accused Dunmire of raping her years earlier in Virginia, but no formal charges were ever filed in relation to that accusation.

Perkins’ actions were described by authorities as premeditated and calculated, carried out as a form of revenge. In court, she acknowledged her guilt and apologized to Dunmire’s family, saying, “I take full responsibility for what I’ve done.”

Aftermath and Broader Impact

The sentencing drew attention not only because of the crime’s gruesome nature, but also because of what unfolded in its wake. Dunmire’s parents, devastated by their son’s death, attempted retaliation. In November 2021, Matthew’s mother, Tommie Lynn Dunmire, disguised herself as a UPS driver and shot a woman she mistakenly believed was Perkins. The victim survived, but the episode ended tragically — Tommie Lynn later died by suicide while fleeing police, and Dunmire’s father was later sentenced to three years in prison for his role as an accessory.

At sentencing, Judge Oliver emphasized that there is “no real way to put value on a human life,” underscoring the gravity of violence and the repercussions it leaves for families and communities.

What Comes Next for Chelsea

With nearly two decades in prison, Chelsea Perkins’ life has been irrevocably changed, and so has the life of every person connected to this case. As federal authorities and lawmakers continue to monitor cases involving violence and online encounters that end in tragedy, this one stands as a stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when trust, trauma, and past accusations collide.

Whether through social media relationships, unresolved personal trauma, or the often unpredictable nature of human behavior, this case resonates with broader questions about safety, justice, and accountability in the digital age.

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